Creator of the rainbow flag no more

Gilbert Baker’s design has become a widely recognised symbol of gay rights

In this June 15, 2003, file photo, Gilbert Baker stands under a 1 1/4-mile-long rainbow flag on Duval Street in Key West, Fla. Baker, the creator of the rainbow flag that has become a widely recognized symbol of gay rights has died at age 65. The New York City medical examiner's office says the creator of the gay-rights rainbow flag died of natural causes. A spokeswoman for the office says Baker's death was caused by hypertensive heart disease. Baker was found at his home on Friday. The artist and gay-rights activist was best known for creating the rainbow flag in 1978. (Rob O'Neal/ Florida Keys News Bureau via AP)

Gilbert Baker, the creator of the rainbow flag that has become a widely recognised symbol of gay rights has died. He was 65.

Baker was found dead on Friday at his New York City home. The city medical examiner’s office said on Saturday that he had died of hypertensive heart disease.

Baker was born in Kansas and served in the U.S. Army from 1970 to 1972.

According to Baker’s website, he taught himself to sew and began making banners for gay and anti-war marches, creating the rainbow flag in 1978.

Baker said in a 2008 interview that he knew instantly from the way people reacted to the flag that it was “going to be something. I didn’t know what or how ... but I knew.”

Baker was part of a circle of San Francisco gay activists that included Harvey Milk, the city supervisor who was assassinated in 1978, and Cleve Jones, who created the Names Project AIDS memorial quilt in the 1980s.

Initially eight colours

The flag was initially eight colours, but it was cut to six because of the limited availability of fabrics, Mr. Jones said. He said Baker rejected advice to patent the rainbow flag design and never made a penny off it.

Baker also designed flags for civic occasions.