Gay activist designed iconic rainbow flag
NEW YORK — Gilbert Baker, the creator of the rainbow flag that has become a widely recognized symbol of gay rights, has died. He was 65.
Baker was found dead Friday at his New York City home. The city medical examiner’s office said Saturday that he had died of hypertensive heart disease.
Baker was born in Kansas and served in the U.S. Army from 1970 to 1972.
He was stationed in San Francisco in the early days of the gay rights movement and continued to live there after his honorable discharge.
According to Baker’s website, he taught himself to sew and began making banners for gay and antiwar marches, creating the rainbow flag in 1978.
Baker said in a 2008 interview that he knew instantly from the way people reacted to the flag that it was “going to be something. I didn’t know what or how … but I knew.” JAMES ROSENQUIST