On top of the classic rainbow design, the Progress Pride Flag incorporated black and brown stripes to represent queer people of color the black stripe is also meant to honor individuals living with HIV/AIDS, and those who have lost their lives to the disease. In 2018, Daniel Quasar created the Progress Pride Flag by adding five new colored stripes in the shape of an arrow pointing to the right, illustrating forward movement.
From Baker’s original design, the flag continued to evolve to become more inclusive. The resulting six-stripe version became the Pride Flag that people know and recognize today. The turquoise stripe was eventually removed as well, to make the flag appear more symmetrical. Shortly after its creation, the hot pink stripe was dropped because of how difficult it was to find fabric in that specific color. The flag became a hit, but the increase in demand made it harder to keep the supply up. Serenity and calmness are represented by the cool tone of indigo, while the last color, violet, stands for spirit. Green-the unmistakable color of nature-comes right before turquoise, which stands for magic and art. The warm orange hue represents healing, and the radiance and brightness of the sun are conveyed in yellow. Moreover, each of the colored stripes in the original flag carried meaning, too.įor instance, hot pink stands for sexuality while red represents life and vitality. It all began in 1978, when Gilbert Baker created a custom-made, eight-striped rainbow banner as a symbol of liberation and hope for queer people around the world. The rainbow has become an easily recognizable symbol for the LGBTQ+ community in large part due to the Pride Flag (also known as the Rainbow Flag). You’re bound to come across rainbow-themed paraphernalia one way or another, whether you’re walking in a quiet neighborhood or along a busy, crowded street. Whenever June rolls around, it’s common to see rainbows everywhere in celebration of Pride Month.