Original Eight-Stripe Rainbow Flag
This is the rainbow flag as Gilbert Baker first made it: eight stripes, hand-dyed and stitched by Baker and volunteers for San Francisco's Gay Freedom Day parade on 25 June 1978. Each colour had a meaning, from hot pink for sex to violet for spirit. Demand grew after the assassination of Harvey Milk in November 1978, and the hot pink stripe was dropped because pink fabric was hard to get in quantity. Turquoise and indigo were later merged into a single blue so the flag could be split evenly along a street of lamp posts. The six-stripe flag became the standard, but the eight-stripe original is still made today. People fly it as a tribute to Baker, who died in 2017, and to the flag's history. In 2018 one of the two surviving original 1978 flags was rediscovered and returned to San Francisco. It's a popular choice for anyone who wants a flag with a story behind it.
What the colours mean
| Hot pink | Sex | |
|---|---|---|
| Red | Life | |
| Orange | Healing | |
| Yellow | Sunlight | |
| Green | Nature | |
| Turquoise | Magic and art | |
| Indigo | Serenity | |
| Violet | Spirit |
The colour bar above shows the flag's palette, not a drawing of it: chevrons, circles and symbols aren't shown. Meanings are as commonly given by the flag's designer or community, and some flags have more than one accepted reading.
Where to buy a Original Eight-Stripe Rainbow Flag
Current listings from Amazon UK. Most are the standard 5 ft × 3 ft (150 × 90 cm) polyester flag with brass eyelets, which suits a flagpole, a wall or a window. Our flag buying guide explains sizes and materials.
Anley Fly Breeze 3x5 Foot Original 8 Stripe Rainbow Flag - Vivid Color and Fade Proof -…View on Amazon
Flagtex Original 8 Striped Rainbow Small Flag 3ft x 2ft (90cm x 60cm)View on Amazon
8 Stripe Rainbow Pride Flag 5ft x 3ft with Brass Eyelets – Polyester LGBT Banner for…View on Amazon
Anley Fly Breeze 3x5 Foot Philadelphia Rainbow Flag (8 Stripes) - Vivid Color and UV Fade…View on Amazon
Mosprovie 8 Stripe Rainbow Gay Pride Flag 3x5 - Heavy Duty Historic Pride Flag with 2…View on Amazon
Jayus Embroidery Eight Stripes Philadelphia Pride Flag 3x5 Outdoor- Heavy Duty Nylon…View on AmazonPrices checked 26 October 2026, 04:35 UK time. Prices and availability are accurate as of the date and time shown and are subject to change. The price on Amazon at the time of purchase applies. More Original Eight-Stripe Rainbow Flags on Amazon.