The largest rainbow flag in the Southern Hemisphere is a six-stripe one first flown to mark the fourth Nelson Mandela Bay ( NMB ) Pride in 2014 , held in the Eastern Cape province city of South Africa , Port Elizabeth . It measures twelve by eight meters ( 1,033 square feet ) , and flies on the country 's tallest flag pole , which is sixty meters high , and is in Donkin Reserve , in Port Elizabeth 's central business district . NMB Pride had the flag manufactured , in part , as a symbol for LGBTQ youth to feel empowered even if they were not able to come out . On the decision to fly the flag , a spokesperson for the municipality said , NMB “ officially adds its voice to governments committing , firstly , to recognizing the LGBTQ community , and most importantly , to uphold the rights of the LGBTQ community ” . It is regularly flown for NMB Pride as well as March 21 which is Human Rights Day in South Africa , and International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination , both commemorating the 1960 Sharpeville massacre . On June 1 , 2018 , Venice ( California ) Pride , to mark its third-year anniversary , as well as the one-year anniversary of its rainbow-painted lifeguard tower , which it battled for and won the right to keep on permanent display , flew the world 's largest flag to launch “ United We Pride ” ( UWP ) . UWP first flew the flag in the beginning of June 2018 for Venice Pride , then in San Francisco at the end of that month for SF Pride and the fortieth anniversary of the flag 's creation . UWP then had the flag sent to Paris , France for Paris Pride , and then five more countries as well as Miami , Florida , and finally to be carried by a multinational contingent in Stonewall 50 – WorldPride NYC 2019 , the largest LGBTQ event in history . The giant flag was produced by the flag originator Gilbert Baker , and measures 1,410 square feet
Sharpeville massacre
Sharpeville massacre
Rainbow flag (LGBT movement)