Upon his death in 2017, friends cleared out Baker’s apartment and shipped most of his effects to a sister in Texas, with some memorabilia sent to the GLBT Historical Society. Baker, Beswick adds, took the flag with him when he moved to New York in 1994 to execute a mile-long flag exhibit for the 25th anniversary of the Stonewall Uprising. Its brief prominence in San Francisco is all the more poignant considering that 1978 was the only year that supervisor Harvey Milk marched in the parade he would be assassinated five months later. The remnant we have now, it’s about 28 ft along the hoist and 10 to 12 ft of the fly – still quite large and beautiful.” Gilbert went back to retrieve them and took this one and cut off the damaged portion. It sustained water damage and it had mildew on it.
“Who knows, maybe it’ll turn up someday,” Beswick said. Measuring 60 ft by 30 ft, the two flags – one with stripes in the style of the American flag, and this one without – were later displayed and stored at a now-shuttered LGBTQ+ community center, where one was stolen. Photograph: Mark Rennie/Courtesy of the Gilbert Baker Foundation The two original eight-color rainbow flags flying at United Nations Plaza in 1978 during San Francisco Gay Freedom Day.
