No. 034 · Rainbow and umbrella
Victory over AIDS flag
The rainbow flag with a black stripe added at the bottom, in memory of the people lost to AIDS. Some details still need verification, and any help is greatly appreciated.
Help us verify this flag
This flag is widely shared, but we have not been able to confirm some details from reliable sources yet:
- The year it was first proposed
- The name of the San Francisco group that proposed it
If you know this flag's history, its designer, or a trustworthy source, please tell us through the submission form. Any help in verifying it is greatly appreciated.
- Creator
- A San Francisco group; removal plan proposed by Leonard Matlovich
- Introduced
- 1980s
- Design
- 7 stripes
- License
- License not yet verified
What the colors mean
Red #E40303
Life, carried over from the rainbow flag.
Orange #FF8C00
Healing, carried over from the rainbow flag.
Yellow #FFED00
Sunlight, carried over from the rainbow flag.
Green #008026
Nature, carried over from the rainbow flag.
Blue #24408E
Serenity and harmony, carried over from the rainbow flag.
Violet #732982
Spirit, carried over from the rainbow flag.
Black #000000
The people lost to AIDS.
History
During the AIDS crisis, a San Francisco group suggested adding a black stripe to the bottom of the rainbow flag to remember the people the community had lost to AIDS.
Sergeant Leonard Matlovich, a Vietnam veteran who was himself dying of AIDS, proposed what should happen next: once a cure is found, the black stripes should be removed from every flag and ceremoniously burned in Washington, D.C. Matlovich died in 1988.
Questions and answers
What do the colors of the Victory over AIDS flag mean?
Red: Life, carried over from the rainbow flag. Orange: Healing, carried over from the rainbow flag. Yellow: Sunlight, carried over from the rainbow flag. Green: Nature, carried over from the rainbow flag. Blue: Serenity and harmony, carried over from the rainbow flag. Violet: Spirit, carried over from the rainbow flag. Black: The people lost to AIDS.
Who created the Victory over AIDS flag?
Credited to a San Francisco group; removal plan proposed by Leonard Matlovich, in the 1980s.
What are the Victory over AIDS flag hex codes?
#E40303 (red), #FF8C00 (orange), #FFED00 (yellow), #008026 (green), #24408E (blue), #732982 (violet), #000000 (black).
Can I download the Victory over AIDS flag?
Not from this site. License not yet verified. We are confirming the usage terms for this design. Until then it is shown for reference only.
Download
License not yet verified. We are confirming the usage terms for this design. Until then it is shown for reference only.
We only offer downloads for flags that are public domain or openly licensed. How we handle licensing.
Where to buy
Affiliate link. As an Amazon Associate, My Pride Flag earns from qualifying purchases.
Related flags
Sources
- Rainbow flag with black stripe, Flags of the World
Last reviewed 2026-10-31 by Erika Castillo, editor. Spot an error? Suggest a correction.