Marchers in the Key West Pride parade carry a 100-foot-long section of an iconic 1.25-mile-long rainbow flag Sunday, June 11, 2023, up Duval Street in Key West, Fla.

Artist Gilbert Baker created the rainbow flag as a symbol of pride for the LGBTQ community in the 1970s. Here’s why he chose the colors and what they mean.

Since its creation in 1978, the Rainbow Pride Flag has become a universal symbol for the LGBTQ community. While the flag's image is well-recognized, its history may not be as well-known.