Milk, of course, would go on to win a seat as a San Francisco city supervisor in 1977, becoming the first openly gay man elected to public office in California in the process. In 1974, Baker’s life changed forever when he was introduced to rising queer activist Harvey Milk, who owned a camera shop in San Francisco’s Castro district. After an honorable discharge from the military, he decided to remain in the City by the Bay to pursue a design career. A self-described “ geeky kid from Kansas,” Baker relocated to San Francisco as an Army draftee in 1970. The original rainbow pride flag dates back to 1978, when it was created by San Francisco-based queer artist Gilbert Baker for a mere $1,000.
This year alone, the iconic, six-stripe pattern has been seen in children’s books, at theme parks and on a seemingly endless series of clothing lines a revamped version of the design was worn by “Master of None” writer and star Lena Waithe as a “ queer superhero” cape at the Met Gala last month in New York.
Stroll across any number of cities throughout June, and you’ll find the near-ubiquitous presence of the rainbow pride flag, which has come to represent the LGBTQ community worldwide. OVER 40 YEARS, THE ICONIC, SIX-STRIPE FLAG HAS GENERATED A MYTHOLOGY OF ITS OWN.
