Here’s What the Different LGBTQIA+ Flags Represent
LGBTQIA+
When we believe 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 different identifiers that represent the diverse queer community. While many in the LGBTQIA+ community recognize with the all-encompassing rainbow flag, each group has its own flag to represent 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 original rainbow pride flag was designed by Gilbert Baker in 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.
This is the iteration of the Pride Flag that we all know today, use
The History of the Pride Flag
With its radiant colours and significant meaning, the Rainbow Flag is a symbol recognised all over the world to represent the LGBTQ+ communities. It’s a symbol of hope, unity and empowerment to allow love to be love regardless of gender, ethnicity or labels. But where did this renowned flag come from? And how was the design chosen?
The original Pride Flag originates from San Francisco Activist Gilbert Baker, who desired to produce an emblem of pride for the gay community. In the Rainbow Flag was created, as Baker recognised that a flag is one of the most significant aspects of identity, and wanted his creation to be a unified symbol of gratification for all those who identify within these communities.
In England, homosexuality was decriminalised in , with Scotland following in , and Northern Ireland by Before this time, it was illegal to engage in ‘private homosexual acts’, and those caught or believed to be engaging in same-sex relationships could meet imprisonment, public shame and a life-long criminal records. Society was homophobic, with th
Bishopsgate Institute
News Story
Every day in February, for LGBTQ+ History Month, on social media we shared some of the flags that verb the different identities in the LGBTQ+ community. Here, we collect them together, as well as talk with artist Guillaume Vandame about his installation, symbols, that celebrates their power.
In , artist and activist, Gilbert Baker, designed the rainbow flag as the original symbol for the LGBTQ+ community. Since then, as our understanding of identity has expanded, many more flags have been created to represent the diversity of the community. Not only do these flags represent the spectrum of sexuality, but gender and desire too.
Though some may consider 28 to be a massive number of flags, in reality, there are many more flags celebrating alternative identities than there are days in one month.
Take a look at the flags and what they represent here, then be sure to read the interview with Guillaume Vandame below, as he discusses his installation, symbols, inspired by his visit to Bishopsgate Institute.
Image gallery
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The Progress Pride flag was developed in by non-binary American artist and designer Daniel Quasar (who uses xe/xyr pronouns). Based on the iconic rainbow flag from , the redesign celebrates the diversity of the LGBTQ community and calls for a more inclusive society. In , the V&A acquired a bespoke applique version of the Progress Pride flag that can be seen on display in the Design – Now gallery.
'Progress' is a reinterpretation of multiple iterations of the pride flag. The original 'rainbow flag' was created by Gilbert Baker in 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 hope. 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 commo