Welcome to FLAG50
In 2028, the Rainbow Flag turns 50 while Los Angeles welcomes the world for the Olympic and Paralympic Games.
FLAG50: Welcoming the World is a participatory arts initiative bringing together exhibitions, storytelling, film, photography, performance, and community engagement in West Hollywood and greater Los Angeles during this historic cultural moment.
Follow the FLAG50 journey as the 50th Anniversary of the Rainbow Flag unfolds from Los Angeles to Amsterdam, San Francisco, West Hollywood, Cape Town, and back to San Francisco’s UN Plaza for Human Rights Day. Each destination marks another chapter in the continuing story of the Rainbow Flag — a symbol that has transformed visibility, dignity, and human rights around the world.
The Flag50 Journey
Following the Rainbow Flag from its birthplace to the world.
Returning to San Francisco, June 25, 2028. And on to West Hollywood and to Cape Town in October 2028.
Back to UN Plaza for the 80th Anniversary of the UNDHR where the first rainbow flags were raised in 1978.
2028 Milestones
FLAG50 coincides with several significant milestones that invite reflection, education, and engagement. Together, these milestones provide an opportunity to celebrate progress, confront challenges, and imagine a more inclusive future.
Explore + Participate
Stories
Storytelling & Poetry
Global StoryMaps
Tattoo Tales
Personal stories from around the world exploring identity, visibility, belonging, and community.
Arts
Photography & Visual Arts
Exhibitions
Disability Arts & Accessibility
Artists interpreting the meaning and legacy of the Rainbow Flag through visual expression.
Experiences
Film Screenings
Community Conversations
Public Programs
Bringing residents and visitors together through shared cultural experiences.
Flag50 Launch
FLAG50 was officially launched on IDAHOBT, May 17, 2026, with the unveiling of the Steps to Liberation arts installation at Founders MCC.
Speakers:
Rev. Troy Perry, Founder MCC + CSW / LA Pride
Lynn Segerblom, Mother of the Rainbow Flag
Nithya Ramen, LA City Councilmember
Hon. John J. Duran, Former Mayor, City of WeHo
Gerald Garth, President Emeritus, CSW/LA Pride
Dante Alencastre, President, LGBT Arts Alliance
Rev. Bam Noriega, Asst. Pastor, Founders MCC
Rev. Keith Mozingo, Sr. Pastor, Founders MCC
Lucia Chappelle, Social Justice Pastor
Presentations:
Brian Sonia-Wallace, Los Angeles Poet Laureate
Karen Bass, Mayor, City of Los Angeles
Lindsey Horvath, Supervisor, Los Angeles County
Together with Christopher Street West, Founders MCC is leading the Los Angeles FLAG50 global arts initiative as the birthplace of Pride.
Why West Hollywood
West Hollywood has long been recognized as one of the world’s most visible centers of LGBTQ+ culture, activism, and artistic expression.
As the world gathers in Los Angeles for the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games, FLAG50 will invite residents and visitors to explore the global impact of the Rainbow Flag through storytelling, exhibitions, film, photography, public conversations, and community participation.
And the city will be the home of Pride House LA/WeHo, providing a safe and welcoming place to experience LA28.
Rooted in West Hollywood and connected to communities worldwide, FLAG50 celebrates the 50th anniversary of the Rainbow Flag while looking toward the future.
