Rainbow Stickers for Your Badge!
We now have tiny rainbow stickers that you can put on your badge! The two locations for pickup are the DIO and the Office of Student Life. This is a voluntary "opt-in" program that came about because of the student Leaders of QMass (UMass' LGBTQ Student group) initiative. Once you see the stickers you will want one too! It is a nice way, for those of us who like stickers, to have a symbol of inclusion.
If you would like to have one of these stickers for your badge or for more information, contact Jules Trobaugh, MFA jules.trobaugh@umassmed.edu 508-856-2418 or visit S1-710 (University Campus). They are also available in a variety of locations, including most hospital information desks as well as the medical school information desk.
Advice about placement
We have seen them work best placed on the right side of the badge since the left has the swipe strip. The red is at the top since this is the most common usage, but there is no wrong way to wear it.
About the Rainbow Flag:
The first rainbow flag was designed in 1978 by Gilbert Baker, a San Francisco artist, in response to calls by activists for a symbol for the community. The flags debuted at San Francisco's Gay Freedom Day Parade on June 25, 1978. Baker used the five-striped “Flag of the Race” as his inspiration, and designed a flag with eight stripes: pink, red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet. Sadly, Baker died March 31, 2017. He was born in 1951. These colors were intended to represent respectively: sexuality, life, healing, sun, nature, art, harmony, and spirit. Baker dyed and sewed the material for the first flag himself - reminiscent of Betsy Ross and the creation of the US Flag.
Progress Rainbow Flag, better known and the "Diversity of Pride" flag, was designed by Daniel Quazar in 2018 as a way to be more inclusive! Daniel uses the pronouns xe/xem, see more from xe's website. We were not able to create these as badge stickers because of the size needed for the badge placement. The badge sticker is created by chopping up the larger version on the traditional flag.
What the Rainbow Signifies
A symbol of pride
The rainbow (flag) is a symbol of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender pride. Pride at having not only survived but thrived in a world that has often been a hostile place. It is pride in being who we are, it is pride in becoming a full and equal citizen of the United States, it is pride in standing up for what we believe.
A symbol of hope
In addition to being the symbol of pride, the rainbow is a symbol of hope. Tremendous progress has been made in the fight for equal rights. Step by step, lesbians, gays, bisexuals, and transgender people are obtaining recognition as equal members of the United States and Canadian societies, in big cities and in towns and villages across North America. Anti-gay opponents are becoming frustrated because their hate cannot defeat love. Things are not perfect, but the progress we are making is extraordinary...and the rainbow affirms our hopes for an even better future.
A symbol of diversity
Finally, the rainbow is a symbol of diversity. Although myths and stereotypes portray all gays and lesbians as having a single, monolithic “agenda”, the reality is that ours is an extraordinarily diverse community. Across all races and cultural backgrounds, across all languages, with or without disabilities, across all religions, our communities continue to flourish. The variety of colors symbolizes the diversity of our society.
(adapted by Jules Trobaugh, MFA from HALO Newsletter, original author unknown)