Gilbert Baker, creator of LGBT rainbow flag, has died
Fri. March 31, 2017 3:50 PM by GoPride.com News Staff
gilbert baker
photo credit // twitter.com/clevejones1
LGBT rights activist and artist Gilbert Baker, the creator of the LGBT rainbow flag, passed away Friday in New York at the age of 65.
Baker's long-time friend and fellow LGBT rights activist Cleve Jones confirmed the news, posting Friday on Twitter, "My dearest friend in the world is gone. Gilbert Baker gave the world the Rainbow Flag; he gave me forty years of love and friendship."
There was no word as to the cause of death.
Born in Kansas, Baker served in the US Army from 1970 to 1972. He was stationed in San Francisco just at the start of the gay liberation movement. In 1994, he moved to New York City, where he spent the rest of his life. Baker designed the iconic symbol of the gay pride movement in 1978.
"Together we're changing our world, our planet from a place of hate and violence and war to a place of love and diversity and acceptance. And that is why we're here. I mean that's the big long rainbow, from before me to long after me," Baker said in a 2015 PBS documentary (video posted below).
The GLBT Historical Society asked that rainbow flags worldwide be lowered to half staff in honor of Baker.
Baker's website shares more of his story.
Baker's long-time friend and fellow LGBT rights activist Cleve Jones confirmed the news, posting Friday on Twitter, "My dearest friend in the world is gone. Gilbert Baker gave the world the Rainbow Flag; he gave me forty years of love and friendship."
There was no word as to the cause of death.
Born in Kansas, Baker served in the US Army from 1970 to 1972. He was stationed in San Francisco just at the start of the gay liberation movement. In 1994, he moved to New York City, where he spent the rest of his life. Baker designed the iconic symbol of the gay pride movement in 1978.
"Together we're changing our world, our planet from a place of hate and violence and war to a place of love and diversity and acceptance. And that is why we're here. I mean that's the big long rainbow, from before me to long after me," Baker said in a 2015 PBS documentary (video posted below).
The GLBT Historical Society asked that rainbow flags worldwide be lowered to half staff in honor of Baker.
Baker's website shares more of his story.