It is universally known as the symbol of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transexual, and Queer, and for short, LGBTQ community.
It was born out of a strong desire to be recognized and to be seen from a positive perspective.
It was created at a time were it was extremely necessary to symbolize acceptance and peace.
The rainbow flag in the 1970s meant a call for freedom after centuries of oppression, hope after endless nights of despair, and light after years of ignorance.
In 2021, it may also mean a call for the recognition of diversity within diversity, and a call to practice inclusion under a new paradigm.
The rainbow flag was born after the combined consciousness of people living in San Francisco and as a result of conversations between the likes of Harvey Milk, Gilbert Baker, and others. San Francisco Supervisor Harvey Milk, the first openly gay elected official in California, asked Gilbert Baker to produce a symbol for the gay community.
Gilbert Baker created and designed the rainbow flag. Two original, eight-color rainbow flags were risen at the San Francisco United Nations Plaza in 1978, made by Gilbert Baker and about 30 friends and volunteers.
Each of the eight colors was given a meaning: pink for sex, red for life, orange for healing, yellow for the sun, green for nature, light blue for arts and magic, blue for serenity, and purple for the spirit.
The rainbow flag evolved into a six-colored stripes flag and this how it is mostly known and seen around the world. Pink and light blue stripes were dropped.
The remains of the historic piece is a fragment of cloth measuring 28 feet by 10 feet, recently unveiled at the GLBT Historical Society Museum in San Francisco, now its permanent home.
Please watch the attached video interviews with Andrew Shaffer and Tina Valentin Aguirre.
The museum is located on 18th St. in the Castro District, San Francisco, and is currently open Tuesday through Sundays, with COVID19 guidelines. More information at GLBTHistory.org
– Lupita Franco Peimbert
Lupitanews.com 