The rainbow flag has become a well known symbol across the world.
Whether it's hanging over a building, pinned against a friend's bedroom wall or displayed in a shop window, the rainbow flag is never too far away.
For the younger and upcoming generations, it is something they have grown up accustomed to. However, for many of the older generations, it is something they watched slowly but surely be somewhat accepted into society.
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So, how did the rainbow flag become a "universally recognised symbol of community"?
The first pride flag dates back to 1978 in America when it was designed by Gilbert Baker, an openly gay man and a drag queen. The artist wanted to create a symbol of pride for the community and opted for a flag because he saw them as “the most powerful symbols”. As he later said in an interview: “Our job as gay people was to come out, to be visible, to live in the truth, as I say, to get out of the lie. A flag really fits that mission, because that’s a way of proclaiming your visibility or saying ‘this is who I am.”
Baker was inspired after seeing a rainbow in the sky, something which he saw as a natural flag, and so he adopted eight colours for the stripes, each with its own meaning including green for nature and orange for healing. Prior to the rainbow symbol, the most recognisable queer symbol was the pink triangle – and because Adolf Hitler conceived the pink triangle, Baker believed it was time to distance the community from its pain.
The activist wrote in his memoir: “[The pink triangle] represented a dark chapter in the history of same-sex rights. Adolf Hitler conceived the pink triangle during World War II as a stigma placed on homosexuals in the same way the Star of David was used against Jews. It functioned as a Nazi tool of oppression. We all felt that we needed something that was positive, that celebrated our love.”
The flag, which eventually came to the UK just under a decade after it was initially created, is now one of the most recognisable signs in the world. Chloe Hallam, the co-founder and current president of the Queer society at Edge Hill University, said to her that the Pride flag is a universally recognised symbol of community.
She told the ECHO: “It represents the hardships faced by generations of LGBTQ+ people just to be themselves. I feel privileged knowing I am a part of this community and that the pride flag reflects part of my identity. It's wonderful knowing that this flag transcends language, culture, country and nationality and connects LGBTQ+ people on a global scale. That interconnectedness truly builds the strength and love of this community.”
The education and history student from Ormskirk explained that she sees the flag being displayed in a new city or unfamiliar place, it makes her feel like she “can belong there” as it adds to her feeling of “safety and acceptance before I’ve even spoken to a single person”.
There have been many alternatives to the flag with each development best representing the community at the time. Since May this year, the Progress Pride flag has been over Liverpool’s Parish Church. The latest version of the flag incorporates the colours black and brown which are representative of people of colour. Whereas the light blue, pink and white trio symbolise the trans community. Moreso, the yellow section with a purple circle inside it illustrates the intersex community.
Chloe said: “I personally love that the flag is updating and keeping up with the community as it grows and develops. A community that is willing to show development and acceptance in meaningful ways is one I'm proud to be part of.”
Although the original designer died in 2017, he decided against copyrighting the rainbow design and allowing the LGBTQ+ community around the world to continue on his rainbow-filled legacy.
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