Gilbert Baker

Date of Birth: June 2, 1951

Zodiac Sign: Gemini

Date of Death: March 31, 2017

Biography

Gilbert Baker was an American artist and gay rights activist, best known for creating the rainbow flag, a symbol of LGBTQ pride and social movements. Born in Chanute, Kansas, Baker grew up in Parsons, Kansas, before moving to San Francisco in 1972 after being honorably discharged from the U.S. Army. In San Francisco, he became friends with Harvey Milk, the first openly gay elected official in California. Inspired by the need for a symbol to unite the LGBTQ community, Baker designed the first rainbow flag in 1978. The flag, initially hand-dyed and stitched by Baker himself, has since become a global icon. Throughout his life, Baker continued to advocate for LGBTQ rights and worked on various artistic projects that celebrated diversity and inclusion.

5 Interesting Facts about Gilbert Baker

1. Gilbert Baker’s original rainbow flag had eight colors, each representing a different aspect of life: pink for sex, red for life, orange for healing, yellow for sunlight, green for nature, turquoise for magic/art, indigo for serenity, and violet for spirit.

2. He refused to trademark the rainbow flag, believing it should be a symbol for everyone and not for profit.

3. Baker was also an accomplished drag performer, often appearing in public wearing vibrant, colorful outfits.

4. He created a mile-long rainbow flag to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the Stonewall Riots in 1994.

5. In 2015, the Museum of Modern Art in New York City added the rainbow flag to its permanent design collection, recognizing its significance as a design icon.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Gilbert Baker

1. “The flag is an action. It’s more than just the cloth and the stripes. When a person puts the rainbow flag on their car or their house, they’re not just flying a flag. They’re taking a stand.”

2. “We needed something beautiful, something from us.”

3. “I decided that we should have a flag, that a flag fit us as a symbol, that we are a people, a tribe if you will.”

4. “The rainbow is so perfect because it really fits our diversity in terms of race, gender, ages, all of those things. Plus, it’s a natural flag — it’s from the sky!”

5. “The rainbow flag is there and will always be there. It’s a positive, hopeful symbol of love and acceptance.”