Category Archives: Special

While they both no longer appear in the Guinness Book of World Records (here’s the new record holder), two rainbow flags created by Gilbert Baker have held the title of “Largest Flag in the world.”

The first of these record holding rainbow flags was sewn into existence in 1994.  Baker produced a mile-long  (1.6km) flag for  New York’s Stonewall 25 march, in remembrance of the 25^th anniversary of the riots.  This massive flag was 30 feet wide, and was carried in the pride parade by almost 10,000 people.

The mile long flag’s title of largest flag was nullified in 2003 with the production of the Rainbow 25’s sea-to-sea flag.  At 1 ¼ miles (2 km) long, this massive flag pays tribute to the creation of the first pride flag on its 25th anniversary.  Unfurled on June 15, 2003 in Key West, Florida, the flag ran the length of Key West’s Duval Street, stretching from the Atlantic Ocean to the Gulf of Mexico.

After the event, this historic flag was divided into pieces and shared with pride organizations around the world, including as I was recently informed with ProGay Philippines – congrats!

I tried to find a video clip showing the flag, but I didn’t have much luck.  However, I did find a documentary that was produced about the whole Key West event …  (available on Amazon, here.)

“In Key West, nobody cares who you want to sleep with.” “You have gays, straights, Europeans, Latin Americans, Blacks, Cubans, and White folks all living together on a 2 by 4 mile island. When you put people that close together, they tend to find ways to get along.” And on this amazing island only 90 miles from Cuba, this very diverse community celebrates the 25th anniversary of the Rainbow Flag by stretching the longest Rainbow Flag in history — 8000 feet in all -from one end of the island to the other.”
– Key West: City of Colors, DVD description

I did find some pictures of the event, they’re from the site: http://lordoftheflies.org/img/keywest.htm

Baker creating the Rainbow25 sea-to-sea flag

Marchers carrying the flag (Key West, 2003)

Wow!