The Rainbow Flag

The rainbow flag is an instantly recognisable symbol of Gay and Lesbian pride around the world. Back in 1978 Gilbert Baker, an American ex-G.I. who liked to sew was approached to make something that would stand out for the San Francisco Pride March. The rainbow immediately came to mind. “It’s in the sky,’ he explains, “and there’s the colours and diversity and the spectrum. It really was quite logical.”

Baker’s original flag was eight strips but a supplier could not supply pink so the flag became 7 stripes. After the march, Baker decided to cut the colours back to 6 because it was more symmetrical. The flag continued to grow in popularity, dominating the 1994 Stonewall riots anniversary with the unfurling of a Rainbow Flag 1 mile long through the streets of New York.

The Rainbow Flag turned 25 in 2003 and Gilbert Baker created a rainbow flag in the original 8 colours for Key West Pride Celebrations. This flag was 1 1/2 miles long and after the parade was cut into 150 pieces and sent to cities around the world.

Every year the Brisbane Pride march through the city streets is led by community members carrying what is probably the biggest rainbow flag in Australia. Brisbane Pride Festival is very proud to be the only organisation in Australia to receive a piece of this flag.