The arrow shape of the chevron that he added to the left side of the flag represents the progress that still needs to be made. Quasar chose this name for his flag to emphasize the fact that although much has been achieved to highlight the plight of the LGBTQ community and also marginalized people within that community, more progress is needed. In response to Philly’s pride flag, Portland-based designer Daniel Quasar created the progress pride flag. The flag was created to recognize the legacy of the fight for more inclusive rights for black and brown people in the community and to ensure that inclusion becomes an essential aspect of Philly Pride. After a number of high-profile stories exposed the rampant racism in Philly’s Gayborhood, people of color started demanding more inclusion in the city’s LGBTQ community. Much like any other Pride flag, the Philly pride flag was borne of protest. With the addition of a brown and a black stripe to the six colors of the traditional rainbow flag, the Philly pride flag is meant to provide recognition for the black and brown people in the LGBTQ community.
Since then, the flag has enjoyed widespread recognition. When Philadelphia launched its own Philly pride flag in 2017, it put the city in the global spotlight. Philadelphia’s People of Color Inclusive Flag The result was the six-colored rainbow flag, which has become the main symbol for the LGBTQ community. He decided to split the motif in two, which meant that he needed an even number of stripes. The turquoise stripe was also dropped in 1979 when Baker wanted to decorate street lamps along the parade route with rainbow banners. Baker, who was also ramping up the production of his flag, also dropped pink because hot pink dye was hard to come by. The Paramount Flag Company decided to cash in on the rising popularity of the flag and started producing a flag that was made from stock rainbow fabric with seven colors, which meant that pink was dropped. As opposed to later versions of the rainbow pride flag, the first flag had eight colors, which had the following meaning:Īfter Harvey Milk was assassinated in 1978, demand for Baker’s flag increased. It was first showcased on San Francisco’s Gay Pride Day on June 25, 1978. The colors of the flag are roughly sequenced in the same order as those displayed in a rainbow. Since the LGBTQ community consists of people from all races, genders, and ages, he based his flag on the rainbow. Baker was inspired in his design by the celebrations for America’s bicentennial anniversary in 1976. It was designed by gay artist and activist Gilbert Baker when his friend Harvey Milk, who was the first openly gay elected official in California, asked him to design a symbol for the LGBTQ community. The Gilbert Baker Pride Flag was the first-ever rainbow pride flag.