Exploring LGBTQ+ Flags and Their Meanings

In a time when "rainbow-washing" tries to separate Pride from its radical roots, glossing over the real struggles we’ve faced—including state and police brutality—it's important to remember that these flags are more than symbols of identity. They carry the weight of our shared history, reflecting our resistance, resilience, and ongoing fight for liberation. Each flag is a testament to the protest, sacrifice, and refusal to be erased that have shaped our journey. They remind us of how far we've come and how much further we still have to go.

Just a note: this piece is about flags and not "flagging"—a practice involving using different textiles to express desires and interests. What one flag means to you might be differ from what it means to someone else. So, take your time, discover what resonates with you, and celebrate it in your own way.

The History of the Pride Flag

The Pride flag, now an iconic symbol of the LGBTQ+ community, was born from the fight for gay rights in the 1970s. In 1978, gay rights activist Gilbert Baker, a close friend of Harvey Milk—the first openly gay man elected to public office in California—was asked to create a unifying symbol for the queer community. Inspired by a vision of hope and inclusivity, Baker chose the colors of the rainbow to reflect the diversity and beauty of the community.

Before this flag, the only queer symbol was the pink triangle which was used to identify and persecute homosexuals during the Holocaust. With this history, we can understand the need for the community to reclaim their own symbol. Baker’s design was meant to signify a new era of Pride and freedom, capturing what activist Arthur J. Bressan described as "the dawn of a new gay consciousness and freedom."

What Do The Colors of The Pride Flag Mean?

The original eight-stripe flag was a bold declaration of identity and unity, with each color symbolizing a unique aspect of our collective spirit:

• Hot Pink is a celebration of the freedom to embrace and revel in our sexuality, championing a world where we can express ourselves without fear.
• Red represents the vital energy and passion that drive us to live fully and authentically.
• Orange is a symbol of resilience and the ongoing quest for emotional and physical well-being, reflecting our strength in facing life's challenges.
• Yellow is the bright spark of joy and positivity that lights up our journey, even when confronted with adversity.
• Green connects the flag to the natural world, emphasising growth, renewal, and the calming beauty of our environment.
• Turquoise is a nod to the magical and artistic dimensions of our community, celebrating creativity and spiritual depth.
• Indigo signifies the peace and harmony that we seek both within ourselves and in our interactions with the world.
• Violet honors the enduring spirit and vibrant essence of the LGBTQ+ community, a testament to our strength and pride.

Following the tragic assassination of Harvey Milk, the demand for the rainbow flag soared, which led to practical changes in its design. Due to fabric shortages and to simplify production, the hot pink and turquoise stripes were removed, leaving the flag with six colours: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and violet.

This six-color version has become the enduring symbol of LGBTQ+ Pride, proudly flown at events and festivals around the world for over four decades.

The Progress Pride Flag

Building on the iconic rainbow flag, the Progress Pride Flag represents a meaningful evolution in LGBTQ+ symbolism. Introduced in 2018, this flag was designed to emphasise inclusion, intersectionality, and the ongoing fight for equality across all segments of the community, including queer people of color, transgender and non-binary folk, and others who have been historically marginalised.

While it retains the six original rainbow stripes—red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and violet—each representing life, healing, sunlight, nature, harmony, and spirit, the Progress Pride Flag adds a new element. A chevron on the left side, pointing right, signifies forward movement and progress.

The chevron features five additional stripes:

• Black and brown stripes represent LGBTQ+ people of color, highlighting the importance of racial inclusivity. The black stripe also honors those lost to the HIV/AIDS epidemic and the ongoing fight against related stigma.
• Pink, blue, and white stripes are taken from the Transgender Pride Flag, representing transgender, non-binary, and gender-nonconforming people. Their inclusion underscores the need for visibility and support for the trans community.

In 2021, Valentino Vecchietti of Intersex Equality Rights UK updated the flag to include the intersex community. This version features a yellow triangle with a purple circle in the middle within the chevron, symbolising intersex people and their unique experiences.

The Progress Pride Flag is more than a redesign; it’s a powerful statement of unity, intersectionality, and the ever-evolving nature of the LGBTQ+ community. It reflects the diverse and overlapping struggles for liberation within the community, recognizing that true equality requires addressing all forms of discrimination.

Why Are There Different Pride Flags?

There are around twenty three different Pride flags—and counting—representing the diverse identities and experiences within the LGBTQ+ community. Each flag highlights unique aspects of identity, sexuality, and self-exploration.

In simple terms, they celebrate individuality within the queer community. As new identities emerge, creating additional flags ensures that everyone feels seen and supported, fostering a sense of belonging and solidarity.

Common LGBTQ+ Flags and Their Meanings

The Pride flag represents the broader queer community but many sub-communities within the LGBTQ+ spectrum have their own flags. While it's important to remember that visibility alone does not equate to acceptance or equality, within the community and in many corners of the world, these flags are a way for us to be seen, to find each other, and to express who we are. Here are some of the most commonly recognized Pride flags and their meanings:

Transgender Flag

The Trans flag made its first appearance at a Pride Parade in Phoenix in 2000 and has since become a widespread symbol of identity and self-acceptance. It has five horizontal stripes: two light blue, two light pink, and one white in the centre.

• Light Blue: Represents the ‘traditional’ color associated with babies who are born male.
• Light Pink: Represents the ‘traditional’ color associated with babies who are born female.

• White: Honors those who are transitioning, gender-neutral, or intersex.

  
  Designer Monica Helms reflects in her autobiography, More Than Just a Flag, saying: “No matter which way you fly it, it is always correct, signifying us finding correctness in our lives.”

Asexual Flag

In August 2010, the asexual community finally got its own flag, thanks to the Asexual Visibility and Education Network. The flag has four stripes—black, grey, white, and purple:

• Black: Represents asexuality.
• Grey: Shades the spectrum of grey-asexuality and demi-sexuality.
• White: Includes non-asexual partners and allies.
• Purple: Brings everyone together as a community.
  
  This flag stands as a banner for those who don’t experience sexual attraction, or experience it rarely, creating a sense of unity and visibility for a diverse spectrum.

Bisexual Flag

Before we had the bisexual flag, we had the biangles. Created by Liz Nania in 1987, the design featured overlapping pink and blue triangles, with a purple area between them as the colours overlap.

• Pink: Represents attraction to the same sex.
• Blue: Represents attraction to the opposite sex.
• Purple: Symbolises a mixture of the two, representing the bisexual experience.

Inspired by this design, Michael Page created the Bisexual Pride Flag in 1998, which features three horizontal stripes in those original colours. Page explained the significance of the design: “The key to understanding the symbolism of the Bi Pride Flag is to know that the purple pixels of color blend unnoticeably into both the pink and blue, just as in the 'real world,' where Bi people blend unnoticeably into both the gay/lesbian and straight communities.” 

Pansexual Flag

Created to raise awareness and distinguish pansexuality from bisexuality, the Pansexual flag features three horizontal stripes: pink, yellow, and blue.

• Pink: Represents attraction to those who identify as female or feminine.
• Blue: Symbolises attraction to those who identify as male or masculine.

• Yellow: Stands for attraction to non-binary or agender folk.

  
  Similar but different. While bisexuality is often understood as attraction to more than one gender, it is not restricted to the male/female binary. Bisexual people may be attracted to a variety of genders, such as men and non-binary people, or women and agender folk, among others. Pansexuality, however, is characterised by attraction to someone regardless of gender, embracing a broader spectrum of identities and experiences. Both identities highlight the fluidity and diversity of human attraction, though they are distinct in how they conceptualize gender and attraction.

Non-binary Flag

The Non-binary flag was created to represent people whose gender identities don’t fit into “traditional” male or female categories. A 2021 study by the Williams Institute found that about 1.2 million American adults aged 18 to 60 identify as non-binary, making up 11% of the LGBTQ+ population in that age group.

This flag provides a clear symbol for non-binary people, who often feel overlooked by other LGBTQ+ symbols. The colors represent different non-binary experiences:

• Yellow: For those who exist outside of the traditional male or female binary.
• White: For folk who identify with multiple or all genders.
• Purple: A mix of male and female elements, reflecting those whose gender identity combines these aspects.
• Black: For agender people who feel they have no gender.

Genderqueer Flag

Designed in 2011 by Marilyn Roxie, the Genderqueer flag is a visual testament to the fluidity of gender.  This flag offers a unique, inclusive symbol for those who live outside the bounds of fixed gender categories. It is composed of two colors; lavender and white.

• Lavender: The lavender stripe symbolises androgyny and queer identities, combining traditional male and female colors to show a spectrum beyond the binary.
• White: Represents agender and gender-neutral identities, while chartreuse stands for those who identify as third-gender or outside the conventional gender norms.

Intersex Flag

The design for the Intersex flag is both bold and simple, featuring a yellow field with a purple circle at its centre. The color choice was deliberate—neither are tied to traditional gender associations. The flag signifies wholeness and completeness, creating a unique symbol for the intersex community that stands apart from other LGBTQ+ flags. It’s a powerful representation of identity and acceptance beyond conventional gender norms.

LGBTQ+ Ally Flag

While flying any of these flags shows support for the LGBTQ+ community, the Ally flag is a tribute to those who stand up for and beside queer people. Featuring black and white stripes with a rainbow “A” in the middle, the flag highlights the ally’s role in supporting LGBTQ+ rights and equality.

• Black and white: These stripes show the ally’s place within the broader society.
• Rainbow colours: The rainbow “A” proudly declares their commitment to advocacy and support. It’s a vibrant way for allies to show their dedication to a world where everyone is equal.

Other Relevant Flags

There are many more flags in the LGBTQ+ community, each celebrating a subsector of the queer community. The Demisexual Pride Flag, with its black, grey, white, and purple stripes, represents those who feel sexual attraction only after forming a deep emotional connection. The Polyamory Pride Flag, featuring blue, red, and black stripes along with a Pi symbol, honors the joy of loving multiple people. The Polysexual Pride Flag uses blue, pink, and green stripes to show attraction to various genders, while the Aromantic Flag is for those who experience romantic attraction in different ways or not at all.

In studying the history of the flags, you'll notice one striking thread: The ever-present need for evolution. We know identities are not always fixed states we suddenly arrive at, but a process of self-discovery we should all be so lucky as to journey into every day of our lives. Just as language evolves to better represent us, so do the flags. They are never perfect or fully ”complete,” but they are rooted in history, collective resistance, and sure to change over time, as we all are.

As our understanding of gender, sexuality, and identity deepens, new flags will likely emerge, reflecting the diverse and lived experiences within the queer community. To learn more about LGBTQ+ identities and support our mission of celebrating diversity, check out our Glossary.