Colourful: 1. Fiona Lynch & Sarah O’Hanlon; 2. Richard Brickley & Gilbert Baker; 3. Yan Scheineder & Hugho Welke. (Pix. Brian McEvoy)
Rainbow flag creator Gilbert Baker addressed an audience of over 200 people on his first visit to Ireland for ‘An Evening of ABSOLUT Pride’ hosted by ABSOLUT vodka. The event, in the National Gallery of Ireland, was organised to celebrate the Pride 2011 festival.
On the evening Baker gave an inspiring speech, discussing the importance of the Rainbow flag as an international symbol for the LGBT community, talking about his work as a gay activist with Harvey Milk and his childhood and time in the army during the Vietnam war.
The event was a continuation of ABSOLUT’s collaboration with Gilbert Baker who designed the ABSOLUT Colors bottle in celebration of the 30th anniversary of the rainbow flag in 2008. Mr. Baker’s association with ABSOLUT vodka began in 2003 when the brand sponsored his successful world record attempt of the largest flag on the 25th anniversary of the creation of the iconic Rainbow flag.
