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The Atlas Obscura Podcast

The Gilbert Baker Mural

The Atlas Obscura Podcast

SiriusXM Podcasts & Atlas Obscura

Society & Culture, Places & Travel

4.61.6K Ratings

🗓️ 1 July 2024

⏱️ 15 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Gilbert Baker’s pride flag design is now a worldwide symbol for LGBT freedom and liberation. Now, his former stomping grounds remember his efforts with a beautiful mural. But there’s more to this pride-filled house than meets the eye.

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0

You may have never heard the name Gilbert Baker before, but you certainly have seen their artwork.

0:11.0

Way back in 1978, he designed what we now know as the Pride Flag.

0:16.0

And in the summer months, his design is basically inescapable.

0:20.0

It hangs off buildings, covers t-shirts, stars and commercials, it's everywhere.

0:27.0

But there's one building in San Francisco's Castro district,

0:30.0

for pride season is all year long.

0:33.0

We get walking tours that come by and they look at the plaque about Gilbert.

0:36.0

This is John Inck whistle.

0:38.0

He was a long-time friend of Gilbert.

0:40.0

And they stop and take pictures of the flag and

0:43.0

Instagram it and all the time night and day people pose in front of that flag.

0:49.0

It's a it's a powerful symbol.

0:51.0

In 2017 artist April Berger was commissioned to transform the garage doors of a gray

0:57.7

three-story house into a gorgeous wavy rainbow mural as a tribute to Gilbert and his flag design.

1:04.0

It's stunningly eye-catching. Visitors are constantly stopping and staring at it.

1:09.2

I happen to be traveling through the Bay Area and wanted to stop by and see it for myself.

1:14.8

I'm in the historic Castro District of San Francisco.

1:21.6

I just turned right on 17th Street.

1:24.0

I'm in front of the house.

1:26.0

In front of the mural.

1:28.0

If you look up, there's a pride flag.

1:31.0

But what I found there was more than just a pretty painting.

...

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