LGBT pride flags -a guide for allies-
Lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans* and other sexual minorities have designed their own flags in order to signify a borderless community. People exhibit these colours to make themselves visible as, or express support with, queer individuals.
The safety pin as a symbol of support has appeared after the 2016 events in UK and USA. The concept is a DIY, non-mass-produced and non-commercialised means to express solidarity with migrants, colour communities, and sexual minorities.
HISTORICAL LGBT SYMBOLS
HISTORICAL LGBT SYMBOLS
The pink triangle pointing down was historically used by the Nazi regime to mark the homosexual male prisoners in concentration camps. In the 70s, activists have literally turned this symbol on its head, to stand as a commemoration of the queer past as well as a symbol of pride.
HISTORICAL LGBT SYMBOLS
HISTORICAL LGBT SYMBOLS
Gender symbols (♂ male, ♀ female) have been used in different variations to signify same-sex love or gender variance. The modified 3-pronged circle incorporating both Venus and Mars symbolism was designed by activist Holly Boswell in 1993 as a trans* and genderqueer symbol.
HISTORICAL LGBT SYMBOLS
The rainbow flag was designed by artist and activist Gilbert Baker in 1978. Originally eight colours, flags were handdyed and stitched by volunteers. The rainbow was amended to the current version (six colours) to allow the community to DIY it easier.
HISTORICAL LGBT SYMBOLS
The rainbow flag signifies the universal queer community, whether gay/ lesbian/bisexual, transgender or genderqueer, intersex, and asexual. Apart from this flag, specific communities have their own flag.
The bisexual flag (for people who date both men and women) consists of three stripes, pink (signalling preference for women) and blue (for men) surrounding a stripe of purple (for both, as a mix of the two).
The transgender flag (for people who don’t identify with the gender assigned to them at birth) consists of five stripes: blue&pink (traditional baby colours for boys and girls) and white signifying transition (between genders), androgyny or lack of gender
This makes the symbolism of the trans* flag quite inclusive: blue>pink= MtF (male transitioning to female) white= transitioning, between, both, or none pink>blue= FtM (female transitioning to male)
The genderqueer flag (for people who don’t identify with the limited gender binary) consists of three stripes: purple for both genders (pink+blue) white for no gender (agender) green for another, queer gender
The pansexual flag (for people who date any gender) consists of the same colours of the bisexual flag, with purple (blue+pink) replaced by yellow (which is wholly other, not a mix of the two).
Gender and sexual minorities also include those who do not have sexual desires. The asexual flag consists of four stripes that cover a lot of asexual and aromantic spectrum.
The four colours signify:
black = asexual (no sexual attraction) and aromantic (no need for emotional connection) grey = demi-sexual (sexual attraction may develop after an emotionally connection with people) white=asexual (no sexual attraction) but romantic (sometimes with a sexually-active partner) purple= community
In summer 2017, I attended two international academic conferences where support for LGBTQ participants was signalled by wearing these DIY pins.
I have designed this zine to be handed out with the pins, to instruct allies who might not know about LGBTQ symbols. You can print your own zines to give away from bit.do/mxcoman/flags. Print on double-sided A4 paper, cut it on the dotted line, then fold each half as an accordion. Finish by folding it in half, with the covers on outside.
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