Rainbow Accessories in Small Town Pride: Symbol Analysis
What Are Rainbow Accessories in Small Town Pride?
In Small Town Pride, rainbow accessories are the small, wearable items that characters use to show pride and solidarity: pride pins, rainbow sunglasses, beads, bracelets, headbands, hand fans, stickers, bandannas, and even a rainbow wig. Unlike the large flag that Jake’s dad raises in the front yard, these accessories are personal, portable, and often shared. They appear at key moments in the story, especially as the town prepares for and celebrates its first pride festival. The accessories are not just decorations; they become a language of support that spreads from individual to individual, turning private feelings into public, communal expression.
Where Do Rainbow Accessories Appear?
The motif first appears in Chapter 9, when Jake mentions that Ashley, a popular classmate, put a pride pin on her book bag. This small act is noted as a way to spread support without making a big statement. Later, in Chapter 32, Ashley and her parents use money to buy “pride hand fans, rainbow beads, bracelets, and headbands for all guests,” showing that the accessories are being scaled up for the festival. The most concentrated appearance is in Chapter 33, the day of the festival. Jenna arrives in a rainbow tie-dyed crop top, pink pants, and rainbow sunglasses. Brett wears a white tee with a small rainbow flag on it. Ashley distributes rainbow beads to everyone, and Brett places pride stickers on Jake’s face—a rainbow on one cheek and an equality sign on the other. Jake’s cousin Jess wears a “ridiculous rainbow wig.” These items are worn, handed out, and given as gifts, making them active parts of the celebration.
How the Meaning of Rainbow Accessories Changes
At first, rainbow accessories are individual and almost secretive. Ashley’s pride pin on her book bag is a quiet signal—something that shows support without drawing too much attention. It is a personal choice that others can notice if they are looking. As the festival approaches, the accessories become more communal. Ashley’s purchase of beads, bracelets, and headbands for “all guests” transforms them from personal items into shared resources. By the time the festival begins, the accessories are everywhere: Jenna’s bold outfit, Brett’s understated flag, the stickers on Jake’s face, and the beads thrown over people’s heads. The meaning shifts from “I support this” to “we all support this together.” The accessories also allow characters to express pride at different levels of comfort. Brett’s small flag on his tee is shy and cautious, matching his character’s slow journey toward coming out. Jenna’s full rainbow look is loud and confident. Jake, who wears his red-and-black flannel shirt (a nod to his video game character), accepts the stickers from Brett, showing that he is ready to be visibly proud even if he doesn’t wear a rainbow himself. The accessories become a way to participate without having to say anything—they do the talking.
Character and Theme Connections
The rainbow accessories tie directly to several characters and themes. For Jake, the protagonist, the accessories represent a step toward self-acceptance. He doesn’t wear a rainbow outfit, but he lets Brett put stickers on his face, allowing himself to be marked as part of the community. This connects to the theme of coming out and self-acceptance. For Brett, the mayor’s son, the small rainbow flag on his tee is a quiet but significant act of defiance against his mother’s political stance. It shows his growing willingness to be seen as an ally, even if he isn’t ready to come out himself. This ties to political power and control and family support and allyship. Jenna uses the accessories to celebrate loudly, embodying the theme of grassroots activism and civic engagement as she helps plan and promote the festival. Ashley uses her popularity to distribute accessories, turning them into tools for building community, which connects to small-town community and belonging. Even Jess, Jake’s cousin, wears a rainbow wig, showing that family members are joining in. The accessories thus become a physical manifestation of the support network that Jake builds throughout the novel.
Study Questions with Answers
1. How do rainbow accessories differ from the flag as symbols in the novel?
The flag is a single, large, public statement made by Jake’s dad. It is bold and can be seen from far away, but it also makes Jake feel exposed. Rainbow accessories, on the other hand, are small, personal, and often shared. They allow characters to show support in ways that feel safer and more intimate. While the flag is a declaration, the accessories are invitations—they are handed out, worn, and given as gifts, creating a sense of belonging rather than just visibility.
2. What does Brett’s choice of a small rainbow flag on his tee reveal about his character?
Brett’s understated accessory shows that he is not ready to make a big public statement about his identity, but he still wants to show support. The small flag is a compromise—it is visible but not loud. This matches his cautious approach to coming out and his desire to avoid conflict with his mother, the mayor. It also shows that he is willing to take small steps toward being an ally, even if he isn’t ready to fully embrace his own identity publicly.
3. How do the accessories transform from individual items to communal ones?
Initially, Ashley’s pride pin is a personal choice. But as the festival approaches, Ashley and her parents buy beads, bracelets, and headbands for all guests, turning the accessories into shared resources. During the festival, Ashley distributes beads to everyone, and Brett puts stickers on Jake’s face. These actions make the accessories a collective experience—they are no longer just about one person’s identity but about the whole community celebrating together. The act of giving and receiving these items creates bonds and reinforces the sense that everyone is part of the event.
4. In what ways do the rainbow accessories support Jake’s journey toward self-acceptance?
Jake does not wear a rainbow outfit, but he accepts the stickers Brett places on his face. This is a significant moment because it allows Jake to be visibly marked as part of the pride community without having to make a bold fashion statement. The stickers are a gentle, affectionate gesture that shows Jake he is accepted by others. Throughout the novel, Jake struggles with feeling like he doesn’t belong in Barton Springs. The accessories, especially the ones given to him by friends, help him feel that he is not alone. By the end of the festival, he feels a sense of belonging that he didn’t have before, and the accessories are part of that transformation.