The pride flag is an iconic symbol representing the LGBTQ community. The famous rainbow flag is easily recognizable around the globe. During Pride month, it’s prominent in the streets and businesses. It waves proudly in the sky throughout Pride Parades worldwide. It’s not exclusive to Pride month though, with the brightly colored flag a symbol of equality and human rights. The pride flag is more than just a flag. It has a deeper meaning that goes beyond being one of many LGBTQ flags. While the flag represents the LGBTQ community, it’s evolved over the years to represent each group. Using the original design, numerous versions of the flag utilize different colors or symbols. Within the LGBTQ community, each group has its own flag, including bisexuals, nonbinary, lesbians, asexuals, and more. Each flag’s color has a different meaning that sometimes crosses over with other flags. The communities all stick together while also creating their own legacy and identity. Each flag has a fascinating backstory that tells a tale of fighting for human rights and equality. Let’s take a closer look at these incredible flags, their unique designs, and the people behind the creations. These flags serve a different purpose while also bringing together communities around the globe. Journey throughout the world to explore the history and different LGBTQ pride flags. The Meaning Behind 23 LGBTQ Flags
- Gilbert Baker Pride Flag
In the mid-1970s, a military veteran and activist, Gilbert Baker, met influential activist Harvey Milk in San Francisco. After his dishonorable discharge from the army, Baker taught himself to sew. That came in handy when Milk challenged Baker to create the pride flag. Debuting at the Gay Freedom Day Parade on June 25, 1978, the flag consists of eight colors with different meanings:
Hot Pink represents sex Red symbolizes life Orange signifies healing Yellow equals sunlight Green represents nature Turquoise symbolizes magic & art Indigo equals serenity Violet stands for the spirit of LGBTQ people
Baker’s flag became a famous symbol and representation of the community. Several groups soon took inspiration from the renowned pride flag. By the late 70s, Harvey Milk became an influential politician using his power to fight for human rights and equality. Tragically, Milk’s assassination cut his life short, but it also profoundly impacted the rainbow pride flag. 2. 1978 Pride Flag Gilbert Baker (Vector graphics by Fibonacci), Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons After Harvey Milk’s assassination in 1978, sales for Gilbert Baker’s pride flag skyrocketed. Since Milk commissioned the original flag, it was in significant demand following his death. However, the 1978 pride Flag differs from Baker’s. Baker and the manufacturer, Paramount Flags, removed the pink stripe since the pink fabric was difficult to find. So they dropped the color to meet the overwhelming demands. 3. Rainbow Pride Flag
The original pride flag underwent one more change before landing on the permanent design. In 1979, the flag settled on six colors after dropping the turquoise from the bottom. There are two possible reasons for dropping turquoise. One is due to turquoise fabric being difficult to obtain, while the second concerns many people in the community feeling an even number of colors worked better. The rainbow pride flag remains a strong symbol of the LGBTQ community. Additionally, the iconic rainbow pride flag inspired a long list of important flags within the community. 4. Philadelphia Pride Flag
Unveiled in 2017, The Philadelphia pride flag includes two extra colors in addition to the original six. Historically, the mainstream gay rights movement didn’t include or have a strong LGBTQ people of color representation. So The Philadelphia pride flag includes black and brown stripes representing people of color. Designed by a local firm, the flag debuted at Philadelphia City Hall. It also served as an inspiration to several flags that followed over the years. 5. Progress Pride Flag
Inspired by the Philadelphia pride flag, the progress pride flag strives to be more inclusive. The progress pride flag also includes brown and black stripes representing people of color. However, the black stripe also represents those lost to AIDs and those living with HIV. The white, pink, and light blue colors mirror the transgender flag. Flag designer Daniel Quasar noted, “When the pride flag was recreated in the last year to include both black/brown stripes, as well as the trans stripes, included this year, I wanted to see if there could be more emphasis in the design of the flag to give it more meaning.” 6. Bisexual Pride Flag @catserro/Twitter In 1998, LGBTQ activist Michael Page felt the bisexual community needed a flag to raise the visibility of bisexual individuals. So Page created the bisexual flag using two colors primarily associated with gender, pink and blue. In this case, pink represents an attraction to the same gender, while blue signifies attraction to the opposite gender. The color purple is between blue and pink, representing those attracted to both genders. 7. Pansexual Pride Flag
In 2010, pansexual individuals gained their own flag to separate them from the bisexual group. The other purpose of the flag was to raise awareness for the group. In this case, blue symbolizes attraction for those who identify as male. Pink represents anyone who’s attracted to people who identify as female. The yellow stripe signifies attraction to anyone identifying as nonbinary, androgynous, agender, genderqueer, or gender non-conforming. 8. Asexual Pride Flag
Asexual individuals lack attraction to other genders. The asexual group received their flag in 2010 after an Asexual Visibility and Education Network contest. The flag is inclusive of numerous identities. For instance, the black stripe represents asexuality, while the gray stripe stands for demisexuals and graysexuals. At the same time, white symbolizes non-asexuals and allies, with purple representing the community.
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- Labrys Lesbian Pride Flag
The labrys lesbian pride flag isn’t as famous as some other flags on the list. The purple color of the flag represents cisgender women, with the black triangle representing lesbians. First seen in 1999, the flag features a double-headed battle axe known as a labrys. Initially, the labrys was a symbol of cisgender women’s empowerment. In the 1970s, it became a symbol for radical lesbian feminist groups. 10. Polyamory Pride Flag
Created in 1995 by Jim Evans, the polyamory pride flag represents people identifying as polyamorous. At the center of the flag is a yellow pi sign standing for an infinite number of partners available. An alternative version features the infinity heart’s symbol released in 2017. Furthermore, the polyamory pride flag includes three stripes. Black represents unity with those who must keep their polyamory lifestyle a secret. Red represents passion and love, while blue symbolizes honesty and openness with everyone involved. 11. Intersex Pride Flag
In 2013, the co-chair of Intersex Human Rights Australia, Morgan Carpenter, created the intersex pride flag. Carpenter wanted to change the previous symbols and sought to make a more accurate flag. Therefore, he used gender-neutral colors with a purple circle against a yellow background. The circle’s a symbol of completeness, representing the feelings of all intersex individuals. It also raises the visibility of intersex people in the LGBTQ community and on a mainstream level. 12. Transgender Pride Flag
Transgender Navy veteran Monica Helms created the transgender pride flag in 1999. Helms deliberately used light pink and blue since they’re often associated with baby girls and boys. The white signifies individuals who are intersex, transitioning, or have an undefined gender. The iconic transgender pride flag debuted at the 2000 Phoenix Pride parade. Plus, the flag increased the transgender group’s visibility within the LGBTQ community. 13. Genderfluid Pride Flag
In 2013, JJ Poole introduced the genderfluid pride flag to symbolize individuals whose gender identity is fluid and fluctuates. Hence, the color of the flag represents that fluid expression. This gender binary design features five horizontal stripes, with each color having a different meaning. For example, blue and pink signify masculinity and femininity, respectively. Thus, purple is a combination of masculinity and femininity. Lastly, white represents a lack of gender, while black symbolizes every gender on the spectrum. 14. Genderqueer Pride Flag
Activist Marilyn Roxie created the genderqueer pride flag in 2011. Using input from readers of the Genderqueer Identities website, Roxie combined blue and pink to make the lavender color, symbolizing androgyny and other queer identities. The green stands for nonbinary people, with white representing agender identity. 15. Ally Pride Flag
The ally pride flag or straight ally pride flag first surfaced in the late 2000s. It represents cisgender and heterosexual people who support the LGBTQ community. The flag features the six colors of the rainbow pride flag with black and white stripes representing cisgender and heterosexual people. Furthermore, the letter “A” sits at the center of the flag, representing the word “Ally.” 16. Leather Pride Flag
In 1989, Tony DeBlase created the leather pride flag to mark the 20th anniversary of the Stonewall Riots. Part of the International Mr. Leather celebration, the flag initially represented the leather subculture but soon became a symbol for the BDSM fetish community. It now represents anyone involved with kink, including cisgender and heterosexual folks. DeBlase purposely left the flag open to interpretation allowing the viewers to determine the meaning behind the flag. DeBlase used nine alternating horizontal stripes of black and blue. Additionally, it includes a white stripe in the middle and a red heart in the upper left corner.
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- Lesbian Pride Flag
Throughout the years, there have been several different versions of the lesbian pride flag. The 2018 lesbian pride flag became the most widely accepted version. The lesbian flag includes seven shades of red, white, orange, and pink, representing various kinds of femininity. 18. Non-Binary Flag
Nonbinary individuals felt the Genderqueer flag needed a little support in representing them. Thus, they created a non-binary flag to sit alongside the Marilyn Roxie genderqueer flag and not replace it. In 2014, 17-year-old Kye Rowan designed the non-binary flag using a mix of colors. White symbolizes those with many or all genders, while yellow represents gender outside a binary. Black stands for the agender community, those without sexuality or color. 19. Bear Brotherhood Pride Flag
The International Bear Brotherhood consists of a specific type of gay man. Indeed, each member is big, tough, and can grow some impressive facial hair. The bear is an important symbol itself when it comes to the group. Therefore, the flag reflects both the group and the animal. The flag features black, gray, white, tan, golden, orange, dark brown, and yellow stripes. Each stripe represents a different color of bear fur as well. 20. Aromantic Pride Flag
Created in 2014, the aromantic pride flag represents individuals who don’t feel romantic attraction, or at least not in the traditional sense. It features an interesting mix of colors, each with a different meaning. For instance, green appears in two shades on the flag, representing aromanticism. Next is the color white, symbolizing aesthetic and platonic attraction, with grey representing demiromantic and gray-aromantic people. Lastly, the black stripe covers the rest of the sexuality spectrum. 21. Demisexual Pride Flag
The asexual community breaks down into several subgroups as well. A demisexual only feels a sexual attraction to a person after forming a deep emotional bond. The colors of the flag come together to create an interesting combination. For example, white stands for sexuality, with black representing asexuality. Plus, gray signifies asexuality and demisexuality, while purple symbolizes community. 22. Polysexual Pride Flag
In 2012, a Tumbler user created a polysexual pride flag. The flag represents people sexually attracted to multiple genders, but not all. In fact, it revolves around attraction to femininity and masculinity instead of gender. Based on the pansexual and bisexual flags, the polysexual flag includes pink and blue colors representing females and males, respectively. Furthermore, the green color symbolizes attraction to people who don’t conform to either gender. 23. Demiromantic Pride Flag
Sometimes considered a sub-group of the asexual community, Demiromantic people only feel romantic attraction for a person after forming a deep emotional bond. While the origins remain a mystery, the Asexual Visibility and Education Network began recognizing the flag back in 2011. The flag shares similarities with the demisexual pride flag. Each color of the demiromantic pride flag has a different meaning. Green represents the aromantic spectrum, while black symbolizes the sexuality spectrum. White stands for aesthetic and platonic attraction. Lastly, grey represents gray-aromanticism and demiromantic.
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The pride flag is an iconic symbol representing the LGBTQ community. The famous rainbow flag is easily recognizable around the globe. During Pride month, it’s prominent in the streets and businesses. It waves proudly in the sky throughout Pride Parades worldwide. It’s not exclusive to Pride month though, with the brightly colored flag a symbol of equality and human rights. The pride flag is more than just a flag. It has a deeper meaning that goes beyond being one of many LGBTQ flags. While the flag represents the LGBTQ community, it’s evolved over the years to represent each group. Using the original design, numerous versions of the flag utilize different colors or symbols. Within the LGBTQ community, each group has its own flag, including bisexuals, nonbinary, lesbians, asexuals, and more. Each flag’s color has a different meaning that sometimes crosses over with other flags. The communities all stick together while also creating their own legacy and identity. Each flag has a fascinating backstory that tells a tale of fighting for human rights and equality. Let’s take a closer look at these incredible flags, their unique designs, and the people behind the creations. These flags serve a different purpose while also bringing together communities around the globe. Journey throughout the world to explore the history and different LGBTQ pride flags. The Meaning Behind 23 LGBTQ Flags
- Gilbert Baker Pride Flag
In the mid-1970s, a military veteran and activist, Gilbert Baker, met influential activist Harvey Milk in San Francisco. After his dishonorable discharge from the army, Baker taught himself to sew. That came in handy when Milk challenged Baker to create the pride flag. Debuting at the Gay Freedom Day Parade on June 25, 1978, the flag consists of eight colors with different meanings:
Hot Pink represents sex Red symbolizes life Orange signifies healing Yellow equals sunlight Green represents nature Turquoise symbolizes magic & art Indigo equals serenity Violet stands for the spirit of LGBTQ people
Baker’s flag became a famous symbol and representation of the community. Several groups soon took inspiration from the renowned pride flag. By the late 70s, Harvey Milk became an influential politician using his power to fight for human rights and equality. Tragically, Milk’s assassination cut his life short, but it also profoundly impacted the rainbow pride flag. 2. 1978 Pride Flag Gilbert Baker (Vector graphics by Fibonacci), Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons After Harvey Milk’s assassination in 1978, sales for Gilbert Baker’s pride flag skyrocketed. Since Milk commissioned the original flag, it was in significant demand following his death. However, the 1978 pride Flag differs from Baker’s. Baker and the manufacturer, Paramount Flags, removed the pink stripe since the pink fabric was difficult to find. So they dropped the color to meet the overwhelming demands. 3. Rainbow Pride Flag
The original pride flag underwent one more change before landing on the permanent design. In 1979, the flag settled on six colors after dropping the turquoise from the bottom. There are two possible reasons for dropping turquoise. One is due to turquoise fabric being difficult to obtain, while the second concerns many people in the community feeling an even number of colors worked better. The rainbow pride flag remains a strong symbol of the LGBTQ community. Additionally, the iconic rainbow pride flag inspired a long list of important flags within the community. 4. Philadelphia Pride Flag
Unveiled in 2017, The Philadelphia pride flag includes two extra colors in addition to the original six. Historically, the mainstream gay rights movement didn’t include or have a strong LGBTQ people of color representation. So The Philadelphia pride flag includes black and brown stripes representing people of color. Designed by a local firm, the flag debuted at Philadelphia City Hall. It also served as an inspiration to several flags that followed over the years. 5. Progress Pride Flag
Inspired by the Philadelphia pride flag, the progress pride flag strives to be more inclusive. The progress pride flag also includes brown and black stripes representing people of color. However, the black stripe also represents those lost to AIDs and those living with HIV. The white, pink, and light blue colors mirror the transgender flag. Flag designer Daniel Quasar noted, “When the pride flag was recreated in the last year to include both black/brown stripes, as well as the trans stripes, included this year, I wanted to see if there could be more emphasis in the design of the flag to give it more meaning.” 6. Bisexual Pride Flag @catserro/Twitter In 1998, LGBTQ activist Michael Page felt the bisexual community needed a flag to raise the visibility of bisexual individuals. So Page created the bisexual flag using two colors primarily associated with gender, pink and blue. In this case, pink represents an attraction to the same gender, while blue signifies attraction to the opposite gender. The color purple is between blue and pink, representing those attracted to both genders. 7. Pansexual Pride Flag
In 2010, pansexual individuals gained their own flag to separate them from the bisexual group. The other purpose of the flag was to raise awareness for the group. In this case, blue symbolizes attraction for those who identify as male. Pink represents anyone who’s attracted to people who identify as female. The yellow stripe signifies attraction to anyone identifying as nonbinary, androgynous, agender, genderqueer, or gender non-conforming. 8. Asexual Pride Flag
Asexual individuals lack attraction to other genders. The asexual group received their flag in 2010 after an Asexual Visibility and Education Network contest. The flag is inclusive of numerous identities. For instance, the black stripe represents asexuality, while the gray stripe stands for demisexuals and graysexuals. At the same time, white symbolizes non-asexuals and allies, with purple representing the community.
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- Labrys Lesbian Pride Flag
The labrys lesbian pride flag isn’t as famous as some other flags on the list. The purple color of the flag represents cisgender women, with the black triangle representing lesbians. First seen in 1999, the flag features a double-headed battle axe known as a labrys. Initially, the labrys was a symbol of cisgender women’s empowerment. In the 1970s, it became a symbol for radical lesbian feminist groups. 10. Polyamory Pride Flag
Created in 1995 by Jim Evans, the polyamory pride flag represents people identifying as polyamorous. At the center of the flag is a yellow pi sign standing for an infinite number of partners available. An alternative version features the infinity heart’s symbol released in 2017. Furthermore, the polyamory pride flag includes three stripes. Black represents unity with those who must keep their polyamory lifestyle a secret. Red represents passion and love, while blue symbolizes honesty and openness with everyone involved. 11. Intersex Pride Flag
In 2013, the co-chair of Intersex Human Rights Australia, Morgan Carpenter, created the intersex pride flag. Carpenter wanted to change the previous symbols and sought to make a more accurate flag. Therefore, he used gender-neutral colors with a purple circle against a yellow background. The circle’s a symbol of completeness, representing the feelings of all intersex individuals. It also raises the visibility of intersex people in the LGBTQ community and on a mainstream level. 12. Transgender Pride Flag
Transgender Navy veteran Monica Helms created the transgender pride flag in 1999. Helms deliberately used light pink and blue since they’re often associated with baby girls and boys. The white signifies individuals who are intersex, transitioning, or have an undefined gender. The iconic transgender pride flag debuted at the 2000 Phoenix Pride parade. Plus, the flag increased the transgender group’s visibility within the LGBTQ community. 13. Genderfluid Pride Flag
In 2013, JJ Poole introduced the genderfluid pride flag to symbolize individuals whose gender identity is fluid and fluctuates. Hence, the color of the flag represents that fluid expression. This gender binary design features five horizontal stripes, with each color having a different meaning. For example, blue and pink signify masculinity and femininity, respectively. Thus, purple is a combination of masculinity and femininity. Lastly, white represents a lack of gender, while black symbolizes every gender on the spectrum. 14. Genderqueer Pride Flag
Activist Marilyn Roxie created the genderqueer pride flag in 2011. Using input from readers of the Genderqueer Identities website, Roxie combined blue and pink to make the lavender color, symbolizing androgyny and other queer identities. The green stands for nonbinary people, with white representing agender identity. 15. Ally Pride Flag
The ally pride flag or straight ally pride flag first surfaced in the late 2000s. It represents cisgender and heterosexual people who support the LGBTQ community. The flag features the six colors of the rainbow pride flag with black and white stripes representing cisgender and heterosexual people. Furthermore, the letter “A” sits at the center of the flag, representing the word “Ally.” 16. Leather Pride Flag
In 1989, Tony DeBlase created the leather pride flag to mark the 20th anniversary of the Stonewall Riots. Part of the International Mr. Leather celebration, the flag initially represented the leather subculture but soon became a symbol for the BDSM fetish community. It now represents anyone involved with kink, including cisgender and heterosexual folks. DeBlase purposely left the flag open to interpretation allowing the viewers to determine the meaning behind the flag. DeBlase used nine alternating horizontal stripes of black and blue. Additionally, it includes a white stripe in the middle and a red heart in the upper left corner.
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- Lesbian Pride Flag
Throughout the years, there have been several different versions of the lesbian pride flag. The 2018 lesbian pride flag became the most widely accepted version. The lesbian flag includes seven shades of red, white, orange, and pink, representing various kinds of femininity. 18. Non-Binary Flag
Nonbinary individuals felt the Genderqueer flag needed a little support in representing them. Thus, they created a non-binary flag to sit alongside the Marilyn Roxie genderqueer flag and not replace it. In 2014, 17-year-old Kye Rowan designed the non-binary flag using a mix of colors. White symbolizes those with many or all genders, while yellow represents gender outside a binary. Black stands for the agender community, those without sexuality or color. 19. Bear Brotherhood Pride Flag
The International Bear Brotherhood consists of a specific type of gay man. Indeed, each member is big, tough, and can grow some impressive facial hair. The bear is an important symbol itself when it comes to the group. Therefore, the flag reflects both the group and the animal. The flag features black, gray, white, tan, golden, orange, dark brown, and yellow stripes. Each stripe represents a different color of bear fur as well. 20. Aromantic Pride Flag
Created in 2014, the aromantic pride flag represents individuals who don’t feel romantic attraction, or at least not in the traditional sense. It features an interesting mix of colors, each with a different meaning. For instance, green appears in two shades on the flag, representing aromanticism. Next is the color white, symbolizing aesthetic and platonic attraction, with grey representing demiromantic and gray-aromantic people. Lastly, the black stripe covers the rest of the sexuality spectrum. 21. Demisexual Pride Flag
The asexual community breaks down into several subgroups as well. A demisexual only feels a sexual attraction to a person after forming a deep emotional bond. The colors of the flag come together to create an interesting combination. For example, white stands for sexuality, with black representing asexuality. Plus, gray signifies asexuality and demisexuality, while purple symbolizes community. 22. Polysexual Pride Flag
In 2012, a Tumbler user created a polysexual pride flag. The flag represents people sexually attracted to multiple genders, but not all. In fact, it revolves around attraction to femininity and masculinity instead of gender. Based on the pansexual and bisexual flags, the polysexual flag includes pink and blue colors representing females and males, respectively. Furthermore, the green color symbolizes attraction to people who don’t conform to either gender. 23. Demiromantic Pride Flag
Sometimes considered a sub-group of the asexual community, Demiromantic people only feel romantic attraction for a person after forming a deep emotional bond. While the origins remain a mystery, the Asexual Visibility and Education Network began recognizing the flag back in 2011. The flag shares similarities with the demisexual pride flag. Each color of the demiromantic pride flag has a different meaning. Green represents the aromantic spectrum, while black symbolizes the sexuality spectrum. White stands for aesthetic and platonic attraction. Lastly, grey represents gray-aromanticism and demiromantic.
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The pride flag is an iconic symbol representing the LGBTQ community. The famous rainbow flag is easily recognizable around the globe. During Pride month, it’s prominent in the streets and businesses. It waves proudly in the sky throughout Pride Parades worldwide. It’s not exclusive to Pride month though, with the brightly colored flag a symbol of equality and human rights. The pride flag is more than just a flag. It has a deeper meaning that goes beyond being one of many LGBTQ flags.
While the flag represents the LGBTQ community, it’s evolved over the years to represent each group. Using the original design, numerous versions of the flag utilize different colors or symbols. Within the LGBTQ community, each group has its own flag, including bisexuals, nonbinary, lesbians, asexuals, and more. Each flag’s color has a different meaning that sometimes crosses over with other flags. The communities all stick together while also creating their own legacy and identity. Each flag has a fascinating backstory that tells a tale of fighting for human rights and equality.
Let’s take a closer look at these incredible flags, their unique designs, and the people behind the creations. These flags serve a different purpose while also bringing together communities around the globe. Journey throughout the world to explore the history and different LGBTQ pride flags.
The Meaning Behind 23 LGBTQ Flags
1. Gilbert Baker Pride Flag
In the mid-1970s, a military veteran and activist, Gilbert Baker, met influential activist Harvey Milk in San Francisco. After his dishonorable discharge from the army, Baker taught himself to sew. That came in handy when Milk challenged Baker to create the pride flag. Debuting at the Gay Freedom Day Parade on June 25, 1978, the flag consists of eight colors with different meanings:
- Hot Pink represents sex
- Red symbolizes life
- Orange signifies healing
- Yellow equals sunlight
- Green represents nature
- Turquoise symbolizes magic & art
- Indigo equals serenity
- Violet stands for the spirit of LGBTQ people
Baker’s flag became a famous symbol and representation of the community. Several groups soon took inspiration from the renowned pride flag. By the late 70s, Harvey Milk became an influential politician using his power to fight for human rights and equality. Tragically, Milk’s assassination cut his life short, but it also profoundly impacted the rainbow pride flag.
2. 1978 Pride Flag
Gilbert Baker (Vector graphics by Fibonacci), Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
After Harvey Milk’s assassination in 1978, sales for Gilbert Baker’s pride flag skyrocketed. Since Milk commissioned the original flag, it was in significant demand following his death. However, the 1978 pride Flag differs from Baker’s.
Baker and the manufacturer, Paramount Flags, removed the pink stripe since the pink fabric was difficult to find. So they dropped the color to meet the overwhelming demands.
3. Rainbow Pride Flag
The original pride flag underwent one more change before landing on the permanent design. In 1979, the flag settled on six colors after dropping the turquoise from the bottom. There are two possible reasons for dropping turquoise.
One is due to turquoise fabric being difficult to obtain, while the second concerns many people in the community feeling an even number of colors worked better. The rainbow pride flag remains a strong symbol of the LGBTQ community. Additionally, the iconic rainbow pride flag inspired a long list of important flags within the community.
4. Philadelphia Pride Flag
Unveiled in 2017, The Philadelphia pride flag includes two extra colors in addition to the original six. Historically, the mainstream gay rights movement didn’t include or have a strong LGBTQ people of color representation. So The Philadelphia pride flag includes black and brown stripes representing people of color.
Designed by a local firm, the flag debuted at Philadelphia City Hall. It also served as an inspiration to several flags that followed over the years.
5. Progress Pride Flag
Inspired by the Philadelphia pride flag, the progress pride flag strives to be more inclusive. The progress pride flag also includes brown and black stripes representing people of color. However, the black stripe also represents those lost to AIDs and those living with HIV. The white, pink, and light blue colors mirror the transgender flag.
Flag designer Daniel Quasar noted, “When the pride flag was recreated in the last year to include both black/brown stripes, as well as the trans stripes, included this year, I wanted to see if there could be more emphasis in the design of the flag to give it more meaning.”
6. Bisexual Pride Flag
@catserro/Twitter
In 1998, LGBTQ activist Michael Page felt the bisexual community needed a flag to raise the visibility of bisexual individuals. So Page created the bisexual flag using two colors primarily associated with gender, pink and blue.
In this case, pink represents an attraction to the same gender, while blue signifies attraction to the opposite gender. The color purple is between blue and pink, representing those attracted to both genders.
7. Pansexual Pride Flag
In 2010, pansexual individuals gained their own flag to separate them from the bisexual group. The other purpose of the flag was to raise awareness for the group.
In this case, blue symbolizes attraction for those who identify as male. Pink represents anyone who’s attracted to people who identify as female. The yellow stripe signifies attraction to anyone identifying as nonbinary, androgynous, agender, genderqueer, or gender non-conforming.
8. Asexual Pride Flag
Asexual individuals lack attraction to other genders. The asexual group received their flag in 2010 after an Asexual Visibility and Education Network contest.
The flag is inclusive of numerous identities. For instance, the black stripe represents asexuality, while the gray stripe stands for demisexuals and graysexuals. At the same time, white symbolizes non-asexuals and allies, with purple representing the community.
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9. Labrys Lesbian Pride Flag
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The labrys lesbian pride flag isn’t as famous as some other flags on the list. The purple color of the flag represents cisgender women, with the black triangle representing lesbians. First seen in 1999, the flag features a double-headed battle axe known as a labrys.
Initially, the labrys was a symbol of cisgender women’s empowerment. In the 1970s, it became a symbol for radical lesbian feminist groups.
10. Polyamory Pride Flag
Created in 1995 by Jim Evans, the polyamory pride flag represents people identifying as polyamorous. At the center of the flag is a yellow pi sign standing for an infinite number of partners available. An alternative version features the infinity heart’s symbol released in 2017.
Furthermore, the polyamory pride flag includes three stripes. Black represents unity with those who must keep their polyamory lifestyle a secret. Red represents passion and love, while blue symbolizes honesty and openness with everyone involved.
11. Intersex Pride Flag
In 2013, the co-chair of Intersex Human Rights Australia, Morgan Carpenter, created the intersex pride flag. Carpenter wanted to change the previous symbols and sought to make a more accurate flag. Therefore, he used gender-neutral colors with a purple circle against a yellow background.
The circle’s a symbol of completeness, representing the feelings of all intersex individuals. It also raises the visibility of intersex people in the LGBTQ community and on a mainstream level.
12. Transgender Pride Flag
Transgender Navy veteran Monica Helms created the transgender pride flag in 1999. Helms deliberately used light pink and blue since they’re often associated with baby girls and boys. The white signifies individuals who are intersex, transitioning, or have an undefined gender.
The iconic transgender pride flag debuted at the 2000 Phoenix Pride parade. Plus, the flag increased the transgender group’s visibility within the LGBTQ community.
13. Genderfluid Pride Flag
In 2013, JJ Poole introduced the genderfluid pride flag to symbolize individuals whose gender identity is fluid and fluctuates. Hence, the color of the flag represents that fluid expression. This gender binary design features five horizontal stripes, with each color having a different meaning.
For example, blue and pink signify masculinity and femininity, respectively. Thus, purple is a combination of masculinity and femininity. Lastly, white represents a lack of gender, while black symbolizes every gender on the spectrum.
14. Genderqueer Pride Flag
Activist Marilyn Roxie created the genderqueer pride flag in 2011. Using input from readers of the Genderqueer Identities website, Roxie combined blue and pink to make the lavender color, symbolizing androgyny and other queer identities. The green stands for nonbinary people, with white representing agender identity.
15. Ally Pride Flag
The ally pride flag or straight ally pride flag first surfaced in the late 2000s. It represents cisgender and heterosexual people who support the LGBTQ community. The flag features the six colors of the rainbow pride flag with black and white stripes representing cisgender and heterosexual people. Furthermore, the letter “A” sits at the center of the flag, representing the word “Ally.”
16. Leather Pride Flag
In 1989, Tony DeBlase created the leather pride flag to mark the 20th anniversary of the Stonewall Riots. Part of the International Mr. Leather celebration, the flag initially represented the leather subculture but soon became a symbol for the BDSM fetish community. It now represents anyone involved with kink, including cisgender and heterosexual folks.
DeBlase purposely left the flag open to interpretation allowing the viewers to determine the meaning behind the flag. DeBlase used nine alternating horizontal stripes of black and blue. Additionally, it includes a white stripe in the middle and a red heart in the upper left corner.
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17. Lesbian Pride Flag
See more about - 15 Gay Celebrities Breaking Down Barriers
Throughout the years, there have been several different versions of the lesbian pride flag. The 2018 lesbian pride flag became the most widely accepted version. The lesbian flag includes seven shades of red, white, orange, and pink, representing various kinds of femininity.
18. Non-Binary Flag
Nonbinary individuals felt the Genderqueer flag needed a little support in representing them. Thus, they created a non-binary flag to sit alongside the Marilyn Roxie genderqueer flag and not replace it.
In 2014, 17-year-old Kye Rowan designed the non-binary flag using a mix of colors. White symbolizes those with many or all genders, while yellow represents gender outside a binary. Black stands for the agender community, those without sexuality or color.
19. Bear Brotherhood Pride Flag
The International Bear Brotherhood consists of a specific type of gay man. Indeed, each member is big, tough, and can grow some impressive facial hair. The bear is an important symbol itself when it comes to the group. Therefore, the flag reflects both the group and the animal.
The flag features black, gray, white, tan, golden, orange, dark brown, and yellow stripes. Each stripe represents a different color of bear fur as well.
20. Aromantic Pride Flag
Created in 2014, the aromantic pride flag represents individuals who don’t feel romantic attraction, or at least not in the traditional sense. It features an interesting mix of colors, each with a different meaning. For instance, green appears in two shades on the flag, representing aromanticism.
Next is the color white, symbolizing aesthetic and platonic attraction, with grey representing demiromantic and gray-aromantic people. Lastly, the black stripe covers the rest of the sexuality spectrum.
21. Demisexual Pride Flag
The asexual community breaks down into several subgroups as well. A demisexual only feels a sexual attraction to a person after forming a deep emotional bond.
The colors of the flag come together to create an interesting combination. For example, white stands for sexuality, with black representing asexuality. Plus, gray signifies asexuality and demisexuality, while purple symbolizes community.
22. Polysexual Pride Flag
In 2012, a Tumbler user created a polysexual pride flag. The flag represents people sexually attracted to multiple genders, but not all. In fact, it revolves around attraction to femininity and masculinity instead of gender.
Based on the pansexual and bisexual flags, the polysexual flag includes pink and blue colors representing females and males, respectively. Furthermore, the green color symbolizes attraction to people who don’t conform to either gender.
23. Demiromantic Pride Flag
Sometimes considered a sub-group of the asexual community, Demiromantic people only feel romantic attraction for a person after forming a deep emotional bond. While the origins remain a mystery, the Asexual Visibility and Education Network began recognizing the flag back in 2011.
The flag shares similarities with the demisexual pride flag. Each color of the demiromantic pride flag has a different meaning. Green represents the aromantic spectrum, while black symbolizes the sexuality spectrum. White stands for aesthetic and platonic attraction. Lastly, grey represents gray-aromanticism and demiromantic.
See more about - 26 Best LGBTQ Shows You Can Stream Right Now
See more about - 26 Best LGBTQ Shows You Can Stream Right Now
