The Rainbow Flag installation at Harvey Milk Plaza that towers above San Francisco’s Castro District may soon be designated a city landmark.
First erected in 1997, the flag celebrates the 20th anniversary of the late Harvey Milk’s election to the San Francisco Board of Supervisors in 1977. According to the Harvey Milk Foundation, the election made him one of the first openly gay elected officials in the United States.
The 20-by-30-foot banner is also a monument to late San Francisco artist Gilbert Baker — widely credited as the originator of the six-color, rainbow flag which has come to symbolize the LGBTQ+ community.
“It honors the political achievements of Harvey Milk and the next generation of LGBTQ+ politicians; it serves as a beacon of hope, visibility and power,” the legislation wrote. “It is the singular physical manifestation of LGBTQ+ pride for everyone.”
The flag at the Harvey Milk Plaza stands tall above a sea of other rainbow flags below it on the southwest corner of the intersection of Market and Castro streets outside an entrance to the Muni Castro Station.
The San Francisco Board of Supervisors gave preliminary approval to designate the flag a landmark during its regular meeting Tuesday at the recommendation of the Historic Preservation Commission.
Upon the board’s final approval, the legislation would become effective 30 days after enactment by the San Francisco mayor, according to the board’s agenda packet.
As a San Francisco landmark, any construction, alteration, removal or demolition of the flag that requires a city permit would also pend certification from the Historic Preservation Commission under the planning code.
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LittleFoot said:
Why not just post your own comment saying that, Rajiv?
Dirk van Ulden said:
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