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A Brief History of the Pride Flag
During World War II, under
Adolph Hitler’s German Nazi regime pink and black upside triangles
were used to symbolize gay and lesbian imprisonment in the concentration
camps and overall societal oppression.
Despite being reclaimed by the gay and lesbian community in
1970’s and inverted to the right-side up position, symbolizing a
commitment for community acceptance, the rainbow flag was also
introduced.
In 1978, at a San Francisco Gay
Pride Parade the rainbow flag was first displayed.
It embodies individuals from all backgrounds, races and national
origins and signifies the full array of faiths and experiences.
Each colour is also symbolic of
various meanings. They are described below.
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Colour
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Meaning
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Red
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Light
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Orange
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Healing
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Yellow
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Sunshine
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Green
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Serenity
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Blue
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Art
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Purple
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Spirit
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Selected Historical Events
(adapted from"Equality", Canadian Human Rights Commission and "Teaching for Diversity and Social Justice", Adams, Bell,
Griffin,p165-169.1997, Canadian Human Rights Commission.1996.)
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Before 2500 B.C.:
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No concept of sexual orientation and no stigma
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1-700:
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Sexual repression. Sexual behaviour to be expressed only in marriage for procreation.
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1869:
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Dr. Karoly Benkert, uses "homosexuality" to describe same-sex acts,
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1871:
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German Criminal Code declares same sex acts between men as a crime,
therefore a basis for Nazi persecution.
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1900-1930:
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"Gay" is used in the U.S. homosexual subculture which is
developing in the U.S. and Germany.
The new feminists and suffragists are stigmatized as "lesbians" .Doctors treat homosexuality as an illness.
Freud discovers female sexuality.
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1933-1944:
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Thousands of homosexual men are sent to concentration camps
after Hitler assumes power.
They are forced to wear a pink triangle to identify them (later reclaimed as a symbol of anti-oppression). Few survive.
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1948:
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Kinsey reveals same sex behaviour is more common that was
thought. His six point continuum describes bisexuality as part of the continuum between heterosexuality and homosexuality.
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1952:
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Homosexuals cannot be in public service occupations in the U.S.
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1969:
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Stonewall Riots, New York City
Homosexuality no longer a crime under the Criminal Code of Canada.
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1973:
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American Psychiatric Association removes homosexuality from its list
of mental disorders.
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1974:
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American Psychological Association follows.
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1975:
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Homosexuals are no longer barred as immigrants to Canada under the
Immigration Act.
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1988:
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Lesbians and gay men are cited as the most frequent targets of hate
crimes in a report by the U.S .Department of Justice .
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1989:
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Denmark becomes the first country to legalize same- sex marriages.
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1992:
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The Ontario Court of Appeal "reads in" sexual orientation into the
Ontario Human Rights Act.
Michelle Douglas wins her lawsuit against the Canadian Armed Forces,
which changes its policy of not hiring and promoting gays and lesbians.
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1995:
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The Supreme Court of Canada (Egan and Nesbitt) confirms that
discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation violates the Canadian
Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
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1998:
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The Ontario government delists Sexual Reassignment Surgery for
Transsexuals as a funded service.
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1999:
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Same-sex couples awarded the same benefits as common-law
heterosexual partners, by the Canadian Supreme Court.
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2002:
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Marc Hall wins the right to take his same sex partner to the prom at a
Separate school in Durham Region.
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2004 (Sept.):
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Six provinces in Canada have now recognized same-sex (equal)
marriage.
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