a day ago
San Francisco's Pink Triangle is more than a Pride symbol
What began as a mark of hate now stands tall above San Francisco as a beacon of pride.
State of play: For three decades, the Pink Triangle has adorned Twin Peaks every June in recognition of the persecution of LGBTQ+ people under the Nazi regime.
The big picture: During World War II, the symbol was used to label gay prisoners in concentration camps — one of several color-coded patches sewn onto uniforms to publicly mark and shame inmates.
Flashback: Activists reclaimed the marking as an emblem of pride and protest amid the AIDS crisis, most famously with ACT UP's " Silence = Death" posters challenging stigma and government inaction.
The symbol first appeared on Twin Peaks in 1996, installed at night at just 60 feet wide. Today, it spans 240 feet.
What they're saying: Patrick Carney, who co-founded the Friends of the Pink Triangle, told Axios it serves as a "warning and a reminder" and a "giant in-your-face educational tool to teach people where hatred can lead."
The latest: Earlier this month, police arrested a 19-year-old on suspicion of vandalizing the installation, which Carney said would not be repaired.
The bottom line: "Leaving it as it is sends a powerful message… we will wear this scar as a badge of resilience, courage and our continuing struggle for equality," he said.
