Thought For The Day – Tuesday 13th June 2023
The Rainbow and Pride Progress Flag
Rainbow colours have come to symbolize and signify Pride and the LGBT+ community. You will see these colours around much, particularly in Pride Month.
The original Rainbow Pride Flag was designed by LGBT+ activist Gilbert Baker in 1978. Red represents life, orange represents healing, yellow represents sunlight and new ideas, green represents nature, blue represents serenity and peace and harmony and art, violet represents spirit.
Gilbert refused to trademark his flag design, saying it was a beautiful symbol for everyone. Love not money.
Gilbert Baker passed away in 2017.
The Rainbow Flag has become increasingly diverse and inclusive in recent times, following Gilbert’s inspiration.
In 2017, social justice advocate and community organiser Amber Hikes, and Philadelphia’s Office of LGBT+ Affairs, added black and brown stripes to represent people of colour.
In 2018, artist Daniel Quasar redesigned the flag as The Progress Pride Flag to include black and brown stripes, as well as the Transgender Flag designed by activist and author Monica Helms. The pink and blue colours are historically, and stereotypically, associated with girls and boys. The white stripe, in the middle, is for those transitioning. Daniel’s design also represented those suffering from HIV/AIDS and other marginalized groups. “The arrow points to the right to show forward movement, while being along the left edge shows that progress still needs to be made. We need to always keep progress moving forward in all aspects of our community.“ said Daniel Quasar.
In 2021, author, campaigner and creative Valentino Vecchietti, shared an updated version to The Progress Pride flag, which included a yellow triangle and purple circle to represent the intersex community. This symbolises wholeness. Intersex people are born with a combination of male and female characteristics.
Central to our Black and Gold Spirit is the diversity, equality and inclusion of Pride.
