In 1974, Baker met Harvey Milk, an influential gay leader, who three years later challenged Baker to come up with a symbol of pride for the gay community. After an honorable discharge, Gilbert taught himself to sew. Baker grew up in Parsons, Kansas, and went on to serve in the US army for about two years around 1970. The flag was originally devised by San Francisco artist Gilbert Baker, an openly gay activist born in 1951. The colors reflect the diversity of the LGBT community.
The rainbow flag, commonly known as the gay pride flag or LGBT pride flag, is a symbol of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender ( LGBT) pride and LGBT social movements.