LGBTQ+ . seasonal .

Happy Pride Month! More Than A Rainbow Flag

It’s June, and you know what that means - Pride Month!

June 3, 2020

Every June we celebrate LGBTQ pride and reflect on the sacrifices, bravery, and actions of those before us. As a human rights movement that has only *really* been around for about 50 years or so, the LGBTQ community has made huge strides in acceptance, equality, and especially Pride.

The Rainbow & Symbolism

waving rainbow flag against black background gif

If you were to imagine gay pride or even the LGBTQ community as a whole, what is the first symbol to come to mind? In most cases, it’s the rainbow. The rainbow, predominantly seen in flag form, represents the community as a whole and is a unifying symbol regardless of gender identity and/or sexual orientation.

But did you know there was more to it than that?

Gilbert Baker with a rainbow flag

Gilbert Baker (pictured above) created the rainbow as the gay pride symbol way back in 1978 when the movement really just needed better representation. The symbol previously - a pink triangle - came from the Holocaust as Nazis would use it to mark gay men. Although it was reclaimed and used, there was still a painful history associated with it.

When Gilbert created the rainbow flag symbol, it did more than just take off - it made its way right into the heart and soul of the movement and even today is recognized worldwide as a symbol of the LGBTQ community.

Originally, the rainbow had 8 different colours that each represented something different.

Pink - Sex
Red - Life
Orange - Healing
Yellow - Sunshine
Green - Nature
Turquoise - Passion
Blue - Serenity
Purple - The Spirit

Today, the commercial version of the rainbow only includes the 6 colours, excluding pink & turquoise.

Beyond The Rainbow

different queer flags gif

Sure the rainbow was the original symbolic flag of LGBTQ pride, but over time and as the LGBTQ movement has progressed, more flags have been created to recognize specific identities within the LGBTQ community.

The rainbow still acts as a unifying symbol for all LGBTQ people, but these flags symbolize and represent certain identities on a more personal, specific, and meaningful level.

Take a look at some of the flags we bet you didn’t know existed and learn about all the different symbols that pride month and price celebrations incorporate to show its unity and support for all.