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  • TODAY IN LGBT HISTORY | Rainbow Flag Makes Its Debut

    TODAY IN LGBT HISTORY | Rainbow Flag Makes Its Debut

    The iconic symbol for the LGBT community, the rainbow flag made its debut.

    The iconic symbol for the LGBT community made its debut in San Franciso in 1978. It was displayed at the San Francisco Gay and Lesbian Freedom Day parade in 1978. It has since gone on to be recognised worldwide as the symbol for LGBT spaces, venues and pride.

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    The flag was designed by Gilbert Baker. Since its introduction, it has gone under several design reviews and had colours removed and then re-added.

    Is the original rainbow flag available to see anywhere?

    The original flag can now be viewed at the Design Museum London which acquired the flag as part of a series of new objects for its permanent collection. It was acquired by the museum in 2017.

    Why did Gilbert Baker create the rainbow flag for gay pride?

    Speaking about the rainbow as a symbol for LGBT+ folx Gilbert Baker said,

    “There was no other international symbol for [the LGBT+ community] than the pink triangle which the Nazis used to identify homosexuals in concentration camps,

    “Even though the pink triangle was and still is a very powerful symbol, it was very much forced upon us”.

    What do they colours in the Rainbow Flag mean?

    Gilbert Baker created the rainbow flag with each colour representing a different area of life.

    Pink: Sexuality

    Red: Life

    Orange: Healing

    Yellow: Sunlight

    Green: Nature

    Cyan: Art

    Blue: Serenity/ Harmony

    Purple: Spirit

  • Is the original Gay Pride rainbow flag available to see anywhere?

    It’s probably become one of the most famous symbols in the world. It’s internationally recognised and brings hope to millions of LGBT+ across the globe.

    But where is and who created the first rainbow flag?

    Where can I see the original pride flag? Does the original gay flag still exist.
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    The original rainbow flag was created in 1978 in San Franciso by an artist called Gilbert Baker.

    The flag has been identified as one of the defining designs of the modern age, the flag was part of an original series of ten that Baker designed and created in 1978.

    Where is the original gay pride flag now?

    The original flag can now be viewed at the Design Museum London which acquired the flag as part of a series of new objects for its permanent collection.

    It was acquired by the museum in 2017.

    Why did Gilbert Baker create the rainbow flag for gay pride?

    Speaking about the rainbow as a symbol for LGBT+ folx Gilbert Baker said, “There was no other international symbol for [the LGBT+ community] than the pink triangle which the Nazis used to identify homosexuals in concentration camps,

    “Even though the pink triangle was and still is a very powerful symbol, it was very much forced upon us”.

  • There’s now a seven stripe pride flag

    There’s now a seven stripe pride flag

    The Mayor of Brent showcases a brand new seven stripe rainbow flag – which features a single black stripe.

    There’s been much said on the design of the rainbow flag, originally designed by Gilbert Baker with the flag being redesigned by various third parties to reflect different issues facing various intersections of the LGBT+ community.

    Most famously, in 2017 the city of Philadelphia showcased a new flag which contained black and brown stripes in a bid open up a conversation about racial inclusion in the LGBT+ community.

    However, a new seven stripe flag has been adopted by Brent council in London and it’s a brand new, never seen before design, which features a single black stripe between the blue and purple stripe.

    The Mayor of Brent, Cllr Arshad Mahmood, raised the rainbow flag outside the Brent Civic Centre in honour of LGBT+ History Month, which takes places in the UK in the month of February. He was joined by Councillors and members of the local community.

    The London Borough of Brent is home to a large BAME community, with around 63 percent of residents identifying as non-white. Although it’s not clear if the inclusion of the black stripe is to represent race within the LGBT+ community.

    A spokesperson for the council told THEGAYUK, “This particular rainbow flag has been a part of our celebration of the LGBT community in Brent for over 10 years. It is the spectrum which gives the flag its special symbolism, rather than the individual colours, but we’re pleased that it has opened up new conversations about the intersections between the LGBT community and BAME groups.”

     

  • This UK Pride is going to use the Black and Brown striped Rainbow Flag

    This UK Pride is going to use the Black and Brown striped Rainbow Flag

    The Pride’s CEO has decided that Manchester will adopt Philadelphia’s black and brown rainbow flag which recognises and includes people of colour.

    The “more colour” rainbow flag or “Philly flag” which includes a brown and black stripe will be used by Manchester Pride in 2019. The flag was first introduced by the city of Philadelphia in 2017 to “fuel the important conversation” of “recognizing people of colour in the LGBTQ+ community”. The US city has a large Black or African American community, which stands around 43 per cent of the population. Manchester in the UK is home to a large Asian community, which stands around 17 per cent and about 9 per cent for black people.

    Mark Fletcher, the CEO of Manchester Pride told THEGAYUK, “We have seen that the iconic rainbow must adapt to reflect the modern society that we live in. A lot has happened but there is still a long way to go, especially in the recognition of people of colour in the LGBT+ community.

    “To highlight the importance of this we’ve decided to adopt the 8 stripe flag created by the city of Philadelphia, USA as part of our logo.”

    The Rainbow flag was designed by Gilbert Baker in 1978 and has been adapted over the years. It originally contained two extra colours, Pink and Cyan, which were later dropped to have just six colours, which is the most recognised version of the iconic symbol.

    The symbol for the LGBT community made its debut in San Franciso in 1978. It was displayed at the San Francisco Gay and Lesbian Freedom Day parade in 1978. It has since gone on to be recognised worldwide as the symbol for LGBT spaces, venues and pride. The longest ever version of the flag was debuted in Key West, Florida in 2003.

    Want to buy a version of the flag for yourself? Head on over to THEGAYSHOP.co.uk to purchase your very own More Colour Rainbow Flag.

    THEGAYUK.com reached out to UK Black Pride for comment on the move by Manchester Pride.

  • Where is the world’s biggest Pride flag?

    The world’s biggest pride flag was revealed in Key West in Florida.

    Where is the world's biggest Pride flag?

    In 2003 Key West was the staging ground for the world’s largest Pride flag, which measured 1.25 miles. It ran the length of Duval Street – 14 blocks to be precise. Duval Street is where most of the island’s gay venues are situated.

    The flag was created by the original designer Gilbert Baker who spent three months in Key West assembling the flag. It weighed a massive 3 tons and took about 17600 linear yards of fabric.  It took 2000 volunteers to raise the flag in 2003.

    Where is the world’s biggest Pride flag now?

    The flag has, since 2003, had sections displayed at global events, including the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, Canada, and Australia’s Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Parade. They have been shown internationally in Canada, Sweden, Norway, Germany, England and Australia; and domestically in cities including Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York and Atlanta.

    Where’s the biggest pride flag in the UK?

    The UK’s biggest pride flag was revealed by Cornwall Pride and was extensively photographed at the world’s first pride tour, which stopped by 11 towns and cities in England’s southernmost county. Here it is being displayed by St. Michael’s Mount in Cornwall.

  • The original rainbow flag is coming to the UK

    Gilbert Baker’s original rainbow flag is going to be displayed in London’s Design Museum – as a permanent feature.

    The original iconic rainbow flag, created by Gilbert Baker in 1978 is to be displayed permanently in London. The Design Museum in London has acquired a series of new objects for its permanent collection

    New acquisitions include the rainbow flag, David Bowie’s Blackstar album, a coffee cup for astronauts and Oculus Rift’s virtual reality headset.

    The rainbow flag, originally created by San Francisco artist Gilbert Baker, is the Design Museum’s first acquisition since moving to its new home in Kensington High Street. Identified as one of the defining designs of the modern age, the flag was part of an original series of ten that Baker designed and created in 1978.

    Also known as the gay pride flag or LGBT pride flag, the design reflects the diversity of the LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) community. Originating in northern California, the flag has been adopted worldwide and is now a globally recognised symbol.

    Gilbert Baker sadly died earlier this year at the age of 65.

     

    OPENING TIMES AND TICKET INFORMATION:
    Open daily 10:00 – 18:00 (last admission 17:00)
    Adult £10.50
    Student/concession £8*
    Family (1 adult + 3 children) £17
    Family (2 adults + 3 children) £24
    Child (6 – 15 years) £5.25
    Children under 6 years free
    Members free

  • This US city has added two more colours to the Pride flag

    The US city of Philadelphia has added two more colours to the world famous and iconic rainbow flag to include brown and black in a bid open up a conversation about racial inclusion in the LGBT+ community.

    Gilbert Baker‘s iconic rainbow flag has had an addition made to it in the US city of Philadelphia. The organisers of the campaign have added the colours brown and black to the flag and used the hashtag #MoreColorMorePride to drive awareness around inclusivity in the LGBT+ community.

    A statement on the campaign’s website says,

    “In 1978, artist Gilbert Baker designed the original rainbow flag.

    “An iconic symbol of LGBTQ+ unity. So much has happened since then. A lot of good, but there’s more we can do. Especially when it comes to recognizing people of color in the LGBTQ+  community. To fuel this important conversation, we’ve expanded the colors of the flag to include black and brown.

    “It may seem like a small step. But together we can make big strides toward a truly inclusive community”.

    https://vimeo.com/220799582

     

  • Gilbert Baker had the vision to unite LGBT people all over the world

    Tributes have poured in from all over the world since the death of Gilbert Baker, the creator of the iconic LGBT rainbow flag.

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    The creator of the iconic rainbow flag, Gilbert Baker died at the age of 65, his death was announced on Twitter last night.

    The rainbow flag was first seen in 1978 in San Francisco and originally had eight colours to it, to reflect the diversity of the LGBT community. Today the flag has six stripes, red, orange, yellow, green, blue and purple. Baker referred to this version of the flag as the “commercial version” because it was too expensive to include the hot pink colour in mass production.

    Michael Salter-Church, Co-Chair Pride in London commenting on the death of Gilbert Baker, artist and LGBT activist who designed the rainbow flag in 1978, said,

    “Gilbert Baker had the vision and foresight to unite LGBT people all over the world with the now iconic rainbow flag. As a worldwide movement, LGBT people are connected, strengthened and celebrated through this symbol of diversity and colour.

    “We are honoured that Gilbert personally made the giant rainbow flag enjoyed by millions of spectators at Pride in London over the past decade. We will march with an extra beat in our heart at this year’s Pride in London on Saturday 8 July eternally grateful and ever more determined.”

  • The creator of the rainbow flag, Gilbert Baker has died

    The creator of the rainbow flag, Gilbert Baker has died

    Members of the LGBT community are in mourning this evening as the creator of the world famous and iconic rainbow flag Gilbert Baker, has passed away.

    The creator of the iconic rainbow flag, Gilbert Baker has died at the age of 65.

    The rainbow flag was first seen in 1978 in San Francisco and originally had eight colours to it, to reflect the diversity of the LGBT community. Today the flag has six stripes, red, orange, yellow, green, blue and purple. Baker referred to this version of the flag as the “commercial version” because it was too expensive to include the hot pink colour in mass production.

    Gilbert was a gay rights activist, Army veteran before becoming a self-taught tailor. He created the LGBT flag 39 years ago.

    Gay rights activist Cleve Jones was one of the first to pay tribute to Gilbert saying,

    “My dearest friend in the world is gone. Gilbert Baker gave the world the Rainbow Flag; he gave me forty years of love and friendship.”

    https://twitter.com/CleveJones1/status/847915825885462529

    Gilbert would have been 66 this pride season.

    Dustin Lance-Black, who included Gilbert in his TV series, When We Rise also praised the designer on Twitter by saying,

    “Even rainbows weep. Our spectacular Gilbert Baker has left us our LGBTQ world is far less colorful without him.

    But he created the Rainbow Flag to unite us. To make us stronger. In Gilbert’s memory #UNITE again. In Gilbert’s memory find #STRENGTH. Find #BEAUTY. Find #LOVE. #RISE UP.”

    There are no confirmed reports to why he died.