A rainbow treasury, a rainbow meaning and beading awareness ribbons

I found a piece of my jewelry (Harlequin earrings- http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=39399367) featured today in an Etsy treasury called My Rainbow by Levy Marina of the Etsy Beadweaver's Team (see photo - link here http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list_west.php?room_id=85952). Given it is a rainbow treasury it is not surprisingly a lovely colourful treasury. Then, when I was at the bank at lunchtime I heard an older man reciting the colours of the rainbow I think using a mnemonic he learnt at school. The mnemonic is Roy G. Biv and is in order from longest to shortest wavelength of colors in the rainbow:
* Red
* Orange
* Yellow
* Green
* Blue
* Indigo
* Violet

I learnt the same mnemonic but certainly don’t remember it as readily as he did. I wondered if he was aware of the meaning of the rainbow for the Lesbian, Bi-sexual, Gay and Transgender (GLBT) community. For many years now the rainbow flag and a rainbow ribbon have been a symbol of symbol of gay pride and when worn by those outside of the community it is a symbol of support for the GLBT community and their fight for equal rights. Remembering this, I felt particularly good to be in a rainbow treasury. The many colors of the rainbow flag represents the diversity of the people’s of the world. It dates from 1978 when Gilbert Baker displayed a flag that represented being gay and proud of it. Since that time a rainbow of ‘cause’ ribbons has burgeoned. The following list is from London’s Trinity College website and it shows just how much colour and causes are linked in current times. A number of beadweavers bead cause ribbons so if you are in interested in a beaded ribbon – rainbow or otherwise just be in touch with one of the Etsy Beadweaver’s Team members.

FROM TRINITY’S WEBSITE
Burgundy Ribbon :
Meaning: This color is a symbol of brain aneurysm, Cesarean section (worn upside down), headaches, hemangioma, vascular malformation, hospice care, multiple myeloma, William's syndrome, Thrombophilia, Antiphospholid Antibody Syndrome, and adults with disabilities

Purple Ribbon :
Meaning: This color is a symbol of pancreatic cancer, testicular cancer, thyroid cancer, domestic violence, ADD, alzheimer's, religious tolerance, animal abuse, the victims of 9/11 including the police and firefighters, Crohn's disease and colitis, cystic fibrosis, lupus, leimyosarcoma, and fibromyalgia

Lavender Ribbon :
Meaning: This color is a symbol for general cancer awareness. It can also be a symbol for epilepsy, and rett syndrome

Periwinkle Ribbon :
Meaning: This color is a symbol of eating disorders and pulmonary hypertension

Blue Ribbon :
Meaning: This color is a symbol of drunk driving, child abuse, Osteogenesis Imperfecta (OI), the victims of hurricane Katrina, dystonia, acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), alopecia, Education, Epstein-Barr Virus, Save the Music, colon cancer (alternative ribbon color: brown), colorectal cancer (alternative ribbon color: brown), and anti-tobacco - particularly anti-second hand smoke (in Canada; alternative ribbon color: brown), I Love Clean Air/ILCA Campaign (Japan)

Dark Blue Ribbon :
Meaning: This color is a symbol of arthritis, child abuse prevention, victim's rights, free speech, water quality, and water safety

Light Blue Ribbon :
Meaning: This color is a symbol of childhood cancer (alternative color: pink), prostate cancer, Trisomy 18, and scleroderma

Teal Ribbon :
Meaning: This color is a symbol for ovarian, cervical, and uterine cancers as well as sexual assault, polycystic ovarian syndrome, and tsunami victims

Green Ribbon :
Meaning: This color is a symbol of childhood depression, missing children, open records for adoptees, environmental concerns, kidney cancer, tissue/organ donation, homeopathy, and worker and driving safety

Orange Ribbon :
Meaning: This color is a symbol of leukemia, hunger, cultural diversity, humane treatment of animals, and self-injury awareness
We also now have a CafePress.com store offering orange ribbon clothing and orange ribbon items for the home and office.

White Ribbon :
Meaning: This color is a symbol of innocence, victims of terrorism, violence against women, peace, right to life, bone cancer, adoptees, and retinal blastoma

Pearl Ribbon :
Meaning: This color is a symbol for emphysema, lung cancer, mesothelioma, and multiple sclerosis

Black Ribbon :
Meaning: This color is a symbol of mourning, melanoma, and gang prevention

Brown Ribbon :
Meaning: This color is an anti-tobacco symbol as well as a symbol of colon cancer (alternative ribbon color: blue), colorectal cancer (alternative ribbon color: blue)

Grey Ribbon :
Meaning: This color is a symbol of diabetes, asthma, and brain cancer

Silver Ribbon :
Meaning: This color is a symbol for children with disabilities, Parkinson's disease, and mental illnesses such as severe depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and anxiety disorders.

Gold Ribbon :
Meaning: This color is a symbol for childhood cancer

Jigsaw Puzzle Ribbon:
Meaning: This style of ribbon is a symbol for autism

Lace Ribbon:
Meaning: This style of ribbon is a symbol for osteoporosis

Pink and Blue Ribbon:
Meaning: This style of ribbon is a symbol for miscarriage, stillbirth, and infant death due to SIDS or other causes

Source
http://www.trinitylondon.com/awareness-ribbon-meanings.asp