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    The Story Behind The Rainbow Flag

    The colorful flag is used as a symbol of the LGBT community in nearly every corner of the globe, but it all started in San Francisco, CA.

    The rainbow flag is an iconic symbol for the LGBT community:

    It's easily recognized in nearly every corner of the globe:

    Who can we thank for this colorful symbol of unity and pride?

    You can thank Gilbert Baker:

    Gilbert's original rainbow flag had eight stripes:

    Each color with it's own meaning:

    Baker said of his design:

    Pink had to be dropped because, at the time, it was difficult to find for mass production.

    Indigo would later be removed so that the flag would have an even number of stripes:

    The first time the rainbow flag was used publicly was in 1978, at the San Francisco Gay and Lesbian Freedom Day Parade:

    Before the rainbow flag was created, the most widely used symbol was the pink triangle:

    The symbol was originally used by the Nazis in concentration camps to identify gay prisoners:

    In 1988, the rainbow flag came gained national attention in the U.S. after a man named John Stout sued his landlord for not allowing him to display the flag from his West Hollywood apartment.

    Gilerbt Baker famously said of his creation:

    Listen to Gilbert discuss his rainbow flag:

    View this video on YouTube

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