Lesbian flags

Last updated

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.

Contents

History

Labrys flag

The labrys lesbian flag was created in 1999 by graphic designer Sean Campbell, and published in June 2000 in the Palm Springs edition of the Gay and Lesbian Times Pride issue. [1] [2] The design involves a labrys, a type of double-headed axe, superimposed on the inverted black triangle, set against a violet background. Among its functions, the labrys was associated as a weapon used by the Amazons of mythology. [3] [4] In the 1970s it was adopted as a symbol of empowerment by the lesbian feminist community. [5] Women considered asocial by Nazi Germany for not conforming to the Nazi ideal of a woman, which included homosexual females, were condemned to concentration camps [6] and wore an inverted black triangle badge to identify them. [7] Some lesbians reclaimed this symbol as gay men reclaimed the pink triangle (many lesbians also reclaimed the pink triangle although lesbians were not included in Paragraph 175 of the German criminal code). [7] The color violet became associated with lesbians via the poetry of Sappho. [8]

Lipstick flag

The lipstick lesbian flag was introduced in 2010 in the weblog This Lesbian Life. [9] [10] The design contains a red kiss in the left corner, superimposed on seven stripes consisting of six shades of red and pink colors and a white bar in the center. [11] [12] The lipstick lesbian flag represents "homosexual women who have a more feminine gender expression", [13] however it has not been widely adopted. [1] Some lesbians have argued that the lipstick flag does not also represent butch lesbians, while others oppose its use due to controversial comments made by the flag's designer on her blog. [14] [15]

Pink flag

The "pink" lesbian flag was derived from the colors of the lipstick lesbian flag, with the kiss mark excluded. [12] The pink flag attracted more use as a general lesbian pride flag. [16]

Orange-Pink flag

The "orange-pink" lesbian flag, modeled after the seven-band pink flag, was introduced on Tumblr by blogger Emily Gwen in 2018. [17] [18] The colors include dark orange for "gender non-conformity", orange for "independence", light orange for "community", white for "unique relationships to womanhood", pink for "serenity and peace", dusty pink for "love and sex", and dark rose for "femininity". [18] A five-stripes version was soon derived from the 2018 colors. [19]

Flags at events

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">Pink triangle</span> Nazi concentration camp badge, later international symbol of gay pride and the gay rights movements

A pink triangle has been a symbol for the LGBT community, initially intended as a badge of shame, but later reclaimed as a positive symbol of self-identity. In Nazi Germany in the 1930s and 1940s, it began as one of the Nazi concentration camp badges, distinguishing those imprisoned because they had been identified by authorities as gay men. In the 1970s, it was revived as a symbol of protest against homophobia, and has since been adopted by the larger LGBT community as a popular symbol of LGBT pride and the LGBT movements and queer liberation movements.

<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">Labrys</span> Cretan double-bladed axe

Labrys is, according to Plutarch, the Lydian word for the double-bitted axe. In Greek it was called πέλεκυς (pélekys). The plural of labrys is labryes (λάβρυες).

"Lipstick lesbian" is slang for a lesbian who exhibits a greater amount of feminine gender attributes, such as wearing make-up, dresses or skirts, and having other characteristics associated with feminine women. In popular usage, the term is also used to characterize the feminine gender expression of bisexual women, or the broader topic of female–female sexual activity among feminine women.

<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">Dyke march</span> Lesbian-led gathering and protest march

A dyke march is a lesbian visibility and protest march, much like the original Gay Pride parades and gay rights demonstrations. The main purpose of a dyke march is the encouragement of activism within the lesbian and sapphic community. Dyke marches commonly take place the Friday or Saturday before LGBT pride parades. Larger metropolitan areas usually have several Pride-related happenings both before and after the march to further community building; with social outreach to specific segments such as older women, women of color, and lesbian parenting groups.

Transgender flags are used by people, organizations and communities to represent pride, diversity, rights and/or remembrance within the transgender community. Usage is similar to the original Rainbow flag but specific to the transgender community. The best-known design is a pride flag of five horizontal stripes of three colors in the order light blue, light pink, white, light pink, and light blue. There are several alternatives to this flag, and others continue to be suggested.

<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">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.

Tri-Pride, stylized tri-Pride, is an annual non-profit lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer Pride festival in the Waterloo Region of Ontario, encompassing the cities of Cambridge, Kitchener and Waterloo. Prior to the launch of Guelph Pride in 2003, the event also included the city of Guelph.

<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">Equality House</span> Rainbow-colored house supporting LGBTQ rights

The Equality House is a rainbow-colored house in Topeka, Kansas that is situated on the corner of 12th and Orleans Street, across from Westboro Baptist Church, an anti-LGBT hate group. The property was purchased by Aaron Jackson, the founder of the nonprofit organization Planting Peace, after he saw a "for sale" sign on a nearby house when looking at the community on Google Earth. He had the house painted in the colors of the rainbow flag to show support for LGBT rights.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">LGBT culture in New York City</span>

New York City has been described as the gay capital of the world and the central node of the LGBTQ+ sociopolitical ecosystem, and is home to one of the world's largest LGBTQ populations and the most prominent. Brian Silverman, the author of Frommer's New York City from $90 a Day, wrote the city has "one of the world's largest, loudest, and most powerful LGBT communities", and "Gay and lesbian culture is as much a part of New York's basic identity as yellow cabs, high-rise buildings, and Broadway theatre". LGBT travel guide Queer in the World states, "The fabulosity of Gay New York is unrivaled on Earth, and queer culture seeps into every corner of its five boroughs". LGBT advocate and entertainer Madonna stated metaphorically, "Anyways, not only is New York City the best place in the world because of the queer people here. Let me tell you something, if you can make it here, then you must be queer."

A straight flag or heterosexual flag is a pride flag intended to represent heterosexuality. Some straight flags represent straight pride, a conservative countermovement to gay pride. There is also the straight ally flag, which is intended to represent allyship by straight people with the LGBT community. Although there are many proposed straight flags, none of them enjoys broad consensus for usage today.

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.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Bendix, Trish (8 September 2015). "Why don't lesbians have a pride flag of our own?". AfterEllen . Archived from the original on 9 September 2015. Retrieved 8 June 2019.
  2. ↑ Kasandra Brabaw (19 June 2019). "A Complete Guide To All The LGBTQ+ Flags & What They Mean". Refinery29. Archived from the original on 12 March 2021. Retrieved 6 July 2019.
  3. ↑ "Gay Symbols Through the Ages". The Alyson Almanac: A Treasury of Information for the Gay and Lesbian Community. Boston, Massachusetts: Alyson Publications. 1989. pp.  99–100. ISBN   0-932870-19-8.
  4. ↑ Murphy, Timothy F., ed. (2000). Reader's Guide to Lesbian and Gay Studies (1st ed.). Chicago, Illinois: Fitzroy Dearborn Publishers. p.  44. ISBN   1-57958-142-0.
  5. 1 2 Zimmerman, Bonnie, ed. (2000). "Symbols (by Christy Stevens)". Lesbian Histories and Cultures: An Encyclopedia . Vol. 1 (Encyclopedia of Lesbian and Gay Histories and Cultures) (1st ed.). Garland Publishing. p. 748. ISBN   0-8153-1920-7.
  6. ↑ "Lesbians Under the Nazi Regime". Holocaust Encyclopedia . United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. 31 March 2021. Archived from the original on 25 March 2022. Retrieved 14 June 2021.
  7. 1 2 Elman, R. Amy. "Triangles and Tribulations: The Politics of Nazi Symbols". Remember.org. Archived from the original on 20 December 2016. Retrieved 10 December 2016. (Originally published in the Journal of Homosexuality , 1996, 30 (3): pp.1–11, doi : 10.1300/J082v30n03_01, ISSN   0091-8369)
  8. ↑ Prager, Sarah (29 January 2020). "Four Flowering Plants That Have Been Decidedly Queered (Sapphic Violets)". JSTOR Daily . Archived from the original on 3 February 2021. Retrieved 19 July 2020.
  9. ↑ Mathers, Charlie (1 January 2018). "18 Pride flags you might not have seen before". Gay Star News . Archived from the original on 1 June 2021. Retrieved 4 June 2019. (The Mathers article shows the derivative design, but not the original flag.)
  10. 1 2 Redwood, Soleil (26 February 2020). "A Horniman Lesbian Flag". Horniman Museum . Archived from the original on 16 August 2023. Retrieved 21 November 2021.
  11. ↑ McCray, Natalie (July 2010). "LLFlag". This Lesbian Life. Archived from the original on 11 October 2016. Retrieved 9 June 2021.
  12. 1 2 Rawles, Timothy (12 July 2019). "The many flags of the LGBT community". San Diego Gay & Lesbian News . Archived from the original on 12 July 2019. Retrieved 3 September 2019.
  13. ↑ Blaxk, Natasha A.; Stern, Alana (22 June 2016). "9 Queer Pride Flags That You Probably Didn't Know About". Odyssey . Archived from the original on 1 June 2021. Retrieved 23 January 2019.
  14. ↑ "Lesbian flag: The history, origins, meaning and symbolism". Cosmopolitan . 18 March 2021. Archived from the original on 24 January 2023. Retrieved 29 January 2023.
  15. ↑ Kasandra Brabaw (19 June 2019). "A Complete Guide To All The LGBTQ+ Flags & What They Mean". Refinery29. Archived from the original on 12 March 2021. Retrieved 6 July 2019.
  16. 1 2 Andersson, Jasmine (4 July 2019). "Pride flag guide: what the different flags look like, and what they all mean". i . Archived from the original on 24 August 2019. Retrieved 15 September 2021.
  17. ↑ Dastagir, Alia E.; Oliver, David (1 June 2021). "LGBTQ Pride flags go beyond the classic rainbow. Here's what each one means". USA Today . Archived from the original on 1 June 2021. Retrieved 1 June 2021.
  18. 1 2 3 "LGBTQIA+ Symbols: Lesbian Flags". Old Dominion University . April 2020. Archived from the original on 2 June 2021. Retrieved 6 June 2021.
  19. 1 2 Murphy-Kasp, Paul (6 July 2019). "Pride in London: What do all the flags mean?". BBC News . Archived from the original on 17 June 2020. Retrieved 6 July 2019. (video)
  20. ↑ "Variations of the Gay Pride Rainbow Flag: Rainbow flags with double Venus symbol". Flags of the World . 5 September 2020. Archived from the original on 27 February 2021. Retrieved 3 June 2021.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.