Gilbert Baker, the artist and LGBT civil-rights activist who designed the Rainbow Flag, passed away Friday at the age of 65. According to the Bay Area Reporter, Baker’s cause of death has not been disclosed and he passed away in New York. Baker’s long-time friend and fellow gay-rights activist Cleve Jones confirmed the news, posting on Twitter, “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.” Baker designed the iconic symbol of the gay pride movement in 1978.
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“You’re so hard on yourself. Take a moment. Sit back. Marvel at your life: at the grief that softened you, at the heartache that widened you, at the suffering that strengthened you. Despite everything, you still grow. Be proud of this.”