The First Gay Symbolism
Before the iconic rainbow flag, a universally known symbol for gay pride, there was the pink triangle. The pink triangle first appeared as a way for the Nazis to label the homosexual prisoners in the concentration camps. In the 1970s, it was reclaimed and used as a gay pride symbol. However, it wasn’t long till this would be replaced with the rainbow we know and love today.
Maybe the rainbow flag was inspired by the gay code, dating back to World War 2, of ‘Friend of Dorothy.’ This symbol or signifier for the gay community allowed, specifically gay men, to discuss or recognise other gay man by asking “are you a friend of Dorothy?” without heterosexual people knowing, as homosexuality was criminalised then. It’s believed that this came about because Dorothy, in answer to someone stating how ‘queer’ her friends are, replies “the queerness doesn’t matter, so long as they’re friends.”
In The Wizard of Oz, her friends do appear as ‘queer’ as the film pays homage to ‘sissies’ with the cowardly lion portrayal. Another icon or stereotype for gay men to relate to or recognise, making the Wizard of Oz an iconic gay film in the community, especially as it features a gay icon: Judy Garland, a fierce and talented diva who had many public struggles on and off screen, that homosexual community, at the time, related to.
The rainbow flag was invented in 1978, by Gilbert Baker in San Francisco, where it was flown for the first time in the San Francisco Gay Freedom Day Parade. He was commissioned by HArvey Milk, a San Francisco Supervisor, who was elected in 1977, being the first openly gay candidate to hold a high position in public office in a major American city.
Originally the colours of the first gay pride flag were:
Hot pink - sexuality
Red - life
Orange - healing
Yellow - sun
Green - nature
Turquoise - art
Indigo - harmony
Violet - spirit
Hot pink wasn’t able to be produced, so Paramount Flag company mass produced a seven-striped version instead of the eight-striped.
When it was announced that Harvey Milk was assassinated, outrage spread, especially among the gay community; the flag hung in his honour from the poles on both sides of MArket Street for the 1979 Gay Freedom Parade, as decided by the Gay Freedom Day Committee (recently known as the San Francisco LGBT Pride Celebration Committee).
Now the rainbow flag is a universal symbol for gay/queer pride and freedom, thanks to both Gilbert Baker and Harvey Milk.
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