The Rainbow Flag has been an LGBTQ community symbol since it first appeared in 1978. Designed to represent diversity, its prism colors reflect our diversity and symbolize the tenants of our struggle. The fluttering icon soon became a ubiquitous and obligatory part of LGBTQ life. A rainbow sticker on a storefront, whatever its nature, served as a green light for gays. It discreetly identified the business as gay owned and operated, or at least gay friendly and welcoming. Many, if not most, of Milwaukee’s LGBTQ organizations, like PrideFest and Milwaukee GAMMA, use the rainbow in their logos, or in their names, like the Washington Heights Rainbow Association and Wisconsin Rainbow Alliance of the Deaf, among others.
In 1994 a massive, mile-long version was carried by representatives of all 50 states in a New York City parade commemorating the 25th anniversary of the Stonewall uprising. It was listed in the Guinness Book of Records as the world’s largest flag. The Wisconsin flag bearers received a foot square piece of that famous cloth. They recently presented the relic to a young gay man who had been forced to leave his parental home because he came out. The gesture was moving for both. It was like passing a symbolic torch of freedom from one generation to the next.
But, rainbow ennui may be setting in. I’ve often heard whiney comments that people are tired of it. It’s so dated, they say. Years ago, my softball team introduced a new uniform. The prototype had rainbow borders on the sleeves. One player asked with exasperation why it always had to be a rainbow. Well, I reasoned, we were an LGBTQ team after all, and besides, it looked good. But my teammates were at best ambivalent. The rainbow ribbon was dropped.
Perhaps it’s a sign of the times. Obviously, the militant élan of activists past has been muted by the momentum of our political and social gains. The domino effect of states’ marriage equality has eclipsed the heady days of celebrating each and every minor victory. With ever more mainstream support and even our president on our side, defiantly rallying around the rainbow has less cachet. Watching from the ramparts, some, especially the younger among us, seem disinclined to notice if our flag is even still there.
Speaking of flag flaps, the U.S. Supreme Court recently heard an interesting case. It was brought by the Sons of Confederate Veterans regarding the Confederate flag on a Texas specialty license plate. In a rare moment of clarity, the state rejected such official use of the divisive emblem, recognizing that, for many, it is as heinous as the swastika. Still, in the name of some dubious Dixie sentiment or simply diehard racism, others revere the standard of rebellion. So rabid is their allegiance to the stars and bars that they successfully pushed a case to the Supreme Court.
Would there be a similar fight for the rainbow flag? Maybe someone should propose a Wisconsin rainbow specialty plate so we can find out.
