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Remarque. Cette page est également disponible en version française.
Visitor's Guide. You are now standing in the entrance lobby of the Rainbow Gallery. To explore the various exhibition rooms, just click on the above map. If you want to take a closer look at one of the pictures, also click on it to load its enlargement in a separate window. There is no rigorous classification of the pictures because this site is about diversity and not about segregation. Besides, I hate the idea of labeling people (as I hate it when they try to put a label on me). However, I have noticed that drag-queens tend to gather in the parlor, probably to exchange make-up tips, while couples seem to find some (relative) intimacy and quietness in the patio. The dungeon, of course, attracts a more specialized crowd of leather men and SMers. Except for that, you are on your own, there is no guided tour, nor an index, just wander through the place and click on what you like. Don't be too impatient though, a peaceful stroll is more appropriate than a brisk pace if you want the images to fully load!
The Colors of the Rainbow. [abstracted from a more detailed explanatory notice by Scott Safier] The first Rainbow Flag was designed in 1978 by Gilbert Baker, a San Francisco artist, who created the flag in response to a local activist's call for the need of a community symbol. Using the five-striped "Flag of the Race" as his inspiration, Baker designed a flag with eight stripes: pink, red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet. According to Baker, those colors represented, respectively: sexuality, life, healing, sun, nature, art,
harmony, and spirit.
Baker soon approached San Francisco's Paramount Flag Company about mass producing and selling his "gay flag". Unfortunately, he had hand-dyed all the colors, and since the color "hot pink" was not commercially available, mass production of the eight-striped version became impossible. The flag was thus reduced to seven stripes.
In November 1978, San Francisco's gay community was stunned when the city's first openly gay supervisor, Harvey Milk, was assassinated, Wishing to demonstrate the gay community's strength and solidarity in the aftermath of this tragedy, the 1979 Pride Parade Committee decided to use Baker's flag. The committee eliminated the indigo stripe so they could divide the colors evenly along the parade route - three colors on one side of the street and three on the other. Soon the six colors were incorporated into a six-striped version that became popularized and that today stands for the diversity of the gay community.
About Me. May I introduce myself under the name "Bigjim"? I have used this nickname for a couple of years now and I kind of like it, even if it does not bear on my physical appearance and is shared by too many other persons on the Internet. Anyway, I am the photograph and the curator of this gallery. If you want to know how I look like, I am afraid that you will not find any answer on this site, as it does not include any picture of me. My vital statistics and a few more personal details are available from my ICQ Web center, but if you really want to know more about me why don't you ask directly? My ICQ # is 6902860 and I can also be found chatting on Sleepy's Men's Corner every other day, so if you are a gay(-friendly) adult aged over 18, log in and check if I am around. Alternatively, you can send me an e-mail or leave a comment in my guest book as indicated in the next paragraph.
About You. Yes, YOU. Whether you are straight or queer, male or female, black or white, rich or poor, a teenage mutant ninja turtle or an ancient Greek philosoph, your opinion interests me and I would appreciate getting your feedback about this gallery. After your tour, please spare a few minutes and come back here to sign the guestbook and drop me a few lines with your comments (you can browse the guestbook first if you lack inspiration). Alternatively, I can be reached by e-mail at the following address: bigjim@lycos.com.
External Links.
Men on the Net: if you were looking for another kind of pictures ;-)
Sleepy's Multiple Worlds: friendly talkers that suit everyone's tastes.
Rainbow Query: search the queer Internet.
The Queer Resources Directory: huge repository of queer information.
The International Association of Lesbian/Gay Pride Coordinators: to find out when is the next Pride in a city near you.
[Ambulatory] [Boudoir] [Dungeon] [Foyer] [Hall] [Lobby] [Parlor] [Patio]