"I am heartbroken. My dearest friend in the world is gone. Gilbert gave the world the Rainbow Flag; he gave me 40 years of love and friendship," Cleve Jones posted on Facebook.
"I can't stop crying. I love you forever Gilbert Baker."
My dearest friend in the world is gone. Gilbert Baker gave the world the Rainbow Flag; he gave me forty years of love and friendship. pic.twitter.com/titd3XZ0zD
— Cleve Jones (@CleveJones1) March 31, 2017
Hollywood screenwriter Dustin Lance Black said that he was a "mess" after hearing the news. "Rainbows weep. Our world is far less colourful without you, my love," the creator of US LGBT docudrama When We Rise tweeted. "Gilbert Baker gave us the rainbow flag to unite us. Unite again."San Francisco friends, meet me under Gilbert's flag tonight 7pm Castro/Market. pic.twitter.com/yPCk4jrXBX
— Cleve Jones (@CleveJones1) March 31, 2017
Rainbows weep. Our world is far less colorful without you, my love. Gilbert Baker gave us the #RainbowFlag to UNITE us. #UNITE again.🏳️🌈 pic.twitter.com/fvviXobM0P
— Dustin Lance Black (@DLanceBlack) March 31, 2017
Baker's original rainbow flag consisted of eight colours, each representing a different aspect of humanity. Pink, sexuality; red, life; orange, healing; yellow, sunlight; green, nature; turquoise, art; indigo, harmony; violet, human spirit. The design, which proudly flies on at LGBT venues and Pride events around the world, was later reduced to six colours, with pink and indigo removed and turquoise put in place of blue. More stories: Doctor Who gets first ever openly gay companion The Walking Dead star comes out as gay in heartfelt videoGayGod, you'd think I'd be a pro at losing the people I love by now. I'm a mess. I ❤️ U, Gilbert Baker. His RainbowFlag Workshop #WhenWeRise pic.twitter.com/3q75w1b39g
— Dustin Lance Black (@DLanceBlack) March 31, 2017