The six-color version remained untouched for decades and is still a standard around the world. Related: This Company Brings the Pride Celebration Directly to Your Door What Do the New Variations Of the Rainbow Flag Mean? The six-color flag (red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and violet) has been popular since 1979. The flag design was changed again in 1979 when turquoise was eliminated to give the flag an even number of colors. Hot pink was soon dropped because it wasn't commercially available as production ramped up. What Did the Original Colors Mean?īaker's original flag contained eight colors, a specific meaning associated with each. Baker, who passed away in 2017, did not copyright the flag and its use took off around the world. This first flag was unveiled at the San Francisco Gay Freedom Day Parade on June 25, 1978. Baker, along with several volunteers, created the original eight-color rainbow flags by hand-dyeing strips of fabric.
