In 1978, that changed when Gilbert Baker designed the rainbow flag. Although this is far from a comprehensive list, let's take a look at six of the more popular flags that you're likely to come across.īefore the rainbow flag, the pink triangle, used to mark gay people in Nazi Germany, was a symbol for the gay rights movement. Knowing the history and meaning behind different Pride flags can help you appreciate them better. So from the bisexual Pride flag to the transgender Pride flag to the Philadelphia Pride flag, people across the world have designed their own flags to ensure that their communities are being celebrated. To some, that flag only represents small subsections of the LGBTQ+ community - namely, cisgender white men. Why would you need your own design, after all? Here's the thing: While the rainbow flag is great, not everybody feels represented by it. Sometimes, people like to dismiss any flag that isn't the rainbow one. Don't worry, though, because I'm here to help break down the different Pride flag meanings. With all of the Pride flags flying around, it can be hard to keep track of each one. But if you've ever been to a Pride event then you know that the rainbow flag is never the only one to make an appearance. And because many people belong to both communities, they’re not two distinct causes but instead overlap.This month, rainbows are everywhere in celebration of Pride, as the rainbow flag has become ubiquitous with the LGBTQ community.
Sometimes called the Resistance Flag, according to Them writer Matt Baume: "The modern LGBTQ+ liberation movement was touched off by queer and trans people of color and their struggle continues to this day, with both communities seeking justice, equality, and freedom from oppression. The raised fist is a sign of unity and support as well as defiance and resistance, and the various colors on the fist represent diversity. No surprise, the flag has become more popular in 2020 and beyond. Johnson, the Black drag queen who may have thrown the first brick at the Stonewall Inn riots) to the movements. Read on to learn more about the flags, their origins, and their meanings.Īs a representation of Queer People of Color, it's not known who the original creator of the flag was but represents solidarity with the BLM movement as well as the intersection of the queer and Black communities (including the importance of figures like Marsha P. In a world in which students are expelled for handing out Pride flags to protest Florida's "Don't Say Gay Bill," the need to show support for LGTBQ+ rights-publicly as well as privately-is as important as ever.
Recent Pride events have even more significance in conjunction with BLM protests and activities You may have seen the hashtag #BlackTransLivesMatter, for instance, or the raised-fist resistance Pride flag (more on that below). But what's powerful is that the breadth of LGBTQ+ representation continues to evolve, a nod to the diversity of sex, sexuality, attraction, and gender. There's also some disagreement about what should be considered the "official" flags, and controversy about some of the flags' origins and meaning. This list of 30 Pride flags utilizes information from a range of sources, in particular The Advocate's comprehensive guide-but even outside of this article, there are many more iterations of Pride flags that exist, including flags from different countries and states flags that include relevant symbols and two or more flags combined into one.