Why does the rainbow represent gay

This article is part of the series, The Joy of Existence Queer and Christian; new articles will be added throughout the month of June.

The first rainbow flag to represent the Gay community was created by artist and activist Gilbert Baker in 1978. At the time, the gay rights movement was mobilizing under the reclaimed symbol of the pink triangle, which had been used by the Nazis to brand gay men in the concentration camps of Nature War II. However, as the movement continued to mature and incorporate people of different identities, a new symbol was needed to represent the occupied scope of this evolving community. Gilbert and his fellow activists chose a rainbow and since then, the flag has stood as an emblem of justice, equality, and love for lgbtq+ people around the world.

As a Christian and a queer man, I acquire always loved how the colors of the rainbow flag speak to both sides of my identity. Though some colors have been removed or added over the years for different reasons, six of the original colors proceed to exemplify the shared humanity of everyone who marches under their banner. Each color has a meaning that carries deep significance for the LGBTQ+ society. At
why does the rainbow represent gay

LGBTQ+ Pride Flags

In the LGBTQ+ community, we signify our pride with flags. With many unlike identities in the people, there comes many distinct flags to know. We have collected all of the flags and a guide to learn about all of the diverse colors of our community’s rainbow. We know that this may not be all of the flags that represent our group, but we will update the page as modern flags become popular!

Explore the flag collection below! View a flag's name by hovering or clicking on the flag.

Umbrella Flags

  • Gilbert Baker Pride Flag

  • Traditional Pride Flag

  • Philadelphia Pride Flag

  • Progress Pride Flag

  • Intersex-Inclusive Progress Pride Flag

  • Queer Pride Flag

The original Pride Flag was created in 1978 after activist Harvey Milk asked artist Gilbert Baker to design a symbol of gay pride. Each color represents a distinct part of the Diverse community: hot pink represents sex, red symbolizes experience, orange stands for healing, yellow equals sunlight, emerald stands for nature, turquoise symbolizes magic and art, indigo represents serenity, while violet symbolizes the energy of LGBTQ+ people.

After the assass

The History of the Lgbtq+ fest Flag

With its glowing colours and significant interpretation, the Rainbow Flag is a symbol recognised all over the world to represent the LGBTQ+ communities. It’s a symbol of hope, unity and empowerment to allow love to be love regardless of gender, ethnicity or labels. But where did this renowned flag come from? And how was the design chosen? 

The original Celebration Flag originates from San Francisco Activist Gilbert Baker, who desired to produce an emblem of self-acceptance for the gay society. In 1978 the Rainbow Flag was created, as Baker recognised that a flag is one of the most significant aspects of identity, and wanted his creation to be a unified symbol of gratification for all those who identify within these communities. 

In England, homosexuality was decriminalised in 1967, with Scotland following in 1980, and Northern Ireland by 1982. Before this period, it was illegal to engage in ‘private lesbian acts’, and those caught or believed to be engaging in same-sex relationships could face imprisonment, universal shame and a life-long criminal records. Society was homophobic, with those in same-sex relationships being stripped of their basic independence to love the p

How Did the Rainbow Flag Become an LGBTQ+ Symbol?

It’s not uncommon to observe rainbow flags flying outside of homes and bars, pinned to shirts and on the back of bumpers—all with the proclamation that #LoveIsLove. But who created the rainbow flag, and why did it become a symbol of the LGBTQ+ community?

The rainbow flag was created in 1978 by artist, artist, Vietnam War veteran and then-drag performer, Gilbert Baker. He was commissioned to create a flag by another gay icon, politician Harvey Milk, for San Francisco’s annual pride parade.

The decision to enlist Baker proved serendipitous, as the idea of a flag to represent the homosexual and lesbian community had occurred to him two years earlier. As Baker told the Museum of Modern Art during a 2015 interview, he had been inspired by the celebrations marking America’s bicentennial in 1976, noting that the constant display of stars and stripes made him realize the cultural need for a similar rallying sign for the gay community. And as a struggling drag dancer who was accustomed to creating his own garments, he was well-equipped to sew the soon-to-be iconic symbol.

At the time, the most commonly used image for the burgeoning g

The Progress Pride flag was developed in 2018 by neutrois American artist and designer Daniel Quasar (who uses xe/xyr pronouns). Based on the iconic rainbow flag from 1978, the redesign celebrates the diversity of the LGBTQ collective and calls for a more inclusive society. In 2020, the V&A acquired a bespoke applique version of the Progress Pride flag that can be seen on show in the Style 1900 – Now gallery.

'Progress' is a reinterpretation of multiple iterations of the pride flag. The original 'rainbow flag' was created by Gilbert Baker in 1978 to commemorate members of the gay and queer woman political movement. It comprised eight coloured stripes stacked on top of each other to evoke a rainbow, a symbol of pray. Baker assigned a specific meaning to each colour: pink for sex, red for life, orange for healing, yellow for sunlight, leafy for nature, turquoise for magic, indigo for serenity and violet for energy. A year later the pink and turquoise stripes were dropped owing to a shortage of pink fabric at the time and legibility concerns, resulting in the six-colour rainbow flag most commonly used in the first decades of the 21st century.

Baker's flag was embra