|
City of West Hollywood Proclamation
Presented on behalf of the West Hollywood City Council to Lynn Segerblom WHEREAS, In 1978, Lynn Segerblom, then known as Faerie Argyle Rainbow, was the co-head of the Decorations Committee for the 1978 Gay Freedom Day Committee, which produced the San Francisco parade and celebration. Segerblom, Gilbert Baker, and another friend James McNamara, joined together to create the rainbow flag for that year's Gay Freedom Day celebration; and, WHEREAS, with several years of experience tie-dyeing garments and preparing fabric for designers, the 21-year-old Segerblom spent weeks preparing the heavy cotton muslin and dyeing it in large trash cans on the roof at 330 Grove, a gay community center. Segerblom washed and dried the panels carefully before and after dyeing them, prior to them being sewn together in an artist loft workspace behind the Top Floor Gallery; and, WHEREAS, the flag making process was a group effort with 30 artists helping out on the two larger 40' x 60' flags, as both Baker and McNamara sewed the panels together with only three Singer sewing machines that Segerblom, Baker and McNamara owned; Segerblom also helped with the sewing once the dyeing was complete; and, WHEREAS, the two larger flags were flown in the San Francisco Civic Center U.N. Plaza on Sunday June 25, 1978. The decorations committee artists also contributed approximately 28 smaller individual flags, made from fabric left over from the large flags that were raised around the reflecting pool and from building rooftops in the civic center area; and, WHEREAS, unbeknownst to them, the colorful rainbow flag would become the international symbol for LGBTQ rights, representing the diversity of the LGBTQ community and serving as a symbol of hope and pride: NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the City Council of the City of West Hollywood hereby honors the 40th anniversary of the Gay Flag and commends Lynn Segerblom for her enormous efforts for creating the flag. Resolved this 16th day of July, 2018 John J. Duran, Mayor John D'Amico, Mayor Pro Tempore John Heilman, Councilmember Lauren Meister, Councilmember Lindsey P. Horvath, Councilmember |
