Pride range

Use of the rainbow flag by the gay community began in 1978 when it first appeared in the San Francisco Gay and Lesbian Freedom Day Parade. Borrowing symbolism from the hippie movement and black civil rights groups, San Francisco artist Gilbert Baker designed the rainbow flag in response to a need for a symbol that could be used year after year. Baker and thirty volunteers hand-stitched and hand-dyed two huge prototype flags for the parade. The flags had eight stripes, each color representing a component of the community:     1. Hot Pink for Sex 2. Red for Life  3. Orange for Healing 4. Yellow for Sun 5. Green for Nature   6. Turquoise for Art   7.  Indigo for Harmony  8. Violet for Spirit.       The next year Baker approached San Francisco Paramount Flag Company to mass-produce rainbow flags for the 1979 parade. Due to production constraints the hot pink and turquoise were removed and blue replaced the indigo. This six-color version spread from San Francisco to other cities, and soon became the widely-known symbol of gay pride and diversity it is today The rainbow flag has inspired a wide variety of related symbols such as the freedom rings, the RainbowCoin, Rainbow Triangles and Color Bars. The Victory Over AIDS Flag modifies the rainbow flag by adding a black stripe at the bottom. Suggested by a San Francisco group, the black stripe commemorates those we have lost to AIDS. Sergeant Leonard Matlovich, a much-decorated Vietnam Veteran dying of AIDS, proposed that when a cure was eventually found the black stripes should be removed from all the flags and ceremoniously burned in Washington, D.C. The multicultural symbolism of the rainbow is nothing new -- Jesse Jackson's Rainbow Coalition also embraces the rainbow as a symbol of that political movement. The rainbow also plays a part in many myths and stories related to gender and sexuality issues in Greek, Native American, African, and other cultures. *** I remember when AIDS first hit the headlines. Everyone was scared. The reason why they were scared was because of ingnorance. People didn't want to touch anyone that was remotely camp or gay. It was like a witch hunt. The gay community suffered a great injustice because of people's ignorance as they've always done. My very first experience with someone that had got AIDS was of great shock I must confess. He was so young, only in his thirties. He was one of the first patients that I nursed with this terrible illness. This was in the early 1990's. I shall never forget Stephen. He had come over from San Fransico earlier - his home was England, his partner had already died of AIDS in the USA.  I always remember being told to nurse him with gloves on. I objeted to this greatly. Ok fair enough if body fluids were being taken. I had no cuts on my skin so the risk was minimal anyway. I remember taking off my gloves to wash him as he was so very thin and weak,very close to dying.  I could see his eyes change because I'd taken off my gloves. He was washed with compassion and not as something infectious. He wasn't something to be feared, a bio hazard like many people treated him.  I can see that smile now, 16 years later. People are humans and the human touch can mean so much.      The reason why I started making these items is because I was asked if I would! Most certainly was the reply! There is very little jewellery available promoting the rainbow symbolism especially with a witchy / pagan theme.  Apparrently there is just the average jewellery items out there and a friend wanted something different to proclaim her sexuality. A few of my friends are lesbian,homosexual or bi-sexual and happen to be witches,pagans or from other backgrounds.  Do e-mail me with any special commissions you may like,i'm open to discussion & ideas!  I'm sorry I have to write this but there are some very hateful people around and very intolerant of others lifestyles....please don't bother e-mailing me your feelings,i'm NOT interested! *  Blessed Be! *

This idea came to my little brain,after a friend wanted something with the rainbow & the wiccan/goddess symbol.....Here it is! The goddess symbol is .925 sterling silver & very solid. The beads to represent the rainbow are a mix of semi precious stones. This can be made to your individual requirement,as with all other jewellery on this site. £29.50

This bangle looks lovely on. A mix of semi precious stones (subject to change & availability) & .925 sterling silver findings. Available in swarovski crystal. Very pretty & sparkly. Please tell me your wrist measurement when ordering. £15.00

Bi goddess choker.     The purple amethyst beads with pink & dark purple silver lined seed beads to represent female bisexuality. The goddess pendant is .925 sterling silver. This choker is on memory wire so will fit any size neck. It tends to ' hug ' the neck, rather than dangle on the collarbones. If you are a guy, e-mail me and i'll design one for you with the appropriate colours & symbolism or your own ideas. I'm in the planning stage for the chaps!! £19.50

Rainbow wire choker. A very simple wire choker with the rainbow symbolism in beads. .925 clasp & beads with amethyst, sapphire iolite, peridot, yellow amber, orange amber & cranberry pearl. So simple & understated elegance. £10.50.