The Pride flag

History
Written By Team Cubbie
A ginger-bear, wearing a white tank top, proudly holds a Pride flag at the beach. The sun sets in the background, casting a warm glow that highlights the rainbow colours.

Every June, rainbow flags fly proudly from buildings worldwide during Pride. Originally known as the gay Pride flag, this banner is more than 6 colour-striped fabric - it's a powerful symbol of LGBTQ+ history representing a legacy of struggle and hope.

The Pride flag features horizontal stripes in vibrant rainbow colours. Its bold, eye-catching design has become universally recognised - you'll spot it everywhere from local gay bars to government buildings during Pride month.

The history of the flag

A timeline illustrating the history of LGBTQ+ Pride flags from 1978 to 2021, highlighting the evolution from the original eight-colour flag to modern inclusive representations like the Intersex Progress-Pride flag.

The Pride flag, 1978 to 2021.

Gilbert Baker designed the original Pride flag in 1978. Harvey Milk, San Francisco's first openly gay elected official, commissioned it, seeing the need for a unifying symbol.

The meaning behind the colours

The original design featured 8 colours, each with its own meaning:

  • Hot pink: sexuality

  • Red: life

  • Orange: healing

  • Yellow: sunlight

  • Green: nature

  • Turquoise: magic

  • Indigo: serenity

  • Violet: spirit

Then came November 1978. Harvey Milk's assassination hit San Francisco's LGBTQ+ community hard, and demand for the flag surged. When the hot pink stripe proved difficult to mass-produce, the design adapted - becoming 7 stripes flying high above the Castro, San Francisco's gay neighbourhood, defiant and proud.

By 1979, the familiar 6-colour version emerged. The change was practical – 6 colours worked better for street displays since lampposts typically come in even numbers. The message remained clear: LGBTQ+ people would no longer be invisible.

As visibility grew, so did the flag. In 2018, designer Daniel Quasar created the Progress Pride flag, adding black, brown, pink, light blue, and white stripes - making visible people of colour, the trans community, and those living with and lost to HIV/AIDS. In 2021, Valentino Vecchietti added the yellow background and purple circle, representing intersex people too often overlooked.

Other Pride flags

A timeline showcases other Pride flags: the Bear-Pride Flag (1995) with its iconic paw; the Trans-Pride Flag (1999) with blue, pink, and white stripes; and the Pup-Pride Flag (2021) with a centred bone motif on black and blue hues.

Other Pride flags, 1995 to 2021

The LGBTQ+ community embraces many flags today. The Bear Pride flag, with its earthy stripes and bold paw print, hangs in my study - a daily reminder of Bears' strength in community. The Leather Pup Pride flag celebrates another part of this diverse family with its striking black, blue, and white design and red bone. The Trans Pride flag's soft blue, pink, and white stripes stand for courage in the face of constant challenge.

The flag's continuing legacy

These flags aren't decorations. Each holds personal meaning for its bearer while connecting past struggles with present freedoms. The Pride flag has become a beacon of hope, especially in places where being out still carries real risks.

Next time you see a Pride flag, remember those stripes represent more than colours on fabric - they embody a shared history and hope for the future. From its humble beginnings in San Francisco to its global recognition today, the Pride flag continues to remind everyone that LGBTQ+ people are stronger, prouder, and more visible than ever.

This post is dedicated to Gilbert Baker whose creativity gave the LGBTQ+ community a lasting symbol of pride and resistance.

Team Cubbie
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