KEY WEST: CITY OF COLORS

“In Key West, nobody cares who you want to sleep with."

“Key West changes you. You come to realize there’s so much more to living life. This is a place where you can actually be yourself 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.”

“You have gays, straights, Europeans, Latin Americans, Blacks, Cubans, and White folks all living together on a 2 by 4 mile island. When you put people that close together, they tend to find ways to get along.”

And on this amazing island only 90 miles from Cuba, this very diverse community celebrates the 25th anniversary of the Rainbow Flag by stretching the longest Rainbow Flag in history -- 8000 feet in all —from one end of the island to the other.

Meet Gilbert Baker, the gay Betsy Ross, who conceived the Rainbow Flag back in 1978 as a positive alternative to the pink triangle, the gay symbol devised by the Nazis. Watch as Gilbert and his talented team of volunteers create a three-ton marvel, a flag that incorporates all eight colors of the original: fuchsia, red, orange, yellow, green, turquoise, blue and purple, representing sex, life, healing, sunlight, nature, magic, serenity and spirit.

As Baker says, “Our mission as gay people, as 'out' gay people, is to give other gay people hope. The colors of the Rainbow Flag represent the promise that nothing bad will happen to us again.”


Directed by Talmadge Heyward
64 min.




WIN A VACATION TO KEY WEST!
Flag facts
Biographies
Outtakes
Day of the Flag slide show
Flag Around the World: a short history about the Rainbow Flag
5.1 Dolby surround sound
16:9 widescreen
Coming attractions
Scene selections





"I saw the movie while visiting my daughter who lives in Key West. Here in Massachusetts we are in the process of discussing on voting to allow same sex marriage in our church. I would love for them to be able to view this wonderful work of art."
- Judith

"I just viewed the trailer - 4 times - and there were tears in my eyes. It is no wonder that every year for the past 5 years, Key West is the only place we want to go when we are on vacation. My partner and I hope to retire to Key West within the next 10 years, and after watching this clip, I wish we were able to do it now. I can't wait - to buy the DVD and our next vacation to KW, in mid June. Love to you all..."
- Andy and Fran

"It was a moving, historic, fun, and no doubt once in a life time experience for me, my beautiful partner Todd, and our friends. I hope it means something to those who live outside of the EYW community."
- Warren




Miami Gay & Lesbian Film Festival
Provincetown Gay & Lesbian Film Festival
Philadelphia Gay & Lesbian Film Festival
OUTfest San Diego Gay & Lesbian Film Festival
Seattle Gay & Lesbian Film Festival
Chicago Gay & Lesbian Film Festival
Minneapolis/St. Paul Gay & Lesbian Film Festival