Gilbert Baker, Creator of Inic Gay Pri Flag, Dead at 65

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Gilbert Baker, creator of rabow gay pri flag and gay activist, di

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GAY HISTORY: THE LATE GILBERT BAKER ON WHY HE CREATED THE RABOW PRIDE FLAG.

Gilbert Baker—proud gay man, drag queen, and self-appoted "gay Betsy Ross"—first revealed his now-inic rabow flag 1978. * baker gay flag *

The rabow flag, which has bee a universal symbol of hope for LGBTQ people around the world, first flew San Francis’s Uned Natns Plaza for Gay Pri Day, on June 25, 1978.

It had eight lors – two more than today’s versn – and was signed by Gilbert Baker, an openly gay artist and activist.

He had been missned to sign a symbol for the LGBTQ muny by his iend Harvey Milk, the first openly gay elected official California. On June 25th, 1978, the first gay pri flags were flown at the San Francis Gay Freedom Day Para. Until this pot, the pk triangle had been ed as a symbol for the LGBT muny – spe s relatn to an exceptnally dark chapter the history of homosexualy.

GILBERT BAKER, GAY ACTIVIST WHO CREATED THE RABOW FLAG, DI AT 65

Mr. Baker’s emblem, which he created 1978, me to symbolize the gay rights movement. He scribed himself as the “gay Betsy Ross.” * baker gay flag *

The different lors of this flag were often associated wh “diversy” the gay muny (but actually have leral meangs), cludg:.

Pk and turquoise were removed for productn purpos, and the six-band variant, now simply known as the “Gay pri” flag, has been the most well-regnized symbol of the LGBT movement sce 1979. The world didn’t yet know was tumblg toward a terrifyg AIDS epimic that would soon reigne hate and fear agast the gay muny.

It was at one of the monstratns that Gilbert Baker—proud gay man, drag queen, and self-appoted “gay Betsy Ross”—first revealed his now-inic rabow flag. His first flags and banners were signed for anti-war protts durg the Vietnam War and gathergs on behalf of the gay liberatn movement. On June 25, 1978, the first two rabow pri flags flew the San Francis Gay Freedom Day Para.

GILBERT BAKER, CREATOR OF INIC GAY PRI RABOW FLAG, HAS DIED AT 65

World-famo polil activist, signer and flag-maker Gilbert Baker (1951-2017) created the Rabow Flag 1978. Over the next four s, his creatn would bee embraced across the world as the universal symbol of the lbian, gay, bisexual, and transgenr (LGBT) movement. * baker gay flag *

Some claim that gay rights lear Harvey Milk and filmmaker Artie Bsan, Jr. In 2015, when an terviewer om the New York Mm of Morn Art asked about his attractn to flags as an artistic medium, Baker replied that “flags are about proclaimg power, so ’s very appropriate” to his work supportg the gay liberatn movement and other important . The mand for Gilbert Baker’s rabow flag explod followg the unexpected assassatn of Baker’s fellow LGBTQIA+ activist and the first openly gay man to hold a major office the U.

MEET GILBERT BAKER, THE MAN WHO INVENTED THE GAY PRI RABOW FLAG

As the gay muny was risg, then activist Harvey Milk saw the need to create somethg that would symbolize that muny. He approached a young artist and sewer om Kansas to fulfill his msage of hope and the rt is history. * baker gay flag *

Baker and Milk had been close, both at the foreont of San Francis’s gay liberatn movement. In 1978, when I thought of creatg a flag for the gay movement (at Harvey Milk’s requt) there was no other ternatnal symbol for than the pk triangle, which the Nazis ed to intify homosexuals ncentratn mps.

Fredrik Persson/Agence France-Prse — Getty ImagMarch 31, 2017Gilbert Baker, a self-scribed “gay Betsy Ross” who 1978 hand-dyed and stched together eight strips of vibrantly lored fabric to a rabow flag, stantly creatg an endurg ternatnal symbol of gay pri, was found ad on Friday at his home New York Cy. He was Jon, a iend and gay rights activist who nfirmed the ath, said that Mr.

GILBERT BAKER, CREATOR OF THE GAY PRI RABOW FLAG, DI AT 65

Gilbert Baker was overwhelmed when he saw the Whe Hoe l like a rabow. “Oh my God,” said the maker of the inic flag of the gay muny. * baker gay flag *

Baker had a stroke several years ago but had not been sick the gay rights movement spread om San Francis and New York the 1970s, Mr. His creatns, like others durg that time, often clud the pk triangle, which protters had claimed as an in after s ial e by the Nazis to intify gay men ncentratn mps durg World War a gay pri para 1978 San Francis, Harvey Milk, a cy supervisor and gay rights lear who was assassated that year, joed others askg Mr. Baker to create an emblem to reprent the Baker, wh help om volunteers, filled trash ns wh dye the attic of the Gay Communy Center San Francis and pieced together the first flags, unveilg them the para on June 25, 1978.

GILBERT {LOR:#595959;FONT-FAY:GILROY,HELVETI,ARIAL,SANS-SERIF;FONT-WEIGHT:600;MARG-BOTTOM:0.625REM;}@MEDIA(MAX-WIDTH: 48REM){{FONT-SIZE:0.875REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.2;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 48REM){{FONT-SIZE:1.25REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.2;}} A{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN-THICKNS:0.0625REM;TEXT-RATN-LOR:HER;TEXT-UNRLE-OFFSET:0.25REM;LOR:HER;-WEBK-TRANSN:ALL 0.3S EASE--OUT;TRANSN:ALL 0.3S EASE--OUT;} A:HOVER{LOR:#A00000;TEXT-RATN-LOR:BORR-LK-BODY-HOVER;}GILBERT BAKER WAS AN ARTIST AND LGBTQ RIGHTS ACTIVIST WHO CREATED THE RABOW {MARG-BOTTOM:0.625REM;PADDG-RIGHT:0.3125REM;LOR:#323232;FONT-FAY:GILROY,HELVETI,ARIAL,SANS-SERIF;FONT-SIZE:0.75REM;LE-HEIGHT:1;FONT-WEIGHT:800;} SPAN{LE-HEIGHT:1.6;FONT-FAY:GILROY,HELVETI,ARIAL,SANS-SERIF;}{FONT-STYLE:NORMAL;PADDG-RIGHT:0.3125REM;FONT-FAY:RALAS,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;LOR:#323232;FONT-SIZE:0.75REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.3;FONT-WEIGHT:BOLD;TEXT-TRANSFORM:PALIZE;}{PADDG-RIGHT:0.3125REM;FONT-FAY:RALAS,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;LOR:#323232;FONT-SIZE:0.75REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.3;FONT-WEIGHT:BOLD;TEXT-TRANSFORM:PALIZE;}{BORR-RADI:50%;VERTIL-ALIGN:MIDDLE;MARG-RIGHT:0.3125REM;OBJECT-F:VER;}BY {-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN-THICKNS:0.0625REM;TEXT-RATN-LOR:HER;TEXT-UNRLE-OFFSET:0.25REM;LOR:HER;-WEBK-TRANSN:ALL 0.3S EASE--OUT;TRANSN:ALL 0.3S EASE--OUT;}{LOR:#A00000;TEXT-RATN-LOR:BORR-LK-BODY-HOVER;} {DISPLAY:LE-BLOCK;TEXT-TRANSFORM:UPPERSE;MARG-LEFT:0.625REM;FONT-FAY:GILROY,HELVETI,ARIAL,SANS-SERIF;FONT-SIZE:0.75REM;LE-HEIGHT:1;FONT-WEIGHT:800;}UPDATED: MAY 11, {DISPLAY:-WEBK-BOX;DISPLAY:-WEBK-FLEX;DISPLAY:-MS-FLEXBOX;DISPLAY:FLEX;}{MARG-BOTTOM:0.9375REM;POSN:RELATIVE;}@MEDIA(MAX-WIDTH: 64REM){{MAX-WIDTH:LC(100VW - (1REM * 2));MARG-LEFT:1REM;MARG-RIGHT:1REM;} .E152U5OS0{WIDTH:100VW;MARG-LEFT:LC(-1 * 1REM);}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 48REM) AND (MAX-WIDTH: 61.25REM){{MARG-LEFT:TO;MARG-RIGHT:TO;} .E152U5OS0{WIDTH:100VW;MARG-LEFT:LC((100VW - (LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM) - 2 * 1REM)) / -2);}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 61.25REM) AND (MAX-WIDTH: 90REM){{MAX-WIDTH:LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM);MARG-LEFT:LC((100VW - LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM) - 1REM - 20.625REM) / 2);PADDG-LEFT:1REM;PADDG-RIGHT:1REM;} .E152U5OS0{WIDTH:100VW;MARG-LEFT:LC(LC((100VW - LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM) - 1REM - 20.625REM) / -2) - 1REM);}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 90REM){{MARG-LEFT:LC((100VW - LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM)) / 2);MAX-WIDTH:LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM);PADDG-LEFT:1REM;PADDG-RIGHT:1REM;} .E152U5OS0{WIDTH:100VW;MARG-LEFT:LC(LC((100VW - LC(20.625REM * 2 + 1REM)) / -2) - LC(2 * 1REM));}[DATA-HAS-SPONSOR] {MARG-LEFT:LC((100VW - LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM)) / 4);MARG-RIGHT:LC((100VW - LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM)) / 4);}}{JTIFY-SELF:CENTER;POSN:RELATIVE;}@MEDIA(MAX-WIDTH: 48REM){{MARG-LEFT:-50VW;MARG-RIGHT:-50VW;WIDTH:100VW;LEFT:50%;RIGHT:50%;}}{HEIGHT:TO;}@MEDIA(MAX-WIDTH: 48REM){{MARG:TO LC(50% - 50VW);}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 48REM){{MARG:TO;}}{POSN:RELATIVE;HEIGHT:TO;}{POSN:RELATIVE;WIDTH:100%;HEIGHT:100%;OBJECT-F:VER;VERTIL-ALIGN:TOP;}{LE-HEIGHT:1;MARG-TOP:0.3125REM;}@MEDIA(MAX-WIDTH: 73.75REM){{PADDG-LEFT:0.9375REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 64REM){{PADDG-LEFT:0;}}{PADDG-RIGHT:0.3125REM;LOR:#595959;FONT-FAY:GILROY,HELVETI,ARIAL,SANS-SERIF;FONT-SIZE:0.75REM;LE-HEIGHT:1;FONT-WEIGHT:800;}GETTY {FONT-FAY:CHARTER,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;FONT-SIZE:1.1875REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.6;PADDG-LEFT:0REM;PADDG-RIGHT:0REM;POSN:RELATIVE;}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 48REM){{PADDG-LEFT:3.5REM;PADDG-RIGHT:3.5REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 48REM) AND (MAX-WIDTH: 61.25REM){{MAX-WIDTH:45.25REM;MARG-LEFT:TO;MARG-RIGHT:TO;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 61.25REM){{PADDG-LEFT:0REM;PADDG-RIGHT:0REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 73.75REM) AND (MAX-WIDTH: 100REM){{PADDG-LEFT:0REM;PADDG-RIGHT:0REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 90REM){{PADDG-LEFT:0REM;PADDG-RIGHT:0REM;}} EM{FONT-STYLE:ALIC;FONT-FAY:CHARTER,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;} STRONG{FONT-FAY:CHARTER,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;FONT-WEIGHT:BOLD;}{CLEAR:BOTH;NTENT:" ";DISPLAY:BLOCK;FONT-SIZE:0.7REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.5REM;HEIGHT:0REM;VISIBILY:HIDN;}{FONT-FAY:CHARTER,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;FONT-SIZE:1.1875REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.6;} STRONG{FONT-FAY:CHARTER,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;FONT-WEIGHT:BOLD;} EM{FONT-STYLE:ALIC;FONT-FAY:CHARTER,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;}(1951-2017){LOR:#323232;FONT-FAY:GILROY,HELVETI,ARIAL,SANS-SERIF;FONT-WEIGHT:800;LETTER-SPACG:0.02EM;MARG-BOTTOM:0.625REM;MARG-TOP:0.625REM;}@MEDIA(MAX-WIDTH: 48REM){{FONT-SIZE:1.875REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.1;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 48REM){{FONT-SIZE:2REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.1;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 64REM){{FONT-SIZE:2REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.1;}} B, STRONG{FONT-FAY:HER;FONT-WEIGHT:BOLD;} EM, I{FONT-FAY:HER;FONT-STYLE:ALIC;}WHO WAS GILBERT BAKER? SELF-SCRIBED AS THE “GAY BETSY ROSS,” GILBERT BAKER WAS AN AMERIN ARTIST, LGBTQ RIGHTS ACTIVIST AND THE CREATOR OF THE RABOW FLAG. A SKILLED VEXILLOGRAPHER (FLAG MAKER), HIS WORK SPANNED 30 YEARS AND BROKE TWO WORLD RERDS. BAKER’S ARTISTIC WORK HELPED FE AND SOLIDIFY THE LGBTQ MOVEMENT. HE DIED ON MARCH 31, 2017, AT THE AGE OF 65.EARLY LIFE GILBERT BAKER WAS BORN ON JUNE 2, 1951 THE TY RAL TOWN OF CHANUTE, KANSAS. HIS PARENTS WERE PROMENT MUNY CIZENS; HIS MOTHER WAS AN TOR AND HIS FATHER SERVED AS A JUDGE AND LAWYER. BAKER HAD AN OUTGOG AND IENDLY PERSONALY AS A CHILD BUT FELT OSTRACIZED BEE OF HIS GAY INTY. AFTER GRADUATG OM HIGH SCHOOL, BAKER ATTEND LLEGE FOR A YEAR BEFORE THE ARMY DRAFTED HIM. BAKER WAS STATNED SAN FRANCIS JT AS THE GAY LIBERATN MOVEMENT WAS BEGNG TO TAKE SHAPE. AFTER SERVG A SHORT TWO-YEAR TERM, HE WAS HONORABLY DISCHARGED AND SETTLED TO THE THRIVG ACTIVIST MUNY OF SAN FRANCIS.ACTIVISMIN THE 1970S, BAKER PARTICIPATED DRAG SHOWS AND JOED THE SISTERS OF PERPETUAL INDULGENCE, A NON-PROF LGBTQ ADVOCY GROUP WHOSE MEMBERS DRS AS NUNS TO BRG ATTENTN TO GENR AND SEXUAL TOLERANCE. AN EMERGG ACTIVIST AND PROMENT DRAG PERFORMER, BAKER JOED FORC WH {-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN-THICKNS:0.0625REM;TEXT-RATN-LOR:HER;TEXT-UNRLE-OFFSET:0.25REM;LOR:#A00000;-WEBK-TRANSN:ALL 0.3S EASE--OUT;TRANSN:ALL 0.3S EASE--OUT;}{LOR:#595959;TEXT-RATN-LOR:BORR-LK-BODY-HOVER;}HARVEY MILK—THE FIRST OPENLY GAY ELECTED OFFICIAL CALIFORNIA. BAKER BEME MILK’S RIGHT-HAND FLAG MAN, UTILIZG HIS DRAG QUEEN STUME SEWG SKILLS TO SIGN AND STCH NUMERO BANNERS PROTTG THE VIETNAM WAR AND SUPPORTG GAY RIGHTS. IN FACT, WHEN BAKER’S VERY FIRST RABOW FLAGS MA THEIR BUT, MILK STOOD BENEATH THEM. WHY DID GILBERT BAKER MAKE THE PRI FLAG? WH CREASG TERT THE GAY LIBERATN MOVEMENT, MILK AND OTHERS JOED FORC WH BAKER TO CREATE A SYMBOL FOR THE MOVEMENT. THE GROUP FOCED THEIR EFFORTS ON CREATG A FLAG—BEE "FLAGS ARE ABOUT PROCLAIMG POWER, SO 'S VERY APPROPRIATE," BAKER SAID AN TERVIEW WH THE NEW YORK MM OF MORN ART JT AFTER THEY ACQUIRED HIS ORIGAL FLAG SIGN 2015.BAKER GOT TO WORK SIGNG A SYMBOL FOR THE GAY LIBERATN MOVEMENT 1978. HE WANTED TO BE BETIFUL, UNIQUE AND AN UNNIABLE REPRENTATN OF THE LGBTQ MUNY. THE FIRST PRI FLAG WAS PRISED OF EIGHT LORFUL STRIP REPRENTG DIVERSY: HOT PK (SEXUALY), RED (LIFE), ORANGE (HEALG), YELLOW (SUN), GREEN (NATURE), BLUE (ART), DIGO (HARMONY) AND VLET (HUMAN SPIR). WH HELP OM VOLUNTEERS, BAKER FILLED EIGHT METAL TRASH NS WH NATURAL DY AND ANIC TTON THE ATTIC OF THE GAY COMMUNY CENTER SAN FRANCIS AND ED HIS SEWG MACHE TO STCH TOGETHER THE FIRST TWO FLAGS THAT FLEW THE SAN FRANCIS GAY FREEDOM DAY PARA ON JUNE 25, 1978. AFTER THE ASSASSATN OF MILK NOVEMBER 1978, MAND FOR THE RABOW FLAG GREATLY CREASED. BUT THE SHORTAGE (AND EXPENSE) OF HOT PK FABRIC MEANT THAT THE FLAG WAS RCED TO SEVEN STRIP, LATER TO BE RCED AGA TO SIX STRIP (RED, ORANGE, YELLOW, GREEN, BLUE AND VLET) TO ACUNT FOR SYMMETRY IF THE FLAG MT BE SPL HALF DURG PARAS AND FTIVALS. THE CURRENT SIX-STRIPED RABOW PRI FLAG SYMBOLIZ THE DIVERSY OF THE LGBTQ MUNY AND IS DISPLAYED GLOBALLY AS AN EMBLEM OF LGBTQ SUPPORT.MORE RABOW FLAGS AND ARTWORKBAKER NTUED TO PROMOTE THE RABOW FLAG AS AN ARTIST AT PARAMOUNT FLAG COMPANY, WHICH HE CREDS WH HELPG BRG TERNATNAL ATTENTN TO THE RABOW FLAG THROUGH S MASS PRODUCTN. THROUGHOUT THE 1980S, BAKER BEME A PROMENT ARTIST FOR LOL CIVIC, STATE AND NATNAL EVENTS, CLUDG THE 1984 DEMOCRATIC NATNAL CONVENTN. HE ALSO SIGNED FLAGS FOR SEVERAL WORLD LEARS CLUDG THE PREMIER OF CHA, THE KG OF SPA AND THE PRINTS OF FRANCE AND VENEZUELA, AMONG OTHERS. ONE OF BAKER’S 1992 RABOW SILKSCREENS EVEN HUNG THE WT WG OFFICE PLEX OF THE WHE HOE DURG BILL CLTON’S PRINCY. BAKER SHARED HIS RABOW FLAG TEXTIL, PHOTOGRAPHS, OIL PATGS AND OTHER ARTWORK WH DIENC AROUND THE WORLD CLUDG AT WORLD PRI ROME (2000), AT THE NEW YORK GAY COMMUNY CENTER (2002), AT THE SAN FRANCIS PUBLIC LIBRARY (2003) AND AT THE SAN FRANCIS LGBT COMMUNY CENTER (2003). HIS ORIGAL FLAG SIGN HAS BEEN ACQUIRED FOR THE PRTIG MOMA'S SIGN LLECTN NEW YORK CY.RERD-BREAKG RABOW FLAGSIN 1994, BAKER WAS MISSNED TO SIGN A E LONG (30-FEET-WI) RABOW FLAG TO BE RRIED BY 10,000 PEOPLE A NEW YORK CY PARA HONORG THE 25TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE STONEWALL UPRISG. IN 2003, TO MEMORATE THE 25TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE FLAG SELF, BAKER AGA CREATED A GIANT RABOW PRI FLAG. THIS TIME, THE E-AND-A-QUARTER-LONG FLAG THAT STRETCHED SEA TO SEA OM THE GULF OF MEXI TO THE ATLANTIC OCEAN KEY WT EMPLOYED THE ORIGAL EIGHT LORS. FOLLOWG BOTH OCSNS, GUNS WORLD RERD’S REGNIZED THEM AS THE WORLD’S LARGT FLAGS TO DATE. THE GIANT FLAGS WERE CUT UP AND DISSEMATED TO MORE THAN A HUNDRED CI WORLDWI.DEATH AND TRIBUTIN ADDN TO VELOPG THE TERNATNALLY REGNIZED SYMBOL OF LGBTQ PRI, BAKER CREATED ARTWORK, SAYS, ARTICL AND SPEECH ABOUT THE RABOW FLAG. HIS FLAGS WERE NEVER TRAMARKED; HE CHOSE TO SEE THE RABOW FLAG AS HIS GIFT TO THE WORLD. HE EVEN RETURNED TO SAN FRANCIS TO RECREATE THE BANNERS AND FLAGS HE ORIGALLY MA THE 1970S TO BRG THENTICY TO THE AMY AWARD WNG FEATURE FILM MILK (2008) STARRG SEAN PENN. AN ARTIST UNTIL THE END, JT BEFORE HIS ATH, HE CREATED 39 NE-LOR FLAGS WHICH CLUD "THE EIGHT ORIGAL LORS, PL LAVENR TO REPRENT DIVERSY ORR TO MEMORATE THE 39TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE FIRST RABOW FLAG," SO STATED HIS OBUARY THE NEW YORK TIM. ON MARCH 31, 2017, BAKER DIED OM HYPERTENSIVE AND ATHEROSCLEROTIC RDVASCULAR DISEASE HIS NEW YORK CY HOME AT AGE 65. HIS LIFE IS CELEBRATED THE DOCUMENTARY, RABOW PRI (2003), AND HIS ORIGAL SEWG MACHE ED TO CREATE THE FIRST FLAG IS ON DISPLAY AT THE GLBT HISTORIL SOCIETY SAN {BORR:0;BORR-BOTTOM:TH SOLID BLACK;MARG:1.875REM 0;CLEAR:BOTH;}QUICK FACTS

June is Lbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgenr pri month, and the rabow flag -- that inic symbol for gay pri -- is flyg om Athens to San Francis to Brazil. Enter artist Gilbert Baker, the man who first me up wh the flag's sign some 34 years ago. * baker gay flag *

Baker, who created the rabow flag that beme a gay pri symbol, died on s troductn, the rabow flag has bee a universal symbol for cln, peace and love.

It has been waved by gay rights supporters Cha fightg for equaly. After the Uned Stat Supreme Court legalized gay marriage 2015, more than 26 ln people on Facebook changed their profile photos to clu the flag self has changed sce 1978, gog to six lors om eight. He served as a medic and was eventually statned San Francis, where he remaed after leavg the Army Francis was then a center for the women’s rights and civil rights movements, and after a police raid 1969 at the Stonewall Inn Manhattan, a gatherg spot for gay New Yorkers, more people began g out as gay.

DIGNER OF RABOW FLAG, ENDURG SYMBOL FOR GAY RIGHTS, HAS DIED

* baker gay flag *

He created rabow flags for the recent ABC mi-seri “When We Rise, ” about the gay-rights recent weeks he had fished creatg 39 ne-lor flags — the eight origal lors, pl lavenr to reprent diversy — to memorate the 39th anniversary of the first rabow flag. A versn of this article appears prt on, Sectn B, Page 7 of the New York edn wh the headle: Gilbert Baker, 65, ‘Gay Betsy Ross’ of the Rabow Flag.

GILBERT {LOR:#595959;FONT-FAY:GILROY,HELVETI,ARIAL,SANS-SERIF;FONT-WEIGHT:600;MARG-BOTTOM:0.625REM;}@MEDIA(MAX-WIDTH: 48REM){{FONT-SIZE:0.875REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.2;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 48REM){{FONT-SIZE:1.25REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.2;}} A{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN-THICKNS:0.0625REM;TEXT-RATN-LOR:HER;TEXT-UNRLE-OFFSET:0.25REM;LOR:HER;-WEBK-TRANSN:ALL 0.3S EASE--OUT;TRANSN:ALL 0.3S EASE--OUT;} A:HOVER{LOR:#A00000;TEXT-RATN-LOR:BORR-LK-BODY-HOVER;}GILBERT BAKER WAS AN ARTIST AND LGBTQ RIGHTS ACTIVIST WHO CREATED THE RABOW {MARG-BOTTOM:0.625REM;PADDG-RIGHT:0.3125REM;LOR:#323232;FONT-FAY:GILROY,HELVETI,ARIAL,SANS-SERIF;FONT-SIZE:0.75REM;LE-HEIGHT:1;FONT-WEIGHT:800;} SPAN{LE-HEIGHT:1.6;FONT-FAY:GILROY,HELVETI,ARIAL,SANS-SERIF;}{FONT-STYLE:NORMAL;PADDG-RIGHT:0.3125REM;FONT-FAY:RALAS,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;LOR:#323232;FONT-SIZE:0.75REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.3;FONT-WEIGHT:BOLD;TEXT-TRANSFORM:PALIZE;}{PADDG-RIGHT:0.3125REM;FONT-FAY:RALAS,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;LOR:#323232;FONT-SIZE:0.75REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.3;FONT-WEIGHT:BOLD;TEXT-TRANSFORM:PALIZE;}{BORR-RADI:50%;VERTIL-ALIGN:MIDDLE;MARG-RIGHT:0.3125REM;OBJECT-F:VER;}BY {-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN-THICKNS:0.0625REM;TEXT-RATN-LOR:HER;TEXT-UNRLE-OFFSET:0.25REM;LOR:HER;-WEBK-TRANSN:ALL 0.3S EASE--OUT;TRANSN:ALL 0.3S EASE--OUT;}{LOR:#A00000;TEXT-RATN-LOR:BORR-LK-BODY-HOVER;} {DISPLAY:LE-BLOCK;TEXT-TRANSFORM:UPPERSE;MARG-LEFT:0.625REM;FONT-FAY:GILROY,HELVETI,ARIAL,SANS-SERIF;FONT-SIZE:0.75REM;LE-HEIGHT:1;FONT-WEIGHT:800;}UPDATED: MAY 11, {DISPLAY:-WEBK-BOX;DISPLAY:-WEBK-FLEX;DISPLAY:-MS-FLEXBOX;DISPLAY:FLEX;}{MARG-BOTTOM:0.9375REM;POSN:RELATIVE;}@MEDIA(MAX-WIDTH: 64REM){{MAX-WIDTH:LC(100VW - (1REM * 2));MARG-LEFT:1REM;MARG-RIGHT:1REM;} .E152U5OS0{WIDTH:100VW;MARG-LEFT:LC(-1 * 1REM);}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 48REM) AND (MAX-WIDTH: 61.25REM){{MARG-LEFT:TO;MARG-RIGHT:TO;} .E152U5OS0{WIDTH:100VW;MARG-LEFT:LC((100VW - (LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM) - 2 * 1REM)) / -2);}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 61.25REM) AND (MAX-WIDTH: 90REM){{MAX-WIDTH:LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM);MARG-LEFT:LC((100VW - LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM) - 1REM - 20.625REM) / 2);PADDG-LEFT:1REM;PADDG-RIGHT:1REM;} .E152U5OS0{WIDTH:100VW;MARG-LEFT:LC(LC((100VW - LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM) - 1REM - 20.625REM) / -2) - 1REM);}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 90REM){{MARG-LEFT:LC((100VW - LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM)) / 2);MAX-WIDTH:LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM);PADDG-LEFT:1REM;PADDG-RIGHT:1REM;} .E152U5OS0{WIDTH:100VW;MARG-LEFT:LC(LC((100VW - LC(20.625REM * 2 + 1REM)) / -2) - LC(2 * 1REM));}[DATA-HAS-SPONSOR] {MARG-LEFT:LC((100VW - LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM)) / 4);MARG-RIGHT:LC((100VW - LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM)) / 4);}}{JTIFY-SELF:CENTER;POSN:RELATIVE;}@MEDIA(MAX-WIDTH: 48REM){{MARG-LEFT:-50VW;MARG-RIGHT:-50VW;WIDTH:100VW;LEFT:50%;RIGHT:50%;}}{HEIGHT:TO;}@MEDIA(MAX-WIDTH: 48REM){{MARG:TO LC(50% - 50VW);}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 48REM){{MARG:TO;}}{POSN:RELATIVE;HEIGHT:TO;}{POSN:RELATIVE;WIDTH:100%;HEIGHT:100%;OBJECT-F:VER;VERTIL-ALIGN:TOP;}{LE-HEIGHT:1;MARG-TOP:0.3125REM;}@MEDIA(MAX-WIDTH: 73.75REM){{PADDG-LEFT:0.9375REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 64REM){{PADDG-LEFT:0;}}{PADDG-RIGHT:0.3125REM;LOR:#595959;FONT-FAY:GILROY,HELVETI,ARIAL,SANS-SERIF;FONT-SIZE:0.75REM;LE-HEIGHT:1;FONT-WEIGHT:800;}GETTY {FONT-FAY:CHARTER,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;FONT-SIZE:1.1875REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.6;PADDG-LEFT:0REM;PADDG-RIGHT:0REM;POSN:RELATIVE;}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 48REM){{PADDG-LEFT:3.5REM;PADDG-RIGHT:3.5REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 48REM) AND (MAX-WIDTH: 61.25REM){{MAX-WIDTH:45.25REM;MARG-LEFT:TO;MARG-RIGHT:TO;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 61.25REM){{PADDG-LEFT:0REM;PADDG-RIGHT:0REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 73.75REM) AND (MAX-WIDTH: 100REM){{PADDG-LEFT:0REM;PADDG-RIGHT:0REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 90REM){{PADDG-LEFT:0REM;PADDG-RIGHT:0REM;}} EM{FONT-STYLE:ALIC;FONT-FAY:CHARTER,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;} STRONG{FONT-FAY:CHARTER,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;FONT-WEIGHT:BOLD;}{CLEAR:BOTH;NTENT:" ";DISPLAY:BLOCK;FONT-SIZE:0.7REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.5REM;HEIGHT:0REM;VISIBILY:HIDN;}{FONT-FAY:CHARTER,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;FONT-SIZE:1.1875REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.6;} STRONG{FONT-FAY:CHARTER,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;FONT-WEIGHT:BOLD;} EM{FONT-STYLE:ALIC;FONT-FAY:CHARTER,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;}(1951-2017){LOR:#323232;FONT-FAY:GILROY,HELVETI,ARIAL,SANS-SERIF;FONT-WEIGHT:800;LETTER-SPACG:0.02EM;MARG-BOTTOM:0.625REM;MARG-TOP:0.625REM;}@MEDIA(MAX-WIDTH: 48REM){{FONT-SIZE:1.875REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.1;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 48REM){{FONT-SIZE:2REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.1;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 64REM){{FONT-SIZE:2REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.1;}} B, STRONG{FONT-FAY:HER;FONT-WEIGHT:BOLD;} EM, I{FONT-FAY:HER;FONT-STYLE:ALIC;}WHO WAS GILBERT BAKER? SELF-SCRIBED AS THE “GAY BETSY ROSS,” GILBERT BAKER WAS AN AMERIN ARTIST, LGBTQ RIGHTS ACTIVIST AND THE CREATOR OF THE RABOW FLAG. A SKILLED VEXILLOGRAPHER (FLAG MAKER), HIS WORK SPANNED 30 YEARS AND BROKE TWO WORLD RERDS. BAKER’S ARTISTIC WORK HELPED FE AND SOLIDIFY THE LGBTQ MOVEMENT. HE DIED ON MARCH 31, 2017, AT THE AGE OF 65.EARLY LIFE GILBERT BAKER WAS BORN ON JUNE 2, 1951 THE TY RAL TOWN OF CHANUTE, KANSAS. HIS PARENTS WERE PROMENT MUNY CIZENS; HIS MOTHER WAS AN TOR AND HIS FATHER SERVED AS A JUDGE AND LAWYER. BAKER HAD AN OUTGOG AND IENDLY PERSONALY AS A CHILD BUT FELT OSTRACIZED BEE OF HIS GAY INTY. AFTER GRADUATG OM HIGH SCHOOL, BAKER ATTEND LLEGE FOR A YEAR BEFORE THE ARMY DRAFTED HIM. BAKER WAS STATNED SAN FRANCIS JT AS THE GAY LIBERATN MOVEMENT WAS BEGNG TO TAKE SHAPE. AFTER SERVG A SHORT TWO-YEAR TERM, HE WAS HONORABLY DISCHARGED AND SETTLED TO THE THRIVG ACTIVIST MUNY OF SAN FRANCIS.ACTIVISMIN THE 1970S, BAKER PARTICIPATED DRAG SHOWS AND JOED THE SISTERS OF PERPETUAL INDULGENCE, A NON-PROF LGBTQ ADVOCY GROUP WHOSE MEMBERS DRS AS NUNS TO BRG ATTENTN TO GENR AND SEXUAL TOLERANCE. AN EMERGG ACTIVIST AND PROMENT DRAG PERFORMER, BAKER JOED FORC WH {-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN-THICKNS:0.0625REM;TEXT-RATN-LOR:HER;TEXT-UNRLE-OFFSET:0.25REM;LOR:#A00000;-WEBK-TRANSN:ALL 0.3S EASE--OUT;TRANSN:ALL 0.3S EASE--OUT;}{LOR:#595959;TEXT-RATN-LOR:BORR-LK-BODY-HOVER;}HARVEY MILK—THE FIRST OPENLY GAY ELECTED OFFICIAL CALIFORNIA. BAKER BEME MILK’S RIGHT-HAND FLAG MAN, UTILIZG HIS DRAG QUEEN STUME SEWG SKILLS TO SIGN AND STCH NUMERO BANNERS PROTTG THE VIETNAM WAR AND SUPPORTG GAY RIGHTS. IN FACT, WHEN BAKER’S VERY FIRST RABOW FLAGS MA THEIR BUT, MILK STOOD BENEATH THEM. WHY DID GILBERT BAKER MAKE THE PRI FLAG? WH CREASG TERT THE GAY LIBERATN MOVEMENT, MILK AND OTHERS JOED FORC WH BAKER TO CREATE A SYMBOL FOR THE MOVEMENT. THE GROUP FOCED THEIR EFFORTS ON CREATG A FLAG—BEE "FLAGS ARE ABOUT PROCLAIMG POWER, SO 'S VERY APPROPRIATE," BAKER SAID AN TERVIEW WH THE NEW YORK MM OF MORN ART JT AFTER THEY ACQUIRED HIS ORIGAL FLAG SIGN 2015.BAKER GOT TO WORK SIGNG A SYMBOL FOR THE GAY LIBERATN MOVEMENT 1978. HE WANTED TO BE BETIFUL, UNIQUE AND AN UNNIABLE REPRENTATN OF THE LGBTQ MUNY. THE FIRST PRI FLAG WAS PRISED OF EIGHT LORFUL STRIP REPRENTG DIVERSY: HOT PK (SEXUALY), RED (LIFE), ORANGE (HEALG), YELLOW (SUN), GREEN (NATURE), BLUE (ART), DIGO (HARMONY) AND VLET (HUMAN SPIR). WH HELP OM VOLUNTEERS, BAKER FILLED EIGHT METAL TRASH NS WH NATURAL DY AND ANIC TTON THE ATTIC OF THE GAY COMMUNY CENTER SAN FRANCIS AND ED HIS SEWG MACHE TO STCH TOGETHER THE FIRST TWO FLAGS THAT FLEW THE SAN FRANCIS GAY FREEDOM DAY PARA ON JUNE 25, 1978. AFTER THE ASSASSATN OF MILK NOVEMBER 1978, MAND FOR THE RABOW FLAG GREATLY CREASED. BUT THE SHORTAGE (AND EXPENSE) OF HOT PK FABRIC MEANT THAT THE FLAG WAS RCED TO SEVEN STRIP, LATER TO BE RCED AGA TO SIX STRIP (RED, ORANGE, YELLOW, GREEN, BLUE AND VLET) TO ACUNT FOR SYMMETRY IF THE FLAG MT BE SPL HALF DURG PARAS AND FTIVALS. THE CURRENT SIX-STRIPED RABOW PRI FLAG SYMBOLIZ THE DIVERSY OF THE LGBTQ MUNY AND IS DISPLAYED GLOBALLY AS AN EMBLEM OF LGBTQ SUPPORT.MORE RABOW FLAGS AND ARTWORKBAKER NTUED TO PROMOTE THE RABOW FLAG AS AN ARTIST AT PARAMOUNT FLAG COMPANY, WHICH HE CREDS WH HELPG BRG TERNATNAL ATTENTN TO THE RABOW FLAG THROUGH S MASS PRODUCTN. THROUGHOUT THE 1980S, BAKER BEME A PROMENT ARTIST FOR LOL CIVIC, STATE AND NATNAL EVENTS, CLUDG THE 1984 DEMOCRATIC NATNAL CONVENTN. HE ALSO SIGNED FLAGS FOR SEVERAL WORLD LEARS CLUDG THE PREMIER OF CHA, THE KG OF SPA AND THE PRINTS OF FRANCE AND VENEZUELA, AMONG OTHERS. ONE OF BAKER’S 1992 RABOW SILKSCREENS EVEN HUNG THE WT WG OFFICE PLEX OF THE WHE HOE DURG BILL CLTON’S PRINCY. BAKER SHARED HIS RABOW FLAG TEXTIL, PHOTOGRAPHS, OIL PATGS AND OTHER ARTWORK WH DIENC AROUND THE WORLD CLUDG AT WORLD PRI ROME (2000), AT THE NEW YORK GAY COMMUNY CENTER (2002), AT THE SAN FRANCIS PUBLIC LIBRARY (2003) AND AT THE SAN FRANCIS LGBT COMMUNY CENTER (2003). HIS ORIGAL FLAG SIGN HAS BEEN ACQUIRED FOR THE PRTIG MOMA'S SIGN LLECTN NEW YORK CY.RERD-BREAKG RABOW FLAGSIN 1994, BAKER WAS MISSNED TO SIGN A E LONG (30-FEET-WI) RABOW FLAG TO BE RRIED BY 10,000 PEOPLE A NEW YORK CY PARA HONORG THE 25TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE STONEWALL UPRISG. IN 2003, TO MEMORATE THE 25TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE FLAG SELF, BAKER AGA CREATED A GIANT RABOW PRI FLAG. THIS TIME, THE E-AND-A-QUARTER-LONG FLAG THAT STRETCHED SEA TO SEA OM THE GULF OF MEXI TO THE ATLANTIC OCEAN KEY WT EMPLOYED THE ORIGAL EIGHT LORS. FOLLOWG BOTH OCSNS, GUNS WORLD RERD’S REGNIZED THEM AS THE WORLD’S LARGT FLAGS TO DATE. THE GIANT FLAGS WERE CUT UP AND DISSEMATED TO MORE THAN A HUNDRED CI WORLDWI.DEATH AND TRIBUTIN ADDN TO VELOPG THE TERNATNALLY REGNIZED SYMBOL OF LGBTQ PRI, BAKER CREATED ARTWORK, SAYS, ARTICL AND SPEECH ABOUT THE RABOW FLAG. HIS FLAGS WERE NEVER TRAMARKED; HE CHOSE TO SEE THE RABOW FLAG AS HIS GIFT TO THE WORLD. HE EVEN RETURNED TO SAN FRANCIS TO RECREATE THE BANNERS AND FLAGS HE ORIGALLY MA THE 1970S TO BRG THENTICY TO THE AMY AWARD WNG FEATURE FILM MILK (2008) STARRG SEAN PENN. AN ARTIST UNTIL THE END, JT BEFORE HIS ATH, HE CREATED 39 NE-LOR FLAGS WHICH CLUD "THE EIGHT ORIGAL LORS, PL LAVENR TO REPRENT DIVERSY ORR TO MEMORATE THE 39TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE FIRST RABOW FLAG," SO STATED HIS OBUARY THE NEW YORK TIM. ON MARCH 31, 2017, BAKER DIED OM HYPERTENSIVE AND ATHEROSCLEROTIC RDVASCULAR DISEASE HIS NEW YORK CY HOME AT AGE 65. HIS LIFE IS CELEBRATED THE DOCUMENTARY, RABOW PRI (2003), AND HIS ORIGAL SEWG MACHE ED TO CREATE THE FIRST FLAG IS ON DISPLAY AT THE GLBT HISTORIL SOCIETY SAN {BORR:0;BORR-BOTTOM:TH SOLID BLACK;MARG:1.875REM 0;CLEAR:BOTH;}QUICK FACTS

It go back to 1978, when the artist Gilbert Baker, an openly gay man and a drag queen, signed the first rabow flag. Baker later revealed that he was urged by Harvey Milk, one of the first openly gay elected officials the U. S., to create a symbol of pri for the gay muny.

As he later said an terview, “Our job as gay people was to e out, to be visible, to live the tth, as I say, to get out of the lie. The first versns of the rabow flag were flown on June 25, 1978, for the San Francis Gay Freedom Day para.

This June the Natnal Archiv is celebratg Natnal Lbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgenr, and Queer Pri Month, which honors the important ntributns that LGBTQ+ Amerins have ma to Uned Stat history and culture. Today’s post looks at the man who created the inic gay pri flag: Gilbert Baker. As a child and young adult he ed art to pe om daily difficulti he faced for beg gay.

*BEAR-MAGAZINE.COM* BAKER GAY FLAG

Gilbert Baker, creator of the gay pri rabow flag, di at 65 - Los Angel Tim .

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