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Rainbow Gay Pride Flag

Author: Sexual Diversity
Author Contact: Sexual Diversity (SexualDiversity.org)
Published: 31st Oct 2022 - Updated: 17th Nov 2022
Peer-Reviewed Publication: N/A
Additional References: LGBTQ+ Pride Flags Publications

Summary: Information regarding the Rainbow Gay Pride Flag designed by Gilbert Baker for the 1978 San Francisco’s Gay Freedom Celebration and still in use today.


Main Document

Using a rainbow flag as a symbol of gay pride began in San Francisco, California, in 1978 and eventually became common at LGBTQ+ rights events worldwide. In the past, it's also been used as a symbol of peace. The rainbow flag symbolizes lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) pride and LGBT social movements. Also known as the gay pride flag or LGBT pride flag, the colors reflect the diversity of the LGBT community and the spectrum of human sexuality and gender.

Originally devised by artist Gilbert Baker, Lynn Segerblom, James McNamara, and other activists, the Rainbow Gay Pride Flag design underwent several revisions (see flag images below) after its debut in 1978. Although Baker's original rainbow flag had eight colors, from 1979 to the present day, the most common variant consists of six stripes: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and violet. The flag is typically displayed horizontally, with the red stripe on top, as it would be in a natural rainbow.

The Rainbow Gay Pride Flag

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Six-color Rainbow Gay Pride flag.Six-color Rainbow Gay Pride flag.

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The current six stripe version of the rainbow pride flag's LGBTQ+ colors have specific meanings. Each color represents and celebrates an aspect of LGBTQ+ pride:

The Rainbow Pride flag features six primary colors; red, orange, yellow, green, indigo, and purple/violet. The official Pantone® Matching System (PMS) colors are 1797, 716, 107, 356, 2748, and 2607. The table below also lists the codes of these colors in HEX, RGB, and CMYK format.

Rainbow Gay Pride Flag Color Codes
Red HEX = #E40303 RGB = 228 3 3 CMYK = 0, 99, 99, 11
Orange HEX = #FF8C00 RGB = 255 140 0 CMYK = 0, 45, 100, 0
Yellow HEX = #FFED00 RGB = 255 237 0 CMYK = 0, 7, 100, 0
Green HEX = #008026 RGB = 0 128 38 CMYK = 100, 0, 70, 50
Blue HEX = #24408E RGB = 0 77 255 CMYK = 75, 55, 0, 44
Purple/Violet HEX = #732982 RGB = 117 7 135 CMYK = 12, 69, 0, 49

Previous Seven Stripe Rainbow Flag

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Seven-striped rainbow flag for the November 1978 march in San Francisco in memory of Harvey Milk features seven stripes: red, orange, yellow, green, turquoise, blue, and violet. The hot pink stripe was removed because the fabric in that color was not readily available at the time.Seven-striped rainbow flag for the November 1978 march in San Francisco in memory of Harvey Milk features seven stripes: red, orange, yellow, green, turquoise, blue, and violet. The hot pink stripe was removed because the fabric in that color was not readily available at the time.

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Previous Eight Stripe Rainbow Flag

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Original eight-stripe rainbow flag for the 1978 Gay and Lesbian Freedom Day Parade in San Francisco. The colors, from top to bottom, represent; Hot pink for Sex, Red for Life, Orange for Healing, Yellow for Sunlight, Green for Nature, Turquoise for Magic, Indigo for Serenity, and Violet for Spirit.Original eight-stripe rainbow flag for the 1978 Gay and Lesbian Freedom Day Parade in San Francisco. The colors, from top to bottom, represent; Hot pink for Sex, Red for Life, Orange for Healing, Yellow for Sunlight, Green for Nature, Turquoise for Magic, Indigo for Serenity, and Violet for Spirit.

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Other sexuality symbols can be found in our LGBTQ+ Symbols and Signs category. Our Guide to LGBTQ+ Flags, and our instructions for using LGBTQ+ Sexuality Unicode and Emoji Symbols.

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Latest LGBTQ+ Pride Flags Publications

The above information is from our reference library of resources relating to LGBTQ+ Pride Flags that includes:

The Fraysexual Pride Flag consists of four colored stripes; Blue, Cyan, White, and gray. Blue and cyan were chosen as complementary colors of red and yellow, representing romantic and platonic love. thumbnail image
The Fraysexual Pride Flag consists of four colored stripes; Blue, Cyan, White, and gray. The origin of the flag design is currently unknown.
Publish Date: 6th Jan 2023
Image of the pastel color schemed Genderfae Pride flag. thumbnail image
The Genderfae Pride flag features seven primary pastel colors, green, green, yellow, white, pink, lavender, and purple.
Publish Date: 31st Dec 2022
The image of the trigender flag features five horizontal stripes; a pink stripe, blue stripe, green stripe, blue stripe, and pink stripe. thumbnail image
The trigender pride flag has five horizontal stripes; pink, blue, green, blue, and pink. Trigender people experience three gender identities, either simultaneously or varying between them.
Publish Date: 30th Dec 2022
The Pangender flag features light shades of pink, red, and yellow and a white stripe in the middle. thumbnail image
The Pangender Pride Flag has four primary colors consisting of light shades of pink, red, and yellow, as well as a central white stripe.
Publish Date: 6th Dec 2022 - Updated: 8th Dec 2022


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3Glossary of Sexuality Terms
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4LGBTQ+ Pride Flags
Symbols of Identity and Inclusion.

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• (APA): Sexual Diversity. (2022, October 31). Rainbow Gay Pride Flag. SexualDiversity.org. Retrieved November 8, 2024 from www.sexualdiversity.org/edu/flags/1051.php


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