San Francisco Mayor London Breed officially made the rainbow flag flying at Harvey Milk Plaza a city landmark in a signing, on Friday, September 13, 2024, held at the GLBT Historical Society Museum. The designation ensures that the original rainbow flag designed by Gilbert Baker is recognized as the official design and any suggested changes to it must be reviewed by the city’s Historic Preservation Commission.
In the final interviews with Baker before his death, with ABC7 News and the San Francisco Bay Times, Baker shared, “Pink is for sex and red for life, and orange for healing, yellow for sun, green for nature, turquoise for magic, blue for serenity, and purple for the spirit.”
The flag designed by Baker is now recognized internationally as a symbol of LGBTQ+ pride. In recent years, the original design has been modified to include additional colors to acknowledge Black, Brown, trans, and other identities.
Following the ceremony at the museum, civic and community leaders carried a new flag to Harvey Milk Plaza for the installation. The Castro Merchants Association oversaw the flag installation, as it does at other times when needed. As part of that effort, the association periodically holds community ceremonies to replace the flag, making sure that it is in good condition with its vibrant colors evident in the Castro for all to see year-round.
Published on September 19, 2024
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