Creator of Rainbow Flag Died of Heart Disease

The New York City medical examiner's office says the creator of the gay-rights rainbow flag died of natural causes.

A spokeswoman for the office says Gilbert Baker's death was caused by hypertensive heart disease.

The 65-year-old Baker was found at his home on Friday.

The artist and gay-rights activist was best known for creating the rainbow flag in 1978.

Baker was born in Kansas and served in the U.S. Army from 1970 to 1972.

He was stationed in San Francisco in the early days of the gay rights movement and continued to live there after his honorable discharge.

Baker's website says he taught himself to sew and began making banners for gay and anti-war marches.