The original pride flag, designed by Gilbert Baker, was first displayed at the 1979 San Francisco Gay Freedom Day Parade. Thirty volunteers dyed and stitched the first two flags. Each color held a meaning. From top to bottom, the colors signify sex, life, healing, sunlight, nature, magic/art, serenity, and spirit. The significance of this original piece is clear, as a slightly modified version with fewer colors is still used globally as a symbol of LGBTQ+ pride.
Photo credit: By Gilbert Baker (Vector graphics by Fibonacci) – SVG based on this image, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=685391