The new flag serves as a critical reminder to everyone, including Positive Space and the Pride Planning Committee, that our work must be rooted in an intersectional approach to include those who have historically been and continue to be marginalized. The black and brown stripes are a visible symbol of the importance of these voices and experiences. While there have been great strides made in the queer community, it remains that Pride is not always an inclusive space for Indigenous Peoples, Black people and people of colour. racism, heterosexism, transphobia and ableism). Crenshaw’s theory has since been been built upon and used to explore how social injustices are not suffered independently but rather, as a single experience for people who are subject to overlapping systems of oppression (e.g. In 1989, Kimberlé Crenshaw (American professor of law and civil rights activist) coined the term “intersectionality” in her paper entitled Demarginalizing the Intersection of Race and Sex, external link. Why change the flag? A symbol of our commitment to being intentionally inclusive The new flag design adds black and brown stripes to the top of the six-colour flag variation to represent people of colour in the community. Now Hikes, a black queer woman, is excited about a new gay-rights symbol: a pride flag with additional black and brown stripes above the rest of the rainbow.
In June 2017, the city of Philadelphia adopted a revised version of the flag as part of the city's More Color More Pride campaign, external link - an effort to celebrate the stories of those who are often not included, specifically people of colour and transgender/gender nonconforming folks. The multiple colours on the flag were meant to reflect a diverse and varied queer community with each of the colours holding a symbolic meaning. The original Pride flag was designed by Gilbert Baker in 1978 at the request of Harvey Milk, external link.