Welcome to CastroMerchants.com

Merchants of Upper Market & Castro (MUMC)
History and Policy for Rainbow Flag and Flag Pole
at Harvey Milk Plaza, Castro at Market Streets, San Francisco CA

The Rainbow Flag was created in the 1980’s by San Francisco LGBT community activist and artist, Gilbert Baker. He intended it to be a beacon of hope and symbol of liberation, showing the community’s pride, unity, strength, and diversity. In the years since, the Rainbow Flag has grown to be used internationally in many forms as a universally-recognized symbol of those values throughout the world.

In the 1990’s, Baker and community colleagues worked with City officials to erect a Flag Pole from which to fly the Rainbow Flag in San Francisco’s Castro neighborhood. It was dedicated on November 7, 1997 in what is now known as Harvey Milk Plaza at Castro and Market Streets, to commemorate the election of Harvey Milk to the San Francisco Board of Supervisors. The intent was that this Rainbow Flag would be flown at full-staff at all times, in a neighborhood which has become internationally recognized as a center of LGBT culture and freedom.

Consistent with the principles established by the Flag’s creators and with broad community support, the Flag flies almost always at full staff with very rare exceptions. A longstanding agreement to fly the flag of the international Leather community for several days each year has been maintained. The Flag’s full-staff display has otherwise been temporarily modified on very rare occasions, for example, to mark the usually-tragic death of a notable member of the local LGBT community.

MUMC receives frequent requests to lower or temporarily modify the Flag display for other commemorations. However MUMC almost always maintains the Flag originators’ policy to fly the Rainbow Flag at full staff at all times, symbolizing the strength and pride of the community, even in times of sadness, anniversaries of important events, etc.

Individuals and community groups which propose that MUMC modify the Rainbow Flag’s full-staff display for a commemorative purpose are respectfully reminded of that fundamental principle. However, if they feel that there is a compelling reason to modify the Harvey Milk Plaza Rainbow Flag display, and the proposal is demonstrated to have broad, diverse community support, they are invited to submit a proposal to MUMC’s Board of Directors (which consists of over a dozen leaders from the community, elected annually by MUMC’s Membership, which includes over 250 Members from throughout the neighborhood and community). Given the volunteer nature of MUMC’s Board and the importance of any such proposal, as much advance notice as possible is requested. Proposals are considered by the MUMC Board as promptly as possible and while respecting the underlying principles for this Rainbow Flag’s display, as well as safety, operational logistics, cost, and other practical issues. MUMC’s Board of Directors can be contacted by email at Info@CastroMerchants.com.

Download the MUMC Flag Policy in PDF form