The Rainbow Flag made its first appearance in the San Francisco Gay and Lesbian Freedom Day Parade in 1978. Its symbolism was borrowed from the hippie and black civil rights movements. Artist Gilbert Baker from San Francisco, created the flag as a symbol that could be used year after year.

Along with about 30 volunteers, two gigantic prototype of the flag were hand-stitched and hand-dyed. The original flag had eight stripes, with each color representing a particular component of the gay community: hot pink for sex, red for life, orange for healing, yellow for sun, green for nature, turquoise for the arts, indigo for harmony, and violet for spirit.

Original 8 colour version

7 colour version

Wishing to demonstrate the gay community�s solidarity in response to this tragedy, the 1979 Pride Parade Committee decided to use Baker�s flag in honor of Milk. The committee eliminated the turquoise stripe so they could divide the colors evenly as they walked the parade route, three colors on one side of the street and three on the other.

This updated six-color version of the rainbow flag quickly spread from San Francisco to other cities. Soon, it was universally known and accepted as a symbol of gay pride and diversity. And it is recognized officially by the International Congress of Flag Makers as such.

No, this is not yet another thesis on the colonial-mentality-induced potato-queen-rice-queen culture, or the lack thereof. This is in fact, a rant musing on the proliferation of couples who are as bad, or worse than sticky rice grains.

I know what you are thinking: there goes the veteran single again, who has grapes sour enough to make wine. Get a life, pleinelune! and maybe you will finally stop complaining about couples and being single.

Well, yes, I am single, but no, I do not have sour grapes- how can I, when I have decided apples are better than grapes? [leaves her readers' minds to run wild on the sexual innuendos surrounding the last statement] But as an apple-eater, I have observed the grapes from afar, and have made a few observations.

Exhibit A: The Clingwraps. Have you ever been to a party/gathering, where all the couples are clingy enough to make GladWrap look like dry wood? Nothing wrong with a little PDA- but really honey, do you have to spend the entire party on your partner's lap?

Finally the long awaited launch of SAFE (Supporting, Affirming and Empowering our LGBTQ friends and family) on 9th December 2006, at PPC’s Community Fair in Mox Bar. We went, we celebrated the new birth of courage and hope, this time round for those dear to our hearts. Our friends and family.

With SAFE’s mission to

form a network of support, affirmation and empowerment for families and friends of LGBTQ persons by providing information and resources and encouraging dialogue that promotes respect for human diversity and the well-being of all lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning persons,

this will be another important milestone in our community.

Do check out their website and pass the message around.

www.safesingapore.blogspot.com

Is it just me? Or are there hordes of gay couples watching X-Men at the cinemas today?

Months ago, I was at the movies with a whole clique of gay male friends and we were there for the sneak preview of the third X-Men installment. After we came out of the cinemas, one of our friends had to use the boy’s room. Following standard protocol, we waited in a small circle at the cinema entrance for him to rejoin the group. And as we waited and created a traffic obstruction, people streamed out like a river flow to our left and right. If there’s one skill I’ve learnt after hanging around gay men so often, is that your propensity for identifying gay men just skyrockets. And there’ to my left and right, were gay men in all their ‘NUM’/tanned/muscled glory. There were groups of three to four men-only cliques, and ‘couples’ of men walking together. It seemed that there were more gay people than straight people watching X-men.

Am I dreaming or am I dreaming?

Which makes me wonder, ‘why is it so often said that gay people identify with superhero movies?’ Especially the latest X-Men movie? What is it about the storyline or theme that draws us to such shows, even though they are not explicitly homosexual?