Happy Pride! This month is all about celebrating love and inclusivity, and what better way to do that than by exploring the symbolism behind the Pride flag? While all the colours carry profound meanings, one connects our celebration of love with our respect for the environment: green.
Love for Each Other, Love for the Planet
The Pride flag, a beacon of LGBTQ+ activism since the 1970s, was designed by Gilbert Baker to represent gay pride with a spectrum of vibrant colours. Each hue carries a specific meaning, collectively representing the diverse values of the LGBTQ+ community. Gilbert wanted the flag to be bold and visible, just like the vibrant community it represents.
Central to these is the green stripe, symbolising our essential connection to nature. For Gilbert, nature was core to his vision of the movement, ensuring its place at the middle of the flag. It states that, as we love and respect each other, we need to love and respect the planet.
The green stripe in the Pride flag also symbolises more than just our natural environment; it embodies the idea that love, in all its forms, is a natural part of human existence, as natural as the earth beneath our feet. To express one's sexuality openly and without fear is as fundamental as the natural world we inhabit. Additionally, just as nature thrives in diversity, so does humanity. The LGBTQ+ movement champions this diversity, advocating for peace, love, and equality not just for people, but for the planet as well.
Film Highlight: Humans of Pride
If youâd like to explore this further, check out the documentary Humans of Pride by Kevin Coop, which is currently in production. It captures the spirit of WorldPride celebrations in New York City and delves into Gilbert Baker's legacy, illuminating his creative process and the profound meanings behind the flag. The film explores how Gilbert designed the flag to be visible, using bright colours and a recognisable rainbow pattern. For Gilbert, the key to freedom was to be seen. And seen it was. All month long during Pride, dozens of pride flags line Sheridan Square by the Stonewall Inn, where the gay pride movement began, and are also hung in storefronts and on homes. The icon lets people know they are safe. They are home.
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Celebrate Nature with Pride
There's no doubt that Gilbert's vision to promote visibility and safety for the LGBTQ+ community has left an incredible mark on the world. Celebrating Pride is a testament to our respect and love for one another. The green stripe reminds us that our fight for equality and acceptance extends to our relationship with nature. Just as we strive for a world where everyone is accepted for who they are, we must also strive for a world where our natural environment is respected and preserved.
So, as you wave your Pride flags this month, remember the green stripe. It stands for our beautiful planet and the natural, diverse love we share. Happy Pride!
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Pride Parade photo by Mercedes Mehling on Unsplash