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At the beginning of the gay liberation movement he was serving in the US Military, stationed in San Fransisco when he was honourably discharged.
A drag performer, he taught himself to sew and in 1978 designed and sewed the very first queer rainbow flag for the San Fransisco gay freedom day.
Gilbert Baker. Photo: Gareth Watkins
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Originally with 8 colours, pink and indigo were later removed and the colour blue became turquoise.
In 2015 he spoke at the Museum of Modern Art after it acquired the rainbow flag as part of its collection. He told Michelle Millar Fisher "I decided that we should have a flag, that a flag fit us as a symbol, that we are a people, a tribe if you will.
”And flags are about proclaiming power, so it's very appropriate."
