Baker said he chose the rainbow because it was already a popular motif with the hippie movement, but it also alludes to The Wizard of Oz song “Somewhere Over The Rainbow,” performed by one of the world’s first gay icons, Judy Garland. The pride flag was designed to be a symbol of happiness and hope. The familiar rainbow design was created by Gilbert Baker in 1978 and was debuted to the world at the San Francisco Gay Freedom Day Parade that year. The rainbows on the crosswalks currently have six colors - red, orange, yellow, green, blue and purple - the same as the original pride flag. The City of West Hollywood is currently projecting a budget deficit of 10 million dollars for the current fiscal year. and San Vicente into the twelve-colored Progress Pride Flag, which celebrates not only LGBTQ people but transgender people, marginalized people of color and those who’ve been affected by HIV/AIDS. The Transgender Advisory Board on Wednesday sent their approval to City Council for plans that would transform the traditional, six-hued rainbow flag on the crosswalks at the corner of Santa Monica Blvd.
