New rainbow font created to honour creator of LGBTQI flag, Gilbert Baker

Type with pride.

Gilbert Baker, designer of the Rainbow Flag, is draped with the flag while protesting at the St. Patrick's Day parade in New York. in 2014. Source: AP Photo/Mark Lennihan

Gilbert Baker - recognised as the creator of the rainbow flag that's come to globally symbolise LGBTQIA pride - passed away late last month. 

Now, a community arts and media organisation called NewFest has announced that a rather fitting modern tribute has been created in remembrance of the talented artist and fierce LGBTQIA advocate. 

In a statement released collaboratively with NYC Pride and advertising giant Ogilvy & Mather, NewFest announced that a font had been made to honour Baker, and his dedication to the queer community. 

The font is called 'Gilbert', and unsurprisingly, is inspired by the rainbow flag.

A screenshot of the 'Gilbert' font, in both traditional and colour opentype versions. Source: Type with Pride.

“We wanted to create something special that would not just honor Gilbert and his iconic Rainbow Flag but also give the LGBTQ community a fantastic tool to help them create their own banners, posters and signs," the press release states. "People can now raise the Rainbow Flag with every letter they type. By literally embedding the Rainbow Flag into the font we made it possible for everyone around the world to type with pride.”

The group released a video explaining the significance of the font, and what they hoped to achieve by creating it.

Baker handsewed the flag for his friend Harvey Milk - the first openly gay person to be elected to Californian office - to carry in the 1978 San Francisco Gay Freedom Day Parade. Baker continued to create banners for Milk up until his assassination later that year.

The 'Gilbert' font is available for free, in both traditional and colour openface versions, via Type with Pride.