All this month the Federal Reserve Bank in Richmond, Virginia, will honor Gay Pride Month by flying the rainbow on its flagpole just below Old Glory. And, not surprisingly, they’ve received a lot of angry responses.
The rainbow flag has been a symbol of pride, and controversy, since it was designed by San Francisco artist Gilbert Baker in 1978. It’s an emotional touch point for a lot of Americans, but we started wondering if that rainbow is starting to fade. Is it just a bit too ‘70s? We asked our listeners if another kind of image might better represent the gay community in the 21st century, and design firm Worldstudio volunteered to create some alternatives.
(Originally aired: June 26, 2009)
Flickr Photo Pool: Listeners redesign the gay flag
Slideshow: Worldstudio redesigns the gay flag
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The Worldstudio team started to modify the existing rainbow flag by modernizing the colors and introducing white, which represents unity.
(Worldstudio)
Another variation of the rainbow uses white and the original seven colors from Gilbert Baker's 1978 flag as squares to symbolize unique individuals coming together.
(Worldstudio)
For this modification, the team changed the shape and gradation of the rainbow. The circle is one of the oldest symbols on earth and represents unity, life, and equality.
(Worldstudio)
The circle is the common shape in the male and female symbols. The basic meaning of two overlapping circles is togetherness or intimate relation. The two circles can also been seen as rings and symbolize marriage.
(Worldstudio)
This design uses common flag iconography of color blocks and graphic shapes. The quadrants of this flag represent the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender communities. A unique or “queer” 13-point star represents the uniqueness and fabulousness of the gay community.
(Worldstudio)
Adapting another historical symbol of the gay community, the pink triangle is turned into a heart to represent love and overcoming oppression and bigotry.
(Worldstudio)
Here is a conceptual idea of appropriating existing flags and making them pink to show that you can be a gay individual and also part of larger society just like everybody else. Worldstudio selected a new pride color they call “Shock.” The color is bold, aggressive, and intense while at the same time uplifting and celebratory.
(Worldstudio)
A flag for a gay American in the signature shocking pink.
(Worldstudio)
Worldstudio thought a good 21st-century solution would be an individualized DIY pride flag. Pick either the Shock or Rainbow background and then choose a symbol that represents your identity, e.g. Democrat, Jewish, or bicyclist. You can also create and upload your own personal symbol.
(Worldstudio)
Then order your own flag or download a free icon to use on your Facebook or Myspace page.
(Worldstudio)
Designers at Worldstudio meet to brainstorm a makeover for the gay pride flag.
(Kelly Sullan)
Worldstudio designers looked at different ways to present the iconic rainbow, and also drew inspiration from other flags and symbols.
(Worldstudio)
The winning submission from our listener design challenge. The flag’s stars represent states that actively perform same-sex marriages.
(Carl Tashian)