Respecting the Rainbow
Image via @Unsplash
When June comes around, Target (and every other brand you know) rolls out the rainbow carpet to welcome in Pride month. But, even though you can’t miss the fact that the rainbow is a symbol of Pride, it’s all too common to not know the why or how to respect it. So, if you need some multi-colored knowledge or want to send some to your aunt who won’t stop getting you rainbow mugs for your birthday (love the energy, though!), we here at Jerk have got you covered.
Quick storytime/history lesson (painless, we promise): Gilbert Blake was an openly gay artist in 1978. He was asked by Harvey Milk (the first openly gay politician) to create a symbol of pride for the gay community. Seeing flags as powerfully symbolic of pride in general and the rainbow as the flag of the sky, Blake designed a rainbow flag, with each color representing something different:
- Hot pink = sex
- Red = life
- Orange = healing
- Yellow = sunlight
- Green = nature
- Turquoise = art
- Indigo = harmony
- Violet = spirit
Eventually, for manufacturing ease (of course), hot pink, turquoise, and indigo were removed and the flag of today was born. Its various colors reflect the diversity of the community as a whole.
Now that we know all that, let’s get into respecting it. Besides learning about the history of the rainbow (side note- there is also so much more LGBTQ+ history to learn!), there are a couple of quick things to keep in mind when it comes to rainbows and Pride.
Allies are always welcome and even encouraged to attend Pride events, but make sure you’re there for the right reasons. Don’t just show up to party or for the photo-op (you can just hit Castle for that); be there to celebrate the community in its diversity and accomplishments. You wouldn’t go to a birthday party and ask whose birthday it is, so don’t walk into Pride without knowing what’s what.
Pride “merch” isn’t off limits to allies either, but there are some things to consider before buying it. If it's for someone else, think about why you’re choosing it and if they really would like it. Are you getting those rainbow sweatbands for your cousin who works out and loves a rainbow statement piece, or are you getting them for your friend who is “gay, so it’s fine!” but the opposite of an athlete? Your loved one appreciates the support, but in the less merch-applicable moments, we can definitely find better ways of showing it. And if what you’re buying is for you, just be aware of what any messages on it mean and what it means for you to wear it.
There are always going to be brands (yay capitalism) and people who take advantage of the rainbow to create an image for themselves. It’s our job to know more and look further to make sure we’re respecting the rainbow.
Sources:
https://www.britannica.com/story/how-did-the-rainbow-flag-become-a-symbol-of-lgbt-pride