LGBTQ History

The Rainbow 'Pride' Flag Turns 35

SAN FRANCISCO -- The rainbow flag, sometimes LGBT pride flag or gay pride flag, a symbol of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) pride and LGBT social movements  turned 35 Tuesday. The flag, which has been in use since its debut at San Francisco Pride on June 25, 1978, was designed by San Francisco artist Gilbert Baker.

The design has undergone several revisions and as of 2008, the most common design variant consists of six stripes, with the colors red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and violet. The flag is commonly flown horizontally, with the red stripe on top, as it would be in a natural rainbow.

The rainbow flag has found wide application on all manner of products including jewelry, clothing and other personal items and the rainbow flag colors are routinely used as a show of LGBT identity and solidarity.