“I created the Pink Jack as an expression of my pride in being gay and British. Most people I met over the years seemed ok with me being gay, always telling me positively, they knew someone gay after I inevitably came out to them. It seemed like the British , up close and personal, were quite accepting of gay people and I wanted to celebrate that” It’s about Britain as much as myself.
David Gwinnutt
Pink Jack History & post script.
The Pink Jack was conceived and founded by myself David Gwinnutt. I’m an artist and photographer and during my career I’ve known and photographed many of the most influential gay people of our time. I found my own gay experiences were at odds with those who were the gatekeepers of the queer world I was exploring and I wanted to describe this.
I was disenchanted by the symbols I saw being used by the gay community, notably the Pink Triangle (a symbol of affliction) and the Rainbow Flag (of American origin and about a place that doesn’t exist) I felt these symbols didn’t represent me or my experience.
Experimenting with my national identity I first created a pink St Georges Cross and had it made at traditional flag makers Turtle& Pearce giving its first fly at Pride London march in about 1998. It didn’t get much attention..! Developing the idea I worked on the Union Jack and the Pink Jack was born. Changing the blue triangles to pink had cultural significance as it referenced the pink triangle used by the Nazi’s to identify us homosexuals. The appropriation of the triangle from a negative to a positive meaning gave the design inherent meaning and symbolism. Turtle & Pearce made the new flag and I carried it at the front of the London Pride march in 2005 ensuring it was photographed and QX magazine ran an article asking readers what this new flag was. The ensuing interest encouraged me to make more for the following year, which was Europride. My stall at the event was mobbed, the idea had taken off.
In 2013 I was voted No 16 in the Independent’s Pink List of the top 100 most influential gay people in Britain in recognition of the design.
Post script 2024. Times change and the Pink Jack is less prominent. But this is not a bad thing, we are in a different cultural period where LGBTQI+ identities have divided and each identity has its own flag, culminating in the brilliant Progress Pride flag. As a gay man I still can’t identify with this flag but it’s great to see the vibrant design flying. I know ideas and fashions come back around and what the Pink Jack symbolises will become relevant again and I’ve noticed people seeing for the first time , if I fl it at an event, still totally dig it !
David x