PHOTO ESSAY

Rainbows Shooting Out of Our Ears!

A love for rainbows isn’t only tied to LGBTQ life

A display featuring Bing Bong from “Inside Out” at Disney’s CA Adventure Park | Photo by author

If the topic is rainbows, then I can’t resist opening with the photo above.

It’s from one of my visits to Disney’s California Adventure, a theme park that focuses mainly on Pixar characters. Hence, the zany display featuring the colorful and effusive Bing Bong from Inside Out. Let me tell you, the end of his story arc brought an unexpected audible sob out of me during the movie.

That’s the thing about rainbows — somehow in our cultural mythology, in our photos or songs, despite shimmering beauty in the sky, rainbows somehow often bring a sense of melancholy and reflection as well.

There’s a miracle in the sky, a prism of colors painted there, and yet none of it is possible without enduring gray skies and damp rain beforehand.

A giant rainbow appearing overhead at my birthday celebration a few years ago | Photo by Joe Guay

Once while flying into Pittsburgh, PA for a visit to my folks, as my plane was descending I was able to spot a large rainbow below. Surprisingly, a good 30 minutes later, it was still there as my father and I drove right past where it touched the earth. This was a first!

I literally considered stopping the car to look for the pot of gold, as this was the first time I saw “where the rainbow ended” with my own eyes.

Witnessing the “rainbow’s end” in person. Where’s my “huckleberry friend?” | Photos by Joe Guay

As a gay guy myself, I would of course be remiss if not mentioning the Rainbow Flag that is now often associated with LGBTQ pride. While I’ve never been an ardent flag-waver for “the cause,” I must admit a certain fondness for the diversity of color and for the foresight taken in linking gay pride to the rainbow.

During my first visit to Boulder, Colorado a few years back, I photographed this wonderful rainbow crosswalk.

A super-cool rainbow crosswalk in Boulder, Colorado | Photo by Joe Guay

In my first visit to Reno, Nevada, my partner Eddie spotted the local Gay & Lesbian Center during our explorations and we decided to drop by and chat with the workers and volunteers. We also got a photo with their colorful and hip mannequin amidst the still-sketchy Covid days of 2021.

And my first visit to London (what is this theme of first trips?) happened to coincide with the city’s extensive Pride celebrations, and I caught this wonderful photo of (what I imagined to be) a gay youngster and his best female friend wearing rainbow crowns, exploring the city in supportive solidarity and studying their phones for that next celebratory destination.

Photos by Joe Guay

Is there anyone who doesn’t like rainbows?

How could there possibly be an aversion to the real ones?

I can see how some might hesitate (for just a moment) before displaying or presenting a rainbow in art, advertising or even at home these days. Some might justifiably feel the rainbow is now only linked to the LGBTQ cause — that the sight of a rainbow in anything can make observers think you’re only purpose is trying to make a statement on politics or in being an ally.

Which is a shame. I want the rainbow to be shared by all, without worry.

A rainbow is a rainbow — a gorgeous gift from nature — and if you happen to love rainbows, you should celebrate it in your art, in your life. Be proud in your heterosexual-ness and profess you are allowed to like rainbows too!!

A cool inspirational sign in Healdsburg, CA and visiting Santa Fe — not a “real” rainbow but so colorful | Photos by Joe Guay

I must say, in looking through my camera roll, I was a little surprised I didn’t have more rainbow pictures to choose from.

That speaks, I suppose, to their elusive nature, but also my own restraint in the moment, when I’d remind myself to stop taking pictures and just look at a rainbow with my own eyes.

Sometimes we’re so adamant about documenting everything with our phones that we don’t experience the magic in the present.

A rainbow amidst dark clouds in Hollywood and one behind Eddie on the island of Maui, HI | Photos by Joe Guay

Which brings us to songs.

As Kermit the Frog asked, Why are there so many songs about rainbows? I think it’s because the mystical beauty makes us stop and ponder a bit. Or dream. One of my first movie experiences as a child was 1979’s original The Muppet Movie. Those opening moments with frog and banjo singing out “The Rainbow Connection” theme left an indelible impression, and the song travelled with me all through life, as I detailed in this story last year.

An out of focus shot of a movies-at-the-beach screening of The Muppet Movie | Photo by author

Judy Garland’s once-definitive rendition of “Over the Rainbow” from The Wizard of Oz lands with such whistful longing, the dream that somewhere out there, perhaps over that rainbow, there’s a kinder and easier way of living life. I think we can all relate to that feeling.

Again, I suppose the reminder is that, just like April showers bring May flowers, cloudy skies and storms are needed to bring forth the hope of the rainbow.

What an apt description for most of the human condition.

A neighbor’s Christmas display features a rainbow every year | Photo by Joe Guay

In these messy and fragmented times there are many, many storms. The wise among us remember to emerge afterward from our cocoons of safety, to deliberately look to the sky in hope and anticipation —

Could there possibly be a rainbow… ?

Author’s Note: Perhaps it seemed like sacrilege that I described Judy Garland’s “Over the Rainbow” as “once-definitive,” but about a decade ago a friend introduced me to the works of singer Eva Cassidy and now there are absolutely two equally-wonderful “versions.” If you’ve never experienced her reworking of “Over the Rainbow,” I hope you’ll give yourself that gift — same exact lyrics, same exact heart, entirely new melody.

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