The rainbow flag unifies, inspires and empowers people throughout the world.
In 2023, we will be launching a 45th celebration of the first rainbow flags.

2018: 40th ANNIVERSARY

In 2018, we gathered members of the original rainbow flag team to recollect the creation of the first rainbow flags at the annual West Hollywood, California One City One Pride Arts Festival.

Honoring the "Mother of the Rainbow Flag"

“Meet the Rainbow Flag Makers: The Original Rainbow Flag Artists and their Friends” - 40th Anniversary of the creation of the Rainbow Flag 
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West Hollywood City Council Chambers / June 2, 2018

The first Rainbow Flags were conceived and handmade at the Gay Community Center called “330 Grove” in June of 1978 in San Francisco.

​Several of the artists, including producing artist Faerie Argyle Rainbow, their friends and volunteers who worked on the flags shared their stories of creating and flying the original rainbow flags, which was preceded by a short slideshow of 330 Grove, the people and the flags from historian (and 330 Grove volunteer) Glenne McElhinney.

Co-presented with the California LGBT Arts Alliance and Impact Stories History Project at the City of West Hollywood's One City One Pride Festival.  Photos (left)

Lynn "Faerie Argyle Rainbow" Segerblom was the Co-Head of the Decorations Committee which created the first rainbow flags in San Francisco for the 1978 San Francisco Pride events.

Lynn shared her story of changing her name in the 1970's and creating the first rainbow flags.

Please watch and listen to then-Mayor John Duran share important historical details of the creation of the first rainbow flags and some history of the pink triangles which once identified members of the LGBTQ community.

WHEREAS,
with several years of experience tie-dyeing garments and preparing fabric for designers, the 21-year-old Segerblom spent weeks preparing the heavy cotton muslin and dyeing it in large trash cans on the roof at 330 Grove, a gay community center.  Segerblom washed and dried the panels carefully before and after dyeing them, prior to them being sewn together in an artist loft workspace behind the Top Floor Gallery; and,

WHEREAS,
the flag making process was a group effort with 30 artists helping out on the two larger 40' x 60' flags, as both Baker and McNamara sewed the panels together with only three Singer sewing machines that Segerblom, Baker and McNamara owned; Segerblom also helped with the sewing once the dyeing was complete; and,

WHEREAS,
the two larger flags were flown in the San Francisco Civic Center U.N. Plaza on Sunday June 25, 1978.  The decorations committee artists also contributed approximately 28 smaller individual flags, made from fabric left over from the large flags that were raised around the reflecting pool and from building rooftops in the civic center area; and,

WHEREAS,
unbeknownst to them, the colorful rainbow flag would become the international symbol for LGBTQ rights, representing the diversity of the LGBTQ community and serving as a symbol of hope and pride:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED,
that the City Council of the City of West Hollywood hereby honors the 40th anniversary of the Gay Flag and commends Lynn Segerblom for her enormous efforts for creating the flag.

Resolved this 16th day of July, 2018
John J. Duran, Mayor
John D'Amico, Mayor Pro Tempore
John Heilman, Councilmember
Lauren Meister, Councilmember
Lindsey P. Horvath, Councilmember

City of West Hollywood Proclamation
Presented on behalf of the West Hollywood City Council to Lynn Segerblom.

West Hollywood Mayor John Duran and the West Hollywood City Council honor the "Mother of the Rainbow Flag" Lynn Segerblom.

Fallbrook, California is situated just 9 miles from Rainbow, California, with a population around 1,800 people, near the the Native American reservation of Rincon. Learn more about the native land, territories, treaties, and languages through the Native Land Map.

The first rainbow flag created by Lynn featured stars.  Lynn shares the story of her inspiration and talent for creating the stars was birthed when she was a staff member at the Boys & Girls Club of Fallbrook, California in North San Diego County.

Native Land Map

Lynn shares her inspiration for including stars in her original rainbow flag.

Lynn's shares her vision for a project to recreate some of the original versions of the rainbow flag.

Lynn sketching designs for the rainbow flags.

Lynn & Gilbert Baker

Wearing the Threads

Lynn "Faerie Argyle Rainbow"Segerblom with original rainbow flag co-creator Gilbert Baker wearing Lynn's 1978 fashion designs.

Photos: James McNamara