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"Julie Compton is a freelance journalist in Brooklyn, New York. The rainbow colors have also often been used in gay alterations of national and regional flags, replacing for example the red and white stripes of the flag of the United States. Gilbert Baker Pride FlagIn 1977, Harvey Milk challenged Gilbert Baker, a veteran who taught himself … Longtime Black lesbian activist Reverend Irene Monroe, a founder of the civil rights group “The Stonewall Riot … started on the backs of working-class African American and Latino queers who patronized that bar,” said the reverend, who witnessed the 1969 riots firsthand. The six colors we've come to associate with the flag are intact, but the flag includes two new stripes: black and brown. But he said friends of the activist were startled to see a Wikipedia page dedicated to Baker’s flag altered to include the Philadelphia version.“The only thing we would ask is that other people would not take it and put Gilbert’s name on it, because they didn’t do it in consultation with him, and he didn’t do it,” Beal added.In an email to NBC Out, a spokeswoman for Philadelphia’s Office of LGBT Affairs stated the new flag represents “additive” inclusion and is not meant to be a replacement or its own distinct version.“The spirit of this flag is not a departure from the original principles, but we hope that adding black and brown to our community’s strongest symbol will serve to recognize the contributions people of color make every day in the LGBTQ+ community,” the spokeswoman stated.Beal said the original flag, which wasn’t patented, was already designed to represent diversity within the full spectrum of sexuality.
Philadelphia's People of Color Inclusive Flag This flag was created in 2017 to give representation to black and brown people in the LGBTQ community and the unique challenges they face. Baker’s longtime friend Charley Beal said the Philadelphia flag should be seen as an independent symbol.“I encourage it, and I think people who know Gilbert would,” said Beal, who said Baker was open to adaptations of his flag. Some of the more common ones include the Greek letter lambda (lower case) in white in the middle of the flag and a pink triangle or black triangle in the upper left corner. Philly has added black and brown stripes to the LGBTQ flag to promote inclusivity In an attempt to promote inclusivity amid reports of racism, Philadelphia has added two colors to its LGBTQ … Shop flags starting at only $12.95. An accompanying campaign video talks about the many ways the LGBTQ community can be less than inclusive toward LGBTQ people of color. The pride flag is getting even more colorful. In celebration of LGBT Pride Month, the city of Philadelphia has revamped the iconic pride flag. Other colors have been added, such as a black stripe symbolizing those community members lost to AIDS. According to a statement on the website for the campaign, "To fuel this important conversation, weâve expanded the colors of the flag to include black and brown," the statement reads.
The two most-recognized international LGBT symbols are the pink triangle and the rainbow flag. The black and brown stripes on Philadelphia’s new rainbow flag are inspiring hope in some and anger in others.
For Pride Month, Philly added two colors — … I mean, I find that pretty sad that it has to now be that intentional, because of years of being tone deaf that the rainbow includes everybody,” she said.Despite the controversy surrounding it, the black and brown flag has grown increasingly popular since its unveiling. LGBT symbols communicate ideas, concepts, and identity both within their communities and to mainstream culture. The most common flag part of the LGBT community is the rainbow flag. He said Baker created three versions of the flag, and that Baker intended for all LGBTQ people to feel represented under it.“The stripes were not chosen for skin color — they were chosen to reflect the spectrum of color in nature,” Beal explained.While people of color have fought at the forefront of the battle for LGBTQ rights, there are those who feel they have been cut from the historical narrative. She said the city’s popular gay neighborhood — dubbed the "gayborhood" — has Hikes hopes the flag will become a symbol for change and spark a national conversation about the experiences of LGBTQ people of color. The black and brown stripes on Philadelphia’s new rainbow flag are inspiring hope in some and anger in others. "It may seem like a small step.