Jones urged San Francisco friends to gather for an evening vigil under a rainbow flag in the city's Castro district. He was commissioned to create a flag by another gay icon, politician Harvey. He didn't reveal the cause, but the San Francisco Chronicle said the artist had died in his sleep at his home in New York late Thursday. The rainbow flag was created in 1978 by artist, designer, Vietnam War veteran and then-drag performer, Gilbert Baker. The rainbow flag is a symbol of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer ( LGBT) pride and LGBT social movements in use since the 1970s. Gilbert gave the world the Rainbow Flag he gave me 40 years of love and friendship,' Jones posted on Facebook. Six colored striped flag (from top to bottom): red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and violet. The former soldier was heavily involved within the San Francisco LGBT rights movement and was a close friend of murdered activist and politician Harvey Milk. American artist Gilbert Baker, who created the rainbow flag recognized around the world as a symbol of gay pride, has died, close friend and rights activist Cleve Jones announced Friday.īaker, who was 65, came up with the iconic eight-colored banner for San Francisco's 1978 gay freedom day, a precursor to the modern pride festival, having taught himself to sew in his 20s.
