Have you ever wondered why all of the LGBTQ flags are just striped? I mean, sure, the colours are pretty and all, but there has to be a deeper meaning, right? Well, as it turns out, there is! Let's take a closer look at the history of some of the most popular LGBTQ flags and see how they came to be.
With so much variety available to express oneself, why are all LGBTQ flags just simple stripes? The answer is many. For one thing, stripes provide a sense of unity among the LGBTQ community. Stripe patterns are iconic and unmistakable, plus they don’t necessarily represent a specific gender or individual sexual orientation.
Think about it- if the stripes of the Pride flag all looked different, would it still raise the same sense of visibility that it does now? Additionally, stripes can tell a story when used together - all while being easy on the eyes! So while there may not be any one single answer why LGBTQ flags tend to be striped, there certainly isn’t any lack of symbolism behind them!
Here are Some of The Most Well-Known LGBTQ Flags:
The Rainbow Flag
The rainbow flag is perhaps the most well-known of all the LGBTQ flags. It was first flown by Gilbert Baker in San Francisco in 1978, and it has been used as a symbol of the LGBTQ community ever since.
The flag originally had eight stripes, each representing a different aspect of the community: pink for sex, red for life, orange for healing, yellow for sunlight, green for nature, turquoise for magic and art, indigo for serenity and harmony, and violet for spirit.
Baker later removed the pink and turquoise stripes due to production difficulties, leaving us with the six-stripe flag that we know today.
The Bisexual Flag
The bisexual flag was designed by Michael Page in 1998 as a way to represent the bisexual community. The flag consists of three stripes: pink for attraction to women, blue for attraction to men, and purple for attraction to both.
The Transgender Flag
The transgender flag was designed by Monica Helms in 1999. It consists of two stripes: light blue for baby boys and pink for baby girls. The white stripe in the middle represents those who are transitioning or who consider themselves to be gender-neutral.
The Lesbian Flag
Originally, this flag had a red lipstick kiss mark; however, a new version with orange stripes was introduced to represent those who are gender nonconforming over time.
The Intersex Flag
An intersex person is one whose body is not aligned with the gender binary of males and females. This includes people who have both genitals or other differences. Due to their nonbinary nature, yellow and purple were chosen as the flag's colours.
The Asexual Flag
According to Asexuality.org, an asexual person lacks sexual attraction. Asexuals experience sexual attraction infrequently, in certain situations, or only when there is a strong emotional connection.
The Nonbinary Flag
Designed by Kye Rowan in 2014, the nonbinary flag represents those who identify as neither male nor female.
Conclusion:
So there you have it! The next time you see an LGBTQ flag flying high, you'll know exactly what it represents. Each stripe has a purpose and a meaning, and together they create a powerful symbol of acceptance, love, and pride.