Gay men's flags

Last updated

Various pride flags have been used to symbolize gay men. Rainbow flags have been used since 1978 to represent both gay men and, subsequently, the LGBT community as a whole. Since the 2010s, various designs have been proposed to specifically represent the gay male community.

Contents

Rainbow flags

The original gay pride flags were flown in celebration of the San Francisco Gay Freedom Day Parade on June 25, 1978. [1] According to a profile published in the Bay Area Reporter in 1985, Gilbert Baker "chose the rainbow motif because of its associations with the hippie movement of the 1960s, but notes that use of the design dates back to ancient Egypt". [2]

Flags of the 2010s

The first known flag design made specifically for gay men was published online on October 9, 2018, on VK, a Russian website. [3] It was designed by Valentin Belyaev in the mid-2010s or earlier to combat gayphobia, and it was based on the lesbian flag. [4] It symbolizes the attraction of men to each other and the diversity of the gay community itself. [5] It is sometimes known as the Uranian flag. [6]

The first gay man flag design to be published online was designed by Mod Hermy of the Pride-Flags account on DeviantArt. [7] It was first posted on Tumblr on August 24, 2016, and was based on the pink lesbian flag. [8]

In March 2017, Gilbert Baker created a nine-stripe version of his original 1977 flag, featuring lavender, pink, turquoise, and indigo stripes alongside red, orange, yellow, green, and purple. According to Baker, the lavender stripe symbolizes diversity. [9]

Another flag design for gay men, featuring green, teal, white, blue, and purple stripes, was designed by Tumblr user gayflagblog, a disabled trans man. [5] [10] [11] [12] [13] [14] [15] Two versions, with seven and five stripes respectively, were released on July 10, 2019. [16] [17] The colors from turquoise to green represent community, healing and joy; the white stripe in the middle is an iteration of Monica Helms' trans flag design and includes people who are transgender, intersex, gender non-conforming, or non-binary; and the colors blue through purple represent pure love, strength, and diversity. [18] [19] [20] This design is sometimes known as the Vincian flag. [4] [21]

Subcultures

Flags exist for several subcultures within the gay male community, including the bear, twink, and otter subcultures.

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rainbow flag</span> Flag with the colors of the rainbow

A rainbow flag is a multicolored flag consisting of the colors of the rainbow. The designs differ, but many of the colors are based on the seven spectral colors of the visible light spectrum.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">LGBT community</span> Community and culture of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people

The LGBT community is a loosely defined grouping of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender individuals united by a common culture and social movements. These communities generally celebrate pride, diversity, individuality, and sexuality. LGBT activists and sociologists see LGBT community-building as a counterweight to heterosexism, homophobia, biphobia, transphobia, sexualism, and conformist pressures that exist in the larger society. The term pride or sometimes gay pride expresses the LGBT community's identity and collective strength; pride parades provide both a prime example of the use and a demonstration of the general meaning of the term. The LGBT community is diverse in political affiliation. Not all people who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender consider themselves part of the LGBT community.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bisexual flag</span> Pride flag

The bisexual flag is a pride flag representing bisexuality, bisexual individuals and the bisexual community. The pink stripe represents attraction to the same gender, while the blue stripe represents attraction to the opposite gender. The purple stripe, the resulting "overlap" of the blue and pink stripes, represents attraction to all genders, including non-binary people and those of other gender identities.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Leather pride flag</span> Symbol used by the leather subculture

The leather pride flag is a symbol used by the leather subculture since the 1990s. It was designed by Tony DeBlase, and was quickly embraced by the gay leather community. It has since become associated with leather in general and also with other kink and fetish subcultures such as the BDSM community.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">LGBT culture</span> Common culture shared by lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer people

LGBT culture is a culture shared by lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer individuals. It is sometimes referred to as queer culture, while the term gay culture may be used to mean either "LGBT culture" or homosexual culture specifically.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pride flag</span> Symbol for part or all of the LGBT community

A pride flag is any flag that represents a segment or part of the LGBT community. Pride in this case refers to the notion of LGBT pride. The terms LGBT flag and queer flag are often used interchangeably.

Over the course of its history, the LGBT community has adopted certain symbols for self-identification to demonstrate unity, pride, shared values, and allegiance to one another. These symbols communicate ideas, concepts, and identity both within their communities and to mainstream culture. The two symbols most recognized internationally are the pink triangle and the rainbow flag.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">NYC Pride March</span> Event celebrating the LGBTQ community

The NYC Pride March is an annual event celebrating the LGBTQ community in New York City. The largest pride parade in North America and among the largest pride events in the world, the NYC Pride March attracts tens of thousands of participants and millions of sidewalk spectators each June. The parade route through Lower Manhattan traverses south on Fifth Avenue, through Greenwich Village, passing the Stonewall National Monument, site of the June 1969 riots that launched the modern movement for LGBTQ+ rights.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Knickerbocker Sailing Association</span>

The Knickerbocker Sailing Association (KSA) is a members club set up by and for gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender sailors in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, and Rhode Island. KSA membership is open to all LGBTQ and straight people, and it has a goal of being a "friendly, nonjudgmental group of people that have joined the club to share new life experiences, on the water together".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rainbow flag (LGBT)</span> Symbol of the LGBT community

The rainbow flag or pride flag is a symbol of LGBT pride and LGBT social movements. The colors reflect the diversity of the LGBT community and the spectrum of human sexuality and gender. Using a rainbow flag as a symbol of LGBT pride began in San Francisco, California, but eventually became common at LGBT rights events worldwide.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">LGBT pride</span> Positive stance toward LGBT people

LGBT pride is the promotion of the self-affirmation, dignity, equality, and increased visibility of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people as a social group. Pride, as opposed to shame and social stigma, is the predominant outlook that bolsters most LGBT rights movements. Pride has lent its name to LGBT-themed organizations, institutes, foundations, book titles, periodicals, a cable TV channel, and the Pride Library.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gilbert Baker (artist)</span> American artist and LGBT activist (1951–2017)

Gilbert Baker was an American artist, designer, and activist, best known as the creator of the rainbow flag.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gay flag of South Africa</span> LGBT pride symbol

The gay flag of South Africa is a pride flag that aims to reflect the freedom and diversity of South Africa and build pride in being an LGBTQ South African. It was registered as the flag of the LGBTQ Association of South Africa in 2012 and is not an official symbol of South Africa.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pansexual flag</span> Flag used by the pansexual community

The pansexual flag is a pink, yellow and cyan flag, designed as a symbol for the pansexual community to increase its visibility and recognition, and distinguish itself from bisexuality.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">LGBT culture in Metro Detroit</span>

The LGBT community in Metro Detroit is centered in Ferndale, Michigan, as of 2007. As of 1997, many LGBT people live in Ferndale, Pleasant Ridge, and Royal Oak. Model D stated in 2007 that there are populations of gays and lesbians in some Detroit neighborhoods such as East English Village, Indian Village, Lafayette Park, and Woodbridge and that the concentration of gay bars in Detroit is "decentralized".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">New York City Drag March</span>

The New York City Drag March, or NYC Drag March, is an annual drag protest and visibility march taking place in June, the traditional LGBTQ pride month in New York City. Organized to coincide ahead of the NYC Pride March, both demonstrations commemorate the 1969 riots at the Stonewall Inn, widely considered the pivotal event sparking the gay liberation movement, and the modern fight for LGBTQ rights.

The Gai Jatra Third Gender March is an LGBT March on the Newar festival Gai Jatra. The Blue Diamond Society organizes the march, which celebrates different forms of Pride. Blue Diamond Society organizes, and brings LGBT people to dance on the streets during this festival. Unlike other Pride marches in Nepal, it isn't seen as a political movement, but a celebration of an existing festival.

Various lesbian flags have been used to symbolise the lesbian community. Since 1999, many designs have been proposed and used. Although personal preferences exist, as well as various controversies, no design has been widely accepted by the community as the lesbian flag.

<i>Everyone Is Awesome</i> Lego set

Everyone is Awesome is a Lego set released in 2021. The Lego product is the first designed to represent the LGBTQIA+ community. It was designed by Matthew Ashton and is themed to represent a pride flag and transgender pride flag, and black and brown colors to represent LGBT people of color.

References

  1. "Rainbow Flag". GLBT Historical Society. Archived from the original on 2021-06-18. Retrieved 2022-06-04.
  2. "Gilbert Baker: Street queen at the ball". Bay Area Reporter. 1985-11-14.
  3. "Guide to 72 LGBTQ+ Pride Flags - OutBüro". 2021-02-10. Archived from the original on 2022-05-16. Retrieved 2022-06-04.
  4. 1 2 "MLM Pride Gay Men Flag". prideflags.info. Archived from the original on 2022-06-04. Retrieved 2022-06-04.
  5. 1 2 "» Gay" (in Brazilian Portuguese). Archived from the original on 2022-05-24. Retrieved 2022-06-04.
  6. "Uranian - What is it? What does it mean? - Taimi wiki". Taimi. Archived from the original on 2022-05-20. Retrieved 2022-06-04.
  7. Pride-Flags (6 March 2021). "Clearing up some things about the gay man flag by". www.deviantart.com. Archived from the original on 2022-05-26. Retrieved 2022-06-04. [self-published]
  8. Santiago, Benjamín (2019-08-12). "Bandera gay: ¿necesidad o capricho?". Código Público (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 2022-07-31. Retrieved 2022-07-31.
  9. "Our Enduring LGBTQ Symbols". sfbaytimes.com. 2017-03-09. Archived from the original on 2023-07-06. Retrieved 2023-07-07.
  10. "The Stolen Gay Male Pride Flag". Beyond MOGAI Pride Flags. 2021-06-08. Archived from the original on 2023-02-16. Retrieved 2022-06-04.
  11. "LGBTQ+ Pride Flags and What They Stand For". www.volvogroup.com. Archived from the original on 2021-08-17. Retrieved 2022-06-04.
  12. Staff, Gayety (2022-06-17). "22 Pride Flags You Should Know if You're LGBTQ+". Gayety. Archived from the original on 2022-07-07. Retrieved 2022-06-30.
  13. "เปิดความหมาย "สีธง" ของกลุ่มต่าง ๆ ใน "LGBTQIA+"". bangkokbiznews (in Thai). 2022-06-10. Archived from the original on 2022-06-30. Retrieved 2022-06-30.
  14. "Beyond the Rainbow: Your Complete Guide to Pride Flags". Cade Hildreth. 2020-02-18. Archived from the original on 2021-02-18.
  15. Aguirre, Héctor (2019-08-07). "Esta es la bandera gay, diseñada por un hombre trans gay". El Closet LGBT (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 2022-07-31. Retrieved 2022-07-31.
  16. "Conoce el significado de las banderas LGBT+". Homosensual. 2022-06-01. Archived from the original on 2022-06-08. Retrieved 2022-06-04.
  17. "Pride Flags". Rainbow Directory. Archived from the original on 2022-05-26. Retrieved 2022-06-04.
  18. "Bandera gay: Colores, significado e historia". Homosensual. 2022-06-02. Archived from the original on 2022-06-03. Retrieved 2022-06-04.
  19. "Mês do Orgulho LGBTQIA+: saiba o que cada letra significa e quais as suas bandeiras - OitoMeia". OitoMeia - Notícias: Teresina, Piauí, Brasil e Mundo. 2022-06-03. Archived from the original on 2023-07-07. Retrieved 2022-06-04.
  20. "Nueva bandera sólo para Gays". Entendi2 (in Spanish). 2020-08-31. Archived from the original on 2022-07-03. Retrieved 2022-07-31.
  21. "All 20+ LGBT pride flags and their meanings explained". Heckin' Unicorn. 16 September 2021. Archived from the original on 2022-06-07. Retrieved 2022-06-04.
  22. "Gay Men's Pride Flag". San Francisco Gay Men's Chorus. 17 April 2023. Archived from the original on 2023-04-22. Retrieved 2023-07-07.
  23. "PRIDE FLAGS". Queer Lexicon. 22 July 2017. Retrieved 16 August 2023.