California LGBT Arts Alliance
Celebrating 50 Years
of the Rainbow Flag
50 Years of Pride + Creativity + Global Connection
Our Flag
Our Pride
Our Future
Flag50, led by the California LGBT Arts Alliance and supported by the Rainbow Advocacy Foundation, celebrates 50 years of the Rainbow Flag.
Connecting people, stories, and creativity worldwide, Flag50 is a global movement of history, art, activism, and digital storytelling.
Celebrate the Rainbow Flag
Celebrate Community
Celebrate 50 Years of Pride
Lynn Segerblom
aka Faerie Argyle Rainbow
"Mother of the Rainbow Flag"
Historical Advisor
A project of the California LGBT Arts Alliance
with support from Rainbow Advocacy Foundation
A Real California Story
The rainbow flag was born in California, hand-dyed by artists and first flown at UN Plaza in San Francisco. It began as a local act of visibility and became a universal symbol of hope.
Join Lynn Segerblom (aka Fairie Argyle Rainbow) "Mother of the Rainbow Flag" on our 3-year global journey.
From California to the World
Lynn & James, San Francisco, 1978
James McNamara
Global Flags Initiative & Artists Fund
Without master seamster James McNamara there would never have been a Rainbow Flag.
Flag50 is dedicated to James McNamara (1955–1994) — artist, visionary and co-creator of the first rainbow flags with Lynn Segrblom and Gilbert Baker.
James’ life and art were cut short by AIDS, but his creative spirit lives on in every color that flies today.
In his honor, Flag50 launches the James McNamara Global Flags Initiative — beginning with the Pan-African Flag Project in Uganda and Tanzania.
And we are expanding the James McNamara Artists Fund, created in 2023 through the Troy Perry Legacy Grants program, advancing the work of artists whose voices carry the flag’s message of hope, pride, and freedom forward into the next fifty years.
Hidden Rainbows
Rainbows under Threat
As the world prepares to mark the 50th anniversary of the Rainbow Flag, the colors that symbolize love and equality are being banned, erased, or challenged across the globe.
Hidden Rainbows is a Flag50 initiative illuminating this urgent moment — celebrating creativity, courage, and solidarity where the rainbow cannot safely fly.
Across continents, artists and advocates are reimagining visibility — through murals, textiles, photography, and new flags — ensuring that even when symbols are hidden, their light endures.
Pan-African Flags Project
A Hidden Rainbows Collaboration | Part of the James McNamara Global Flags Initiative
From Tanzania and Uganda to communities across the African diaspora, the Pan-African Flags Project transforms the spirit of Hidden Rainbows into action — inviting artists to reinterpret the pride flag through African colors of heritage, liberation, and unity.
Led by Tanzania Pride and Liberation Designs Uganda, and supported by Rainbow Advocacy, this collaboration brings to life new symbols of belonging, hand-tailored and rooted in resilience.
Each flag is both a work of art and a quiet act of courage — a Hidden Rainbow made visible through craft, creativity, and community.
“From hidden to seen, from color to courage —
a new generation of flags carries the light of unity across borders.”
Follow the Journey
From UN Plaza to Cape Town
The journey of the Rainbow Flag began in San Francisco and continues across the world.
This first interactive StoryMap traces the path from its 1978 origins to the celebrations ahead — from UN Plaza to Amsterdam to Cape Town. Over time, Flag50 will grow into a constellation of maps — connecting people, places, and stories that illuminate fifty years of Pride.
The journey continues to San Francisco, December 1, 2028, following the 50th anniversary of the assiasiantion of Harvey Milk, who's participation made possible the creation of the first rainbow flags.
Join in this living tribute to 50 years of Pride—where every story, every artwork, and every voice helps carry the rainbow forward.
Flag50 Brings Together Our Global Programs:
Hidden Rainbows
Empowering youth and communities to create art that celebrates LGBTQ+ identity
Youth Media Challenge
Platforms for young creators to share stories of Pride and resilience
Creative Campaigns & Digital Storytelling
Preserving histories and amplifying voices across the globe
Troy Perry Legacy Fund & Grants
Supporting initiatives that continue the work of equality and inclusion
Your Support Makes a Difference!
Preserve History
Document the legacy of the Rainbow Flag and the people behind Pride
Empower Creators
Fund innovative projects that inspire new generations
Build Global Connections
Unite LGBTQ+ communities across borders
Celebrate Diversity
Shine a light on inclusion, resilience, and the full spectrum of identity
Join the Journey
Be part of the 50th anniversary celebration of the rainbow flag. Register for updates, events and opportunities to participate.
©2025 Rainbow Advocacy Foundation
A Project of the California LGBT Arts Alliance
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