California LGBT Arts Alliance
James McNamara
Global Flags Initiative & Artists Fund
A collaboration of the California LGBT Arts Alliance and Rainbow Advocacy
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Honoring the legacy of James McNamara (1955–1994)
A Living Tribute to Art and Liberation
Without master seamster and visionary artist James McNamara there would be no Pride Rainbow Flag.
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These programs pay tribute to his life cut short by AIDS in 1994.
The James McNamara Global Flags Initiative and Artists Fund unite artists and activists across the world through creativity, community, and the enduring symbolism of the flag.
Together, they celebrate the power of art to transform pain into pride — honoring those who came before us and uplifting a new generation of creators leading us toward freedom.
These projects grow from California’s long tradition of global LGBTQ+ cultural leadership — from the first Rainbow Flag in San Francisco to the next wave of flags and stories now being born around the world.
The Global Flags Initiative
Led by the California LGBT Arts Alliance
Artistic Director: Lynn Segerblom
(co-creator of the original Rainbow Flag)
The Global Flags Initiative is an open call for people and organizations to design new flags of liberation.
Each flag tells a story — of resilience, culture, and self-expression. From neighborhoods to nations, these new flags embody the courage to be seen.
Lynn Segerblom (aka Faerie Argyle Rainbow) celebrating the 40th Anniversary of the Rainbow Flag.
Rainbow Flag Team Reunion at West Hollywood LGBTQ Arts Festival in 2018.
Rainbow Flag Team Reunion at West Hollywood LGBTQ Arts Festival in 2018.
Lynn Segerblom (aka Faerie Argyle Rainbow) celebrating the 40th Anniversary of the Rainbow Flag.
Rainbow Flag 40th Anniversary, City of West Hollywood
Pan-African Flag Project
From Zanzibar and Dar el Salaam, Tanzania, the first Global Flags project invites LGBTQ+ artists across Africa and the diaspora to design Pan-African pride flags — visual expressions of identity and solidarity.
Led by:
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Tanzania Pride
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Liberation Designs Uganda
Participants share their creative process through short videos, photos, and social media stories. The Liberation Designs team transforms selected digital designs into physical flags.
Aligned product collaborations (prints, textiles, and apparel) will make these designs available across Africa, with participating artists receiving a share of proceeds from sales.
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A first Pride of Africa flag was create in 2019 which you can view here.
Artist Activist Omary Baajun, Tanzania Pride
First Pride of Africa Flag, Johannesburg, South Africa 2019
The James McNamara Artists Fund
A Program of Rainbow Advocacy and the Troy Perry Legacy Grants
The Artists Fund provides direct support to LGBTQ+ artists — especially those working in regions where queer expression is criminalized or censored.​
How it Works
Micro Grants:
$100 – $500 for immediate creative support, distributed through PEX cards for secure and direct disbursement.​​
Legacy Grants:
$3,000–$5,000 for major projects..
The Stitched Path of Liberation
The James McNamara Artists Fund began in 2023 with a $3,000 grant to support Liberation Designs ("Tailoring Our Way to Freedom" Project) in Uganda.
The goal: to create the Troy Perry Economic Empowerment project to train displaced LGBTQ+ youth in tailoring skills and produce marketable products.
It expanded in 2025 with a $5,000 Phase 2 grant funded entirely through employer matching donations.​
Since 2023, the James McNamara Artist Grants have supported artists in the U.S., Uganda, and Tanzania — providing relocation assistance, housing, food, hygiene products, and other needs.
Youth Voices with KQED
Through the KQED Youth Media Challenge, young creators are documenting the stories behind the Global Flags Initiative — interviewing artists, filming flag-making, and exploring the meaning of pride and visibility.
California students and young people in partner countries are collaborating virtually to produce short videos, essays, and photo stories that connect art, identity, and justice.
Their work will be showcased on Flag50 and KQED platforms, leading to a new recognition:
The James McNamara Youth Media Award — debuting in 2028.
Get Involved
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Artists:
Submit your flag design or apply for a micro-grant.
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Donors:
Support the Global Flags Initiative through the California LGBT Arts Alliance.
Support the James McNamara Artists Fund — 100% of donatithe Cons go directly to artists, with matching gifts doubling every contribution.
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Educators:
Connect your students with the KQED Youth Media Challenge and our global art exchange.
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Partners:
Collaborate with us on exhibitions, mentorships, and storytelling projects.​
Together, we are stitching the next chapter of our shared history — one flag, one story, one act of courage at a time.
Looking Ahead: Toward WorldPride 2028
The Global Flags Initiative and Artists Fund are building toward two major milestones:
WorldPride Cape Town 2028
Where the full collection of new flags will be displayed alongside African and global artists.
The 50th Anniversary of the Rainbow Flag
With exhibitions in San Francisco, Los Angeles, San Diego and Palm Springs.​
These will be celebrations of unity, creativity, and global connection —
a living testament to James McNamara’s belief that “art is a language of freedom.”
©2025 Rainbow Advocacy Foundation
A Project of the California LGBT Arts Alliance
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