In today's diverse and evolving society, the visibility and recognition of various social and cultural identities have become increasingly important. Pride flags, with their vibrant colors and powerful symbolism, have emerged as iconic symbols of the LGBTQ+ community's struggles, triumphs, and ongoing journey towards equality and acceptance. These flags serve as powerful visual representations that promote inclusivity, celebrate diversity, and foster a sense of belonging for individuals who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, or any other sexual or gender identity encompassed within the LGBTQ+ spectrum.

At Conscious Connections Counseling, we proudly stand as allies and advocates for the LGBTQIA+ community. As we celebrate Pride Month, we join our friends and family in exploring the significance of the diverse flags that represent various identities within the LGBTQIA+ community.

Rainbow (original)

In 1977, Harvey Milk challenged Gilbert Baker, a veteran who taught himself to sew, to come up with a symbol of pride for the gay community. His response? The original Pride flag. Inspired by Judy Garland's "Over the Rainbow," these colors flew at the San Francisco Gay Freedom Day Parade celebration on June 25, 1978. Though some dispute whether Baker was the sole creator of the flag that started it all, its symbolism remains. Each color celebrates an aspect of queer Pride:

Hot pink = Sex
Red = Life
Orange = Healing
Yellow = Sunlight
Green = Nature
Turquoise = Magic/Art
Indigo = Serenity
Violet = Spirit

Rainbow (Philadelphia)

Noting that queer people of color are often not fully included in the LGBTQ+ community, the city of Philadelphia added two colors — black and brown — to the Pride flag in their honor.

Progress Flag

Daniel Quasar, who identifies as queer and nonbinary, designed this flag. The white, pink, and light blue reflect the colors of the transgender flag, while the brown and black stripes represent people of color and those lost to AIDS.

Defining other Flag

Asexual/ ace – adj. : experiencing little or no sexual attraction to others and/or a lack of interest in sexual relationships/behavior. Asexuality exists on a continuum from people who experience no sexual attraction or have any desire for sex, to those who experience low levels, or sexual attraction only under specific conditions. Many of these different places on the continuum have their own identity labels (see demisexual). Sometimes abbreviated to “ace.”

Bisexual

bisexual – noun & adj. : a person who experiences attraction to some people of their gender and another gender. Bisexual attraction does not have to be equally split, or indicate a level of interest that is the same across the genders an individual may be attracted to. Often used interchangeably with “pansexual”.

Agender

agender – adj. : a person with no (or very little) connection to the traditional system of gender, no personal alignment with the concepts of either man or woman, and/or someone who sees themselves as existing without gender. Sometimes called gender neutrois, gender neutral, or genderless.

Lesbian

lesbian – noun & adj. : women who are primarily attracted romantically, erotically, and/or emotionally to other women.

Nonbinary

[ non-bahy-nuh-ree, ‐nur-ee ]

Like the term transgender, nonbinary can be a standalone gender identity, or it can be an umbrella term. Some people who are nonbinary may also identify as transgender, while some may not. May also be referred to as "enby." Anything that falls outside the binary system. Intersex, gender-queer, and bisexuality are all examples of nonbinary identities.

Pansexual

pansexual – adj. : a person who experiences sexual, romantic, physical, and/or spiritual attraction for members of all gender identities/expressions. Often shortened to “pan.”

Transgender

transgender – 1 adj. : a gender description for someone who has transitioned (or is transitioning) from living as one gender to another. 2 adj. : an umbrella term for anyone whose sex assigned at birth and gender identity do not correspond in the expected way (e.g., someone who was assigned male at birth, but does not identify as a man).

Genderfluid

[ jen-der-floo-id ]

A gender identity that changes with time and/or a given situation. This is opposed to a fixed gender identity.

Intersex

Intersex/ Difference of Sexual Development (DSD) – adj. : An umbrella term used to describe someone born with internal and/or external sexual anatomy that doesn’t fit the typical expectations of the male/female binary. People who are intersex may hold any number of identities with regard to their sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression.

Androgyne

[ an-druh-jahyn ]

A non-binary gender identity that exists in the approximate middle of the gender spectrum between "male" and "female" presentation and identity.

Neutrois

[ noo-trwah, -troiz, -troi ]

People whose gender identity is non-binary and associated with a neutral or null gender.

Genderqueer

genderqueer – 1 adj. : a gender identity label often used by people who do not identify with the binary of man/woman. 2 adj. : an umbrella term for many gender non-conforming or non-binary identities (e.g., agender, bigender, genderfluid).

Bigender

[ bahy-jen-der ]

People who identify as two genders simultaneously, and may move between them. This is not limited to the man/woman gender binary and can include other genders.

Aromantic/Aro

[ ey-roh-man-tik, ey-roh ]

Commonly used to describe someone who experiences little to no romantic attraction. While some people who are aromantic may desire romantic relationships, others may not.

Polysexual

Polysexuality, unlike pansexuality, is the attraction to multiple genders but not all. A middle ground between bisexuality and pansexuality, it is centered more around attractions to femininity and masculinity rather than gender itself. The pink represents attraction to females; the blue for males. The green is for an attraction to those who don't conform to either gender.

Polyamory

polyamory (polyamorous) – noun : refers to the practice of, desire for, or orientation toward having ethical, honest, and consensual non-monogamous relationships (i.e. relationships that may include multiple partners). Often shortened to “poly.”

Pony

Pony play is a distinct fetish where people are treated like horses by wearing hooves, ears, and saddles and pulling carts. Carrie P created this flag in 2007; it uses black in solidarity with the leather community at large.

Twinks

Twinks are a subset of gay males that challenge traditional masculinity by adopting gendered and feminine characteristics. Physical appearance, preferences, display of traditionally gendered characteristics, and personal connection may all be used to describe twinks.

Two spirit

[ too-spir-it ]

A term created by First Nations/Native American/Indigenous peoples whose sexual orientation and/or gender/sex exists in ways that challenge colonial constructions of a gender binary. This term should not be appropriated to describe people who are not First Nations/Native American/Indigenous members.

Ally

[ al-ahy ]

A person who supports LGBTQ+ people. Many LGBTQ+ people now prefer and encourage the use of the term advocate/accomplice instead, given that they often see ally used as a label that anyone could passively obtain. Others are working to reframe ally to its verb form, which requires work and effort.

Colors of Pride: Unveiling the Symbolism and Meaning Behind Pride Flags