The rainbow flag celebrated its 40th anniversary in 2018 — and what the flag stands for has evolved over nearly half a century.
David Moran, a leader of Gays Against Guns – Orlando, carries a 40-foot rainbow banner to shed light on gun violence. Moran lost two friends in the Pulse nightclub shooting in Orlando on June 12, 2016.
His banner was created and autographed by Gilbert Baker — the creator of the original rainbow flag.
"I think it represents opportunity — opportunity to be inclusive, and to change things and to be visible," said Moran.
Baker, a gay artist and activist, designed the flag in 1978. The original flag had eight colors: pink, red, orange, yellow, green, turquoise, indigo and violet.
The flag now consists of the six traditional colors of the rainbow, each with its own meaning.
Baker died in 2017 after making the banner for Gays Against Guns. Moran hopes Baker's legacy lives on through his banner and it continues to be a symbol of inclusion and solidarity.
