15/06/2022
Happy Pride 🏳️🌈 The Rainbow Flag might seem like a given today, but it was created in 1978 by Gilbert Baker, a military veteran and drag performer. In 1974, Baker met Harvey Milk challenged Baker to create a symbol of pride for the gay community. Two original gay pride flags flew at the San Francisco Gay Freedom Day Parade celebration on June 25, 1978. Some have speculated that Baker was inspired by the Judy Garland song "Over the Rainbow" but Baker has said in interviews that it was "more about the Rolling Stones and their song 'She's a Rainbow.'"
The two flags originally created for the 1978 parade were believed lost for over four decades, until a remnant of one was discovered among Baker's belongings in 2020. In June 2015, The MOMA Museum of Modern Art acquired the rainbow flag symbol as part of its design collection.
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On June 26, 2015, the White House was illuminated in the rainbow flag colours to commemorate the legalisation of same-sex marriages in all 50 U.S. states.
The emoji version of the flag ( 🏳️🌈 ) was formally proposed in July 2016.