Gay pride flags cause flap in San Francisco

23 December 2010

the current 6-striped flag (history)

     In an article from the PinkPaper today was this little ditty about an unusual and probably unnoticed part of the gay community history. The gay flag, originating in San Francisco, the mecca of the gay community, has been disappearing slowly from the streetlamps on Market Street in the Castro District as they deteriorate and the supports holding them rust and fall off. Eventually even the lampposts are themselves replaced without the gay flags.

     Originally starting as an 8-striped flag, it eventually became a 7-striped, then the current 6-striped flag that hangs from the historical lampposts. Presently there are only about 10 remaining of the original 40. I've been there many times when visiting San Francisco and the flags are an identifying part of the history of the Castro District and San Francisco itself, not to mention the origins and contributions during the 60's and 70's made to gay openess and the "coming out" of the word itself. As Dale McEwan of the PinkPaper reports;

     "...The future of San Francisco’s history-soaked rainbow pride flags has come under threat as residents fear they may damage the city’s lampposts with early 20th century origins.

courtesy the PinkPaper.com

     The future of San Francisco’s history-soaked rainbow pride flags has come under threat as residents fear they may damage the city’s lampposts with early 20th century origins.
     Community activists in San Francisco’s predominantly gay Castro District are outraged by efforts of the Mission Delores Neighborhood Association calling for the removal of the flags that are hung from lampposts...

     'This is where the rainbow flag started. This is a neighborhood that should be identified as one of the strongest and most vibrant gay and lesbian neighborhoods in the world,' said City Supervisor Bevan Dufty...

     ...Responding to the plan, the Mission Delores Neighborhood Association said the rainbow flags would set a bad precedent for other groups looking to put up permanent signs on the lampposts in the city’s historic preservation areas..." 

     Click on the title for more information about the article and controversy in SFO and also use the link under the flag for some interesting information about the background of the gay flag.
Barry Mattison