New York's Museum of Modern Art acquired a version in 2015, where it described the flag in a press release as on equal footing with "similarly universal symbols such as the symbol, the Creative Commons logo, and the recycling symbol." The flag is the Design Museum's first new acquisition since it moved locations last year, and is an aesthetically appropriate addition given the museum's current show: Breathing Colour by Hella Jongerius. The rainbow flag, which has become a universal symbol of hope for LGBTQ people around the world, first flew in San Francisco's United Nations Plaza for Gay Pride Day, on June 25, 1978. Since its debut nearly 40 years ago, the flag has been carried in Pride marches around the world and swathed over just about every object imaginable in order to show support for LGBTQ rights, giving it a near-universal significance.
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The flag in question was designed in 1978 by the San Francisco artist Gilbert Baker, the gay rights activist who is responsible for creating what is arguably the LGBTQ rights movement's most recognizable and unifying symbol. The flag is one of a slew of other significant objects added to the museum's trove, including a space coffee cup, a Frisbee, an Oculus Rift virtual reality headset, and a copy of David Bowie's Blackstar album, according to a report by The Guardian. The first two rainbow flags were designed by Gilbert Baker and fabricated by a team. At the request of Harvey Milk, the first openly gay elected official in the history of California, Gilbert was commissioned to create an image of pride for the gay community.
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The rainbow flag, now a ubiquitous symbol for LGBTQ pride, has earned new status: This week, London's Design Museum acquired it as part of its permanent collection. Created 43 years ago, the rainbow flag is the most widely recognized symbol of LGBTQ community around the world. Artist and activist Gilbert Baker is credited with creating the first pride flag, meant to represent the gay community. San Francisco Activist, Gilbert Baker, designed this 8-stripe flag to represent the diversity of the LGBTQ+ community.