“Flags are torn from the soul of the people.” . We release a monthly #queerhistorywod to celebrate and honor the fight and lives of the courageous people who came before us and helped pave the way for our community. . These workouts are meant to test you. To make you struggle. To allow you to optionally endure what some had no other option but to fight for us all. . The fight is not over, but had it not been for these #queerhistoryicons who struggled, who fought, some who even gave their lives for our rights, we would not be the community we are today. . This week we honor Gilbert Baker. The 6 minutes in the #WOD represent the 6 colors of the #PrideFlag most widely distributed - even though the original has 8! . Self-described as the “gay Betsy Ross,” Gilbert Baker was an American artist, LGBTQ rights activist, and creator of the rainbow flag. . Baker set to work in 1978 to design the symbol for the gay liberation movement. He wanted it to be beautiful, unique, and to speak for itself as representative of the LGBTQ community. The very first pride flag was comprised of eight colorful stripes representing diversity: hot pink (sexuality), red (life), orange (healing), yellow (sun), green (nature), blue (art), indigo (harmony), and violent (human spirit). With help from volunteers, Baker filled eight metal trash cans with natural dye and organic cotton in the attic of the Gay Community Center in San Francisco and used his sewing machine to stitch together the two initial flags that flew in the San Francisco Gay Freedom Day Parade on June 25, 1978. . In the 1970s, Baker participated in drag shows and joined the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, a non-profit LGBTQ advocacy group whose members dress as nuns to bring attention to gender and sexual intolerance. An emerging activist and prominent drag performer, Baker joined forces with Harvey Milk. Baker became Milk’s right-hand flag man, utilizing his drag queen costume sewing skills to design and stitch numerous banners protesting the Vietnam War and supporting gay rights. In fact, when Baker’s very first rainbow flags made their debut, Milk stood beneath them. . An artist until the end, just before his death, he create