• Rss Feed
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • YouTube
  • Search
Skip to content
Visit Sponsor
Seattle Gay Scene
  • Home
  • Seattle Pride Guide 2023
  • News
  • Arts &
    Entertainment
  • Nightlife
  •  Living
    • Geek
  • Calendar
Home Equality, Gay 101, Legends, Living, Media Beat, National News, News, Queer History, Queer News, Seattle Pride 2017Today’s Google Doodle Honors Gilbert Baker And The Rainbow Flag He Created

Today’s Google Doodle Honors Gilbert Baker And The Rainbow Flag He Created

June 2, 2017• byMichael Strangeways

GoogleRainbowFlag17

Google likes to change up their logo on their main page of the search engine every few days to honor a holiday, or event, or special person. It’s the “Google Doodle” and it’s a sweet marketing ploy that perks up our day. Probably much to the chagrin of those on the conservative side of the spectrum, Google and its Doodle tend to be liberal/forward thinking and frequently honor notable human achievements both big and small that improve the world for everyone “under the rainbow”.

Today’s (June 2nd) Doodle honors the 66th birthday of GILBERT BAKER, the creator of the LGBT Rainbow Flag, a universal symbol for all people in the queer community. Google posts little stories about the creation of their special doodles, and today they explain why they honor Mr. Baker and how they actually created the graphic. It’s an interesting read for anyone interested in LGBTQ history but also for design nerds who enjoy hearing about the creation process for graphic images.

 

Today’s doodle is a little more colorful thanks to Gilbert Baker, creator of the rainbow flag, a symbol of pride and freedom for the LGBTQA+ community.

Teaching himself to sew, Baker put his skills to work for the San Francisco gay community, making banners for marches and protests. In 1978 Baker used those skills to create a new symbol for the LGBT Community to replace the pink triangle, a symbol of oppression and devastation from the Nazi’s classification of LGBT people in World War II. Baker’s Rainbow was a more positive and celebratory symbol.

“We needed something beautiful, something from us,” Baker explained. “The rainbow is so perfect because it really fits our diversity in terms of race, gender, ages, all of those things. Plus, it’s a natural flag—it’s from the sky!”

Making the flag was no small task. Baker gathered thirty people in the attic of the Gay Community Center in San Francisco to hand-dye and sew together over 1000 yards of cotton. The modern day rainbow flag features six colors, but the original used eight, each representing a different aspect of the community. The iconic symbol stuck and soon Baker was flooded with requests for more flags.

Baker’s sister, Ardonna Cook, also reflects on his life and legacy by sharing, “Our family is so proud of the legacy of activism and artistry that Gilbert has left to the world. He touched millions across the globe and empowered them to become stronger and more visible LGBT people. Gilbert led a bold and inspiring life by bringing The Rainbow Flag to life and it is that legacy which should guide us in respecting and celebrating diversity.”

LGBT Doodler Nate Swinehart wanted to capture that same community spirit Baker treasured. He collaborated with other team members, including other LGBT Doodlers who felt personally connected to the project, to nail down the right concept.

Together, the team decided the tribute would consist of a stop-motion animation of actual fabric strips coming together to create the flag. They made a trip to local San Franciscan fabric shops and filmed the doodle in a tiny kitchen only a few blocks from the same spot where Baker and his friends constructed that first flag in 1978.

Today we celebrate Gilbert Baker’s pride, creativity, and the lasting impact he’s had on strengthening and uniting people all over the world.

-Google

Happy Birfday, Gilbert Baker!

(Visited 1 times, 1 visits today)

About the Author: Michael Strangeways

As the Editorial Director/Co-Owner, Michael Strangeways writes, edits and does about a million other jobs for Seattle Gay Scene, Puget Sound's most visited LGBTQ news, arts and entertainment website now celebrating its 14th year as a media outlet. A semi-proud Midwesterner by birth, he's lived in Seattle since 2000. He's also a film producer who would like you to check out the Jinkx Monsoon documentary, "Drag Becomes Him" now available on Amazon.com. In his spare time, he gets slightly obsessive about his love for old movies, challenging theater, "otters", vodka, chocolate, "I,Claudius", Lizzie Borden, real books made out of paper, disaster films, show tunes, Weimar era Germany, flea markets, pop surrealistic art, the sex lives of Hollywood actors both living and dead, kitties, chicken fried steak, haute couture and David Bowie. But, not necessarily in that order.

Related Posts

*Resist. Protest. Obstruct. Inform. • *The Illegitimate Regime of Donald Trump • Elections • Gay 101 • In Memoriam • Legends • National News • News • NYC Gay Scene • Queer History • Queer News • Seattle Pride 2017

NYC Flag Day March Honors Rainbow Flag Creator Gilbert Baker

New York City Memorial Rally and Protest March Honors the

...

Arts & Entertainment • Film • Film Events

Get A Piece Of The Rock…At SAM

Every year the folks at the Seattle Art Museum pay

...

Seattle Pride 2011

“Vexillology” or “What The Flag Doesn’t Really Mean To Me…”

In 1978, when San Francisco artist Gilbert Baker created the

...

Previous: Time To Plan For The June 11th LGBTQ Solidarity March…Both of Them
Next: June 11 Seattle Equality March Needs Volunteers!!

Comments are closed.

Upcoming Events

Fri 02

Burien Pride Festival

June 2 @ 5:00 pm - 11:00 pm
Burien
United States
Fri 02

PNW Black Pride: The Gathering @ Sonya’s

June 2 @ 6:00 pm - 8:30 pm
Seattle WA
United States
Fri 02

Le Faux @ Julia’s on Broadway

June 2 @ 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm
Seattle WA
United States
Fri 02

Paint & Sip : Pride Night! @ Inside

June 2 @ 7:00 pm - 11:30 pm
Seattle, WA
United States
Fri 02

Safeword Comedy Night @ Kremwerk

June 2 @ 7:00 pm - 9:30 pm
Seattle WA
United States

View More…

  • Rss Feed
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • YouTube
  • Search

Seattle Gay Scene

SEATTLE GAY SCENE is Seattle’s Leading LGBT community website, and most visited calendar in the region.

We also proudly serve as media sponsors for a number of amazing local organizations, including: Gay City Health Project, Lifelong AIDS Alliance, SIFF, Three Dollar Bill Cinema, Qulture Qreative & Hard Times Press, NARK Magazine and Bacon Strip to help bring some of the most exciting live events and entertainment in the city.

Top Categories

  • Music
  • Community
  • Drag O’Tainment
  • Seattle Lesbian Scene
  • Stuff to Do

Recent Comments

  1. Michael Strangeways on Capitol Hill Garage Sale Day & Community Sale
  2. Breezy Moss on Capitol Hill Garage Sale Day & Community Sale
  3. Seaguy on The Comeback Pulls The Plug

About Us

  • Our Team
  • Advertise on SGS!
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy
Copyright © 2023 | Seattle Gay Scene
  • Our Team
  • Advertise on SGS!
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy
Close Search Window
↑