Before mass production, Pride "merch" was a tool for political action and survival.
As public acceptance grew, major corporations began "rainbow-ifying" their brands, especially after the legalization of same-sex marriage in the US in 2015. GAY PRIDE MERCHANDISE
: Artist Gilbert Baker designed the original flag at the request of Harvey Milk to give the community a symbol of "visibility". The first flags were hand-dyed and sewn by a team of 30 volunteers. Before mass production, Pride "merch" was a tool