Rainbow Flag Displayed In Orange County Representing Unity and Resilience
A 25-foot-long rainbow flag symbolizing inclusivity and hope sways freely at the Orange County Government Administration Offices, adding a meaningful boost of color to Orlando’s cityscape in time for Pride Month.
This section of the original banner, deemed Section 93, is part of the iconic Key West Sea-to-Sea Rainbow 25 flag that embodies the core values of the LGBTQ+ community — acceptance, understanding, education, unity and the courage to be your authentic self.
The late San Francisco artist Gilbert Baker debuted the flag in 1978 at the city’s Gay Freedom Day Parade. His creation became the symbol of pride for the LGBTQ+ community worldwide. In honor of its 2003 silver anniversary, Baker and team stitched together a grandiose version restored to its original eight colors. The brilliant flag stretched 1.25 miles from the Atlantic Ocean to the Gulf of Mexico along Duval Street in Key West, creating an unforgettable symbol of pride and diversity.
Baker once said, “What I liked about the rainbow is that it fits all of us. It’s all the colors. It represents all the genders. It represents all the races. It is the rainbow of humanity.
For nearly 20 year, the cherished flag has traveled the globe representing pride and other landmark events for the LGBTQ+ and ally communities. The banner is on loan to Orange County through June 12 as part of the Sacred Cloth Project. After, it will make its way to the Warner Bros. Discovery and CNN building in the Atlanta area.
“We are deeply honored to showcase this symbol of diversity,” said Mayor Jerry Demings. “Its presence serves as a poignant reminder of the 49 lives lost in the Pulse tragedy. It also affirms our unwavering commitment to inclusivity.”
Section 93 visits Orlando annually as a solemn reminder of those lost in the Pulse shooting where a gunman killed 49 people and injured 68 others. The 2016 shooting is considered the deadliest incident of violence against the LGBTQ+ community in U.S. history.
Mark Ebenhock, with the Sacred Cloth Project, said Orlando’s resilience and ideals align with the flag’s enduring message of solidarity.
“Section 93 of the Key West Sea-to-Sea Rainbow 25 Flag is back in Orlando as a beacon of hope, love and unity for the community,” Ebenhock said.