The colors represent a wide range of gay men, regardless of gender.
![meaning of the gay flag meaning of the gay flag](https://i.pinimg.com/originals/ef/89/f8/ef89f868dc7a95f64f9e56e4a10d76bb.png)
![meaning of the gay flag meaning of the gay flag](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/48/Gay_Pride_Flag.svg/1280px-Gay_Pride_Flag.svg.png)
It is this version that became the standard for future production as well as the symbol for gay men. Originally created by Gilbert Baker with 8 stripes in 1978 to be used for the first time during the June 25, 1978, Freedom Day Parade in San Francisco, Baker dropped the pink and turquoise due to fabric shortages toward the end of 1978 and a desire to split the motif in two with an even number of stripes flanking each streetlamp along the parade route in 1979, respectively. The rainbow flag and its variations is one of the most well-known and used symbols for the entire LGBTQIA+ community and frequently flown during Pride events. The rainbow flag is generally seen as a symbol for the entire LGBTQIA+ community. īy the 1960s, gay men had taken to the term to refer to their own sexual identity, and by today's standards, it is the acceptable way to refer to homosexual people. This trend continued, as in the 1890s, the term "gey cat", which is a Scottish variant of gay, was used to refer to a "vagrant who offered sexual services to women or a young traveler who was new to the road and in the company of an older man." This marked one of the first times that "gay" was used to imply a same-gender relationship. By then, the "carefree" nature of the word became used to refer to people with unrestrained morals and prone to decadence and promiscuity as such, a prostitute became known as a "gay woman", a womanizer as a "gay man", and a brothel as a "gay house". It was not until the 1600s that the term took on a sexual meaning. Dating back to the 12th century, it came from the Old French word "gai", meaning "joyful, happy pleasant, agreeably charming forward, pert light-colored" and was a commonly used term within literature. The word "gay" has had many meanings over the years. The word "homosexuality" comes from the Greek homos, which means "the same".
![meaning of the gay flag meaning of the gay flag](https://www.jewelry-secrets.com/Blog/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/Gay-Lesbian-Bi-Pride-Colors-Flags.jpg)
There is not just one way to experience same-sex attraction, nor is there a set period in life to discover that you experience it. Thus, having had sexual intercourse with someone of the same gender does not make anyone gay by definition. "Gay" as an identity is defined by the attraction and self-identification as such rather than having had any sexual experience with people of the same gender. In a broader sense of the word, gay can also be used as an umbrella term to identify any LGBTQIA+ individual, though some note that doing so excludes other sexual orientations and gender identities and should thus be avoided. Queer and bisexual are also among the terms used for those who are attracted to members of the same gender. This is most commonly associated with men, as a gay woman may prefer to use the term " lesbian" instead. Gay is an adjective referring to those with an enduring physical, romantic, and/or emotional attraction to people of the same gender.