Current:Home > InvestThe hidden figure behind the iconic rainbow flag that symbolizes the gay rights movement -Triumph Financial Guides
The hidden figure behind the iconic rainbow flag that symbolizes the gay rights movement
View
Date:2025-04-17 19:09:50
Lynn Segerblom starts her mornings with a splash of color, treating each day as a blank canvas. It's fitting for a woman who once went by the nickname "Rainbow." Segerblom recalls that in 1976, her driver's license bore the name Faerie Argyle Rainbow.
Her love for color is clear. She finds that different colors have various moods, and wearing bright colors like hot pink or yellow significantly lifts her spirits compared to darker shades like black, gray or brown.
In the summer of 1978, Segerblom designed a piece of rainbow artwork that brought a storm of change to California. She was 22 at the time, working at the gay community center in San Francisco. During San Francisco's Gay Freedom Day Parade, Segerblom and her friends brainstormed ideas for the flagpoles at the Civic Center, leading to the creation of the striped rainbow flag that became the symbol of the gay rights movement.
"It's all the colors. It's the full spectrum, you know? And all the colors in between that we may not quite notice with our eyes—but they're there," Segerblom explains about her color choices.
But Segerblom says her work was not noticed in history books.
The acknowledgment for creation of the rainbow flag has historically gone to Gilbert Baker—a late friend and activist. But Segerblom said it was a collaborative effort that also included James McNamara — who Segerblom said taught Baker how to sew before dying of AIDS in the 90s — but also received no recognition.
"At the time, I didn't know I wasn't getting the credit, you know? And this was a labor of love for all of us. Nobody got paid. It's like, you're there because you want to be. And since I was already there making my living with my dyes and my sewing machine, why not? It sounded exciting," said Segerblom.
The rainbow flag has evolved over the years, adding colors and stripes to promote the diversity and inclusivity of the LGBTQ+ community. Terra Russell-Slavin, chief impact officer at the Los Angeles LGBT Center, and her team honor the history of the gay rights movement and the flag's importance.
"It gave people a symbol or imagery to identify. I think that is important when you're trying to create visibility, when you're trying to create acceptance. I think it became this rallying cry," said Russell-Slavin.
A rallying cry Russell-Slavin believes is still needed today. GLAAD reported at least 145 incidents of anti-LGBTQ hate during Pride Month last year. At the recent West Hollywood Pride Parade, the rainbow flags waved strong with participants expressing that it signified queer identity, love, a welcoming community and a safe space for openness and the ongoing struggle for freedom.
For Segerblom, seeing the flag decades later brings joy.
"I love when I'm out and about and I see rainbow flags… It's good to me. I try to take it for its best attributes. It's a rainbow. It's light. It's beauty. I try to take it for the good it has done or is doing," she said.
Elise PrestonElise Preston is a CBS News correspondent based in Los Angeles. She reports for all broadcasts and platforms, including the "CBS Evening News with Norah O'Donnell," "CBS Mornings," "CBS Saturday Morning" and "CBS Weekend News."
Twitter InstagramveryGood! (59851)
Related
- $73.5M beach replenishment project starts in January at Jersey Shore
- India's Haryana state on edge as authorities block internet, deploy troops amid deadly sectarian violence
- New Jersey Lt. Gov. Sheila Oliver dies; Gov. Phil Murphy planning return to U.S.
- Incandescent light bulb ban takes effect in environment-saving switch to LEDs
- US appeals court rejects Nasdaq’s diversity rules for company boards
- Grand Canyon bus rollover kills 1, leaves more than 50 injured
- Utah law requiring age verification for porn sites remains in effect after judge tosses lawsuit
- What is a 'fire whirl,' the rare weather phenomenon spotted in a California wildfire
- Warm inflation data keep S&P 500, Dow, Nasdaq under wraps before Fed meeting next week
- Pilot killed in southern Illinois helicopter crash was crop-dusting at the time
Ranking
- Biden administration makes final diplomatic push for stability across a turbulent Mideast
- If I'm invited to a destination wedding, am I obliged to attend?
- Expenses beyond tuition add up. How college students should budget to stretch their money.
- Takeaways from the Trump indictment that alleges a campaign of ‘fraud and deceit’
- Paris Hilton, Nicole Richie return for an 'Encore,' reminisce about 'The Simple Life'
- Republican National Committee boosts polling and fundraising thresholds to qualify for 2nd debate
- Before there was X, Meta, Qwikster and New Coke all showed how rebrands can go
- Drone attacks in Moscow’s glittering business district leave residents on edge
Recommendation
Trump wants to turn the clock on daylight saving time
Sofía Vergara responds to Joe Manganiello's divorce filing, asks court to uphold prenup
North Carolina hit-and-run that injured 6 migrant workers was accidental, police say
'AGT': Sofía Vergara awards Golden Buzzer to 'spectacular' Brazilian singer Gabriel Henrique
'Kraven the Hunter' spoilers! Let's dig into that twisty ending, supervillain reveal
North Carolina man credits rapper Post Malone for helping him win a $100k lottery prize
'Loki' Season 2: Trailer, release date, cast, what to know about Disney+ show
Sales are way down at a Florida flea market. A new immigration law could be to blame.