A pride flag is a flag that represents an orientation, gender, or other identity that is inherently LGBT+. Most flags use a variety of colors to represent LGBT+ identities, and some use other forms of symbolism as well.
History
The first pride flag was the rainbow flag to symbolize the entire LGBT+ community. The flag was created by artist, designer, and activist, Gilbert Baker, who felt that San Francisco's Gay Freedom Day Parade, held on June 25, 1978, was in need of a logo.[1] The flag represents the entirety of the LGBT community. The original flag had eight stripes, with each stripe having a specific meaning which were: hot pink representing sex, red representing life, orange representing healing, yellow representing sunlight, green representing nature, turquoise representing magic and art, indigo representing serenity, and violet representing spirit. The flag was later sold without the hot pink stripe due to lack of fabric in the shade of pink. In 1979, the design of the flag was changed again because, when the flag was hung vertically from the lamp posts of San Francisco's Market Street, the middle stripe was concealed by the lamp post. The turquoise stripe was removed due to the same reasons as the removal of the pink stripe.[2]
Since the creation of the rainbow flag, various others have made flags to represent various LGBT+ sexual orientations, romantic orientations, and genders.