What do the colors of the rainbow flag mean
Pride Flags
Flags are often used as symbols of pride. It is no surprise then that numerous pride flags hold been created to represent the sexual and gender diversity of 2SLGBTQIA+ communities. Explore all the different flags and their meanings.
Interested in exploring further? Grab the online Positive Space: Foundations course to learn more about sex, sexuality, and gender diversity.
This resource is not intended to provide an exhaustive list of pride flags. If you hold a suggestion for a flag to add or possess any feedback on the information provided, please contact us.
Achillean Flag
Achillean: Men or men-aligned individuals who are attracted to other men and men-aligned people. It is sometimes established as men loving men (MLM). Achillean individuals may or may not be attracted to other genders. While this label isn’t exclusive, it is used to unify men-aligned people or men who love other men.
Date: 2016
Creator: Redesigned by DeviantArt (Tumblr user)
Flag meaning: The first iteration was created by pridenpositivity (Tumblr user). The flag contains the color blue to represent men and a lime-green carnation in the center, which was popularized by Oscar Wilde
Here’s What the Distinct LGBTQIA+ Flags Represent
LGBTQIA+
When we think of Pride Month, the first image that typically comes to mind is the classic rainbow flag. However, many people don’t realize that along with the Rainbow Pride Flag, there are an array of other identifiers that depict the diverse homosexual community. While many in the LGBTQIA+ community identify with the all-encompassing rainbow flag, each team has its hold flag to symbolize its unique contributions and stories within the community. Here’s a rundown of the different flags and what they represent.
The Gilbert Baker Pride Flag
The authentic rainbow pride flag was designed by Gilbert Baker in 1978 at the request of Harvey Milk, the first openly gay elected official in California. Gilbert chose the rainbow as it represents a symbol of hope.
Original flag colors and meaning:
Pink: sex; Red: life; Orange: healing; Yellow: sunlight; Green: nature; Turquoise: magic; Blue: harmony; Violet: spirit.
Rainbow Pride Flag
This is the iteration of the Pride Flag that we all know today, used to symbolize the overall LGBTQIA+ group. In this version, the pink and turquoise were exclu
Flags of the LGBTIQ Community
Flags have always been an integral part of the LGBTIQ+ movement. They are a noticeable representation meant to mark progress, advocate for visibility, and amplify the insist and drive for collective action. There have been many LGBTIQ+ flags over the years. Some possess evolved, while others are constantly being conceptualized and created.
Rainbow Flag
Created in 1978 by Gilbert Baker, the iconic Pride Rainbow flag originally had eight stripes. The colors included pink to represent sexuality, red for healing, yellow for sun, green for serenity with nature, turquoise for art, indigo for concord, and violet for essence. In the years since, the flag now has six colors. It no longer has a pink stripe, and the turquoise and indigo stripes were replaced with royal blue.
Progress Pride Flag
Created in 2018 by nonbinary painter Daniel Quasar, the Progress Pride flag is based on the iconic 1978 rainbow flag. With stripes of black and brown to represent marginalized LGBTIQ+ people of color and the triad of azure, pink, and white from the trans flag, the design represents diversity and inclusion.
Trans Flag
Conceived by Monica Helms, an
Celebrating Pride and Progress: The Meaning Behind the Progress Pride Flag
As we commemorate Pride Month, we also take time to mirror on the work still needed to build a more inclusive and equitable society. One way we honour that commitment is by using the Progress Pride Flag in our celebrations.
The Progress Pride Flag was designed in 2018 by Daniel Quasar, a non-binary artist and graphic designer from Oregon. Quasar’s design builds on the traditional rainbow Pride Flag by incorporating the colours of the Transgender Flag, along with black and brown stripes. These additions represent Black, Indigenous and people of colour (BIPOC) in the 2SLGBTQ+ people, as well as individuals living with or missing to HIV/AIDS. The flag was created to highlight the importance of inclusion and forward movement.
A Short History of Pride
Pride has its roots in the Stonewall Riots of 1969 in New York City—a pivotal moment in the fight for 2SLGBTQ+ rights. At the time, homosexuality and dressing in flamboyant were criminalized. The riots marked the beginning of an organized movement advocating for decriminalization and equality.
In Canada, homosexuality was decriminalized in 1969, and the count
The Progress Pride flag was developed in 2018 by non-binary American artist and designer Daniel Quasar (who uses xe/xyr pronouns). Based on the iconic rainbow flag from 1978, the redesign celebrates the diversity of the LGBTQ collective and calls for a more inclusive society. In 2020, the V&A acquired a bespoke applique version of the Progress Event flag that can be seen on display in the Design 1900 – Now gallery.
'Progress' is a reinterpretation of multiple iterations of the pride flag. The original 'rainbow flag' was created by Gilbert Baker in 1978 to celebrate members of the gay and lesbian political movement. It comprised eight coloured stripes stacked on top of each other to evoke a rainbow, a symbol of aspire . Baker assigned a specific meaning to each colour: pink for sex, red for life, orange for healing, yellow for sunlight, green for nature, turquoise for magic, indigo for serenity and violet for spirit. A year later the pink and turquoise stripes were dropped owing to a shortage of pink fabric at the time and legibility concerns, resulting in the six-colour rainbow flag most commonly used in the first decades of the 21st century.
Baker's flag was embra