Rainbow Pride Flag

Facts about the Flag of Rainbow Pride Flag

1. Gilbert Baker's original 1978 design had eight stripes. Hot pink was dropped because the fabric was hard to source, and turquoise was removed so the flag could be split evenly along a parade route.
2. Baker never trademarked the design, describing it as belonging to everyone, which is why it has been adapted so freely.
3. The best known symbol of the LGBTQ+ community, first flown at the San Francisco Gay Freedom Day Parade in 1978. Gilbert Baker deliberately chose the rainbow as a natural symbol that belonged to no single nation.
4. The flag is used worldwide.
5. The flag was adopted in 1979. It was designed by Gilbert Baker.
6. The design is 47 years old as of 2026.
7. Construction: Six equal horizontal stripes.
8. It is normally drawn to a ratio of 3:5, which makes it rectangular.
9. The flag uses 6 colours: red, orange, yellow, green, blue and violet.
10. The red stands for life.
11. The orange stands for healing.
12. The yellow stands for sunlight.
13. The green stands for nature.
14. Six stripes: The original 1978 design had eight stripes, including hot pink and turquoise; both were dropped when the fabric proved hard to source.
15. Gilbert Baker never trademarked the design, saying that a flag belongs to everyone; the original 1978 flag was hand-dyed and stitched by volunteers.
16. It is filed here under Identity and Pride Flags, one of the categories of flag that belong to no country.