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The hidden figure behind the iconic rainbow flag that symbolizes the gay rights movement

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Lynn Segerblom starts her mornings with a splash of color, treating each day as a blank canvas. It’s fitting for a woman who once went by the nickname “Rainbow.” Segerblom recalls that in 1976, her driver’s license bore the name Faerie Argyle Rainbow.

Her love for color is clear. She finds that different colors have various moods, and wearing bright colors like hot pink or yellow significantly lifts her spirits compared to darker shades like black, gray or brown.

In the summer of 1978, Segerblom designed a piece of rainbow artwork that brought a storm of change to California. She was 22 at the time, working at the gay community center in San Francisco. During San Francisco’s Gay Freedom Day Parade, Segerblom and her friends brainstormed ideas for the flagpoles at the Civic Center, leading to the creation of the striped rainbow flag that became the symbol of the gay rights movement.

“It’s all the colors. It’s the full spectrum, you know? And all the colors in between that we may not quite notice with our eyes—but they’re there,” Segerblom explains about her color choices.

But Segerblom says her work was not noticed in history books.

The acknowledgment for creation of the rainbow flag has historically gone to Gilbert Baker—a late friend and activist. But Segerblom said it was a collaborative effort that also included James McNamara — who Segerblom said taught Baker how to sew before dying of AIDS in the 90s — but also received no recognition.

“At the time, I didn’t know I wasn’t getting the credit, you know? And this was a labor of love for all of us. Nobody got paid. It’s like, you’re there because you want to be. And since I was already there making my living with my dyes and my sewing machine, why not? It sounded exciting,” said Segerblom.

The rainbow flag has evolved over the years, adding colors and stripes to promote the diversity and inclusivity of the LGBTQ+ community. Terra Russell-Slavin, chief impact officer at the Los Angeles LGBT Center, and her team honor the history of the gay rights movement and the flag’s importance.

“It gave people a symbol or imagery to identify. I think that is important when you’re trying to create visibility, when you’re trying to create acceptance. I think it became this rallying cry,” said Russell-Slavin.

A rallying cry Russell-Slavin believes is still needed today. GLAAD reported at least 145 incidents of anti-LGBTQ hate during Pride Month last year. At the recent West Hollywood Pride Parade, the rainbow flags waved strong with participants expressing that it signified queer identity, love, a welcoming community and a safe space for openness and the ongoing struggle for freedom.

For Segerblom, seeing the flag decades later brings joy. 

“I love when I’m out and about and I see rainbow flags… It’s good to me. I try to take it for its best attributes. It’s a rainbow. It’s light. It’s beauty. I try to take it for the good it has done or is doing,” she said.



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Sen. Van Hollen says Biden is “not fully complying with American law” on Israeli arms shipments

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Sen. Van Hollen says Biden is “not fully complying with American law” on Israeli arms shipments – CBS News


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Democratic Sen. Chris Van Hollen of Maryland, who last week backed Sen. Bernie Sanders’ bill to block U.S. sending arms to Israel, told “Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan” that President Biden ” is not fully complying with American law” on sending arms to Israel.

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Rep.-elect Sarah McBride says “I didn’t run” for Congrees “to talk about what bathroom I use”

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Rep.-elect Sarah McBride says “I didn’t run” for Congrees “to talk about what bathroom I use” – CBS News


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Rep.-elect Sarah McBride, the first openly transgender person to be elected to Congress, tells “Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan” that as Republicans have sought to put forward a bathroom ban in the Capitol, she “didn’t run for the United States House of Representatives to talk about what bathroom I use.”

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11/24: Face the Nation – CBS News

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11/24: Face the Nation – CBS News


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This week on “Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan,” Sens. Rand Paul and Tammy Duckworth discuss President-elect Donald Trump’s Cabinet picks after a busy week on Capitol Hill. Plus, Rep.-elect Sarah McBride, the first openly transgender person elected to Congress, joins.

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