Over the rainbow flag: The Gilbert Baker story
SAN FRANCISCO -- Go to any Pride parade and you'll see them. The ubiquitous rainbow flag can be found hanging from business and homes, clutched in hands, wrapped around shoulders and even painted on faces.
The flag holds special meaning for the LBGTQ+ community, and that includes 17-year-old Dante who lives in San Mateo County.
ALSO READ: Castro caretakers preserve surviving piece of original San Francisco rainbow flag
"It reminds me of first coming out. It reminds me of first discovering this community," remarked Dante.
To discover the roots of the rainbow flag, one needs to look no further than the story of the late Gilbert Baker. For this story, KPIX 5 turned to two of his best friends: former San Francisco Supervisor Jeff Sheehy and Charley Beal, an award-winning art director for film and television.
"Gilbert Baker, who created the rainbow flag, was such a unique person," recounted Sheehy.
"He was gender queer before there was gender queer, with a full beard, makeup, skirts, and high heels," added Beal.
Baker was born and raised in Kansas. As a child, he loved art and fashion design, which in a conservative state caused a fair share of problems for the young boy. At one point, Gilbert got drafted into the Army to fight in Vietnam.
"He just threw down his gun and refused to carry it. They made him a corpsman. They wouldn't kick him out. They made him a corpsman. So he's a medic," Sheehy told KPIX 5.
ALSO READ: New project documents the Pride flag around the world
That's how Gilbert ended up in San Francisco. Once here, he came out of the closet and met gay activist Harvey Milk. In 1978, after Milk had been elected the first openly gay San Francisco Supervisor, he asked Gilbert to design a new symbol for the LGBTQ+ community.
The timing was just before Gay Freedom Day, or what's now called the Pride parade.
"The first thing he decided what that this new symbol should be a flag. Up until then, people had used the pink triangle which was put upon us by the Nazis. And I know that some people were trying to reclaim it or rebrand it. Gilbert thought it was a downer." explained Beal.
Gilbert was drawn to the power of flags, according to Beal, who now runs the Gilbert Baker Foundation. Gilbert felt a rainbow and all of its spectrum would cover the diversity of the LGBTQ+ community. He and a group of volunteers went to work.
"They created these two magnificent 30-foot by 60-foot rainbow flags that went up on June 25th at the United Nations Plaza in San Francisco and the rest is history." exclaimed Beal.
Today the flag is recognized around the world.
In 2015, a year before Gilbert died, he presented one to President Obama. It was in thanks for lighting up the White House in Rainbow Colors when Gay Marriage was legalized by the U.S. Supreme Court.
Beal told KPIX 5 that the flag has become a symbol of equality and freedom, as well as sanctuary.
"That little rainbow sticker on a cafe or store means you're safe here regardless of your orientation or gender identify," explained Beal.
Dante, who identifies as queer, told KPIX 5 that he takes nothing for granted. The student plans on advocating for more equality, especially in communities of color. That said, Dante said it's time to raise a flag and celebrate Pride.
"I think it's important to celebrate Pride for the same reason it's important to celebrate anything: to keep hope! To keep hope and to keep community," Dante concluded
