Welcome to Gaia! ::

I've always thought that the Rainbow was selected because it's a visual representation that a person can be GLBT regardless of race/creed or any other slew of factors.


For a random bit of history :p Why is the communist's symbol a red flag with a golden Hammer and Sickle?

Firstly, the hammer represents industrial labor and the sickle represents agircultural labor, note also that they are combined, thus agriculutural and industrial laborers united. The gold is for the riches that the workers of the world will inheret upon reconstituting society in their image. The red flag was selected by the French Socialists before the time of Marx + Engels (the first Scientific Socialists or communists) because during battle armies used to use various flags (especially the vikings) to pass orders along. One of the most famous was the "red flag" of the vikings, which stood for "take no prisoners", it was thus adopted by the French Socialists.

The meaning of the colors, acording to wikipedia:

Seven striped flag (used in 1978/1979):

* red stands for courage;
* orange offers the vision of possibilities;
* yellow represents the challenge that GREEN has kindled;
* green indicates a challenge to co-operators to strive for growth of membership and of understanding of the aims and values of co-operation;
* sky blue suggests far horizons, the need to provide education and help less fortunate people and strive toward global unity.
* dark blue suggests pessimism: a reminder that less fortunate people have needs that may be met through the benefits of co-operation;
* violet represents warmth, beauty, and friendship.

Eight Striped (used in 197 cool :

* hot pink - sexuality
* red - life
* orange - healing
* yellow - sunlight
* green - nature
* turquoise - magic
* blue - serenity
* violet - spirit

The current flag has 6 stipes (piccy), the meaning of the colors should be the same, only without the missing color. Some variations of the flag include a black stripe, symbolising those of us that where lost to AIDS.

I don't really know. I like rainbows, so it dosen't bother me. =O

. . . Oh wow, how have I never thought of the "Taste the rainbow" thing as being innuendo before? HOW?!

I think that the rainbow is a good symbol for the LGBT community, though what was said about pink and cancer kind of struck a cord. I think that the rainbow is the only symbol that has ever been termed both prideful and derogitory....and that's just wrong....

VIVE LE RAINBOW!!!!!!

I tihnk that maybe at one point the rainbow could be seen as like unity between everyone... not just for sexuality but for race and religion and such.
Like "Good neighbors come in all flavours" thats in our community, supports the unity between all different social cultures. And the rainbow can come to signify that.

Considering it started out without any reference to homo/bi/tri/etc...sexuality (even though it was used for pride parades and such). Ya... Lol. The meanings of all the colours are about universal themes and does not only apply to gay people. I wish people were more educated before they lay claim to things.

lol Sponge Bob... is weird. I watch it sometimes.. but eh.. He's not cool enough to be a gay symbol imo.

The rainbow used to symbolize peace. Now it symbolizes our community. I would like to see it symbolize unity sometime in my lifetime.