If you ever gone to a Pride parade, visited an LGBTQ+ event, or even scrolled through social media in June, you’ve probably seen lots of colorful flags flying high. But did you know each of those flags has a special meaning?
In the LGBTQ+ community, flags are more than just bright colors—they’re symbols of identity, history, and pride. Since the community is beautifully diverse, there are many flags that represent identities and experiences. Let’s explore some of the most important ones together!
This was the first ever Pride Flag, created in 1978 by artist Gilbert Baker after being encouraged by activist Harvey Milk. Each color has a meaning:
- Hot Pink = Sex
- Red = Life
- Orange = Healing
- Yellow = Nature
- Turquoise = Magic and Art
- Indigo = Serenity
- Violet = Spirit
After Harvey Milk was tragically assassinated, the rainbow flag became even more important. But due to printing issues, hot pink and turquoise were dropped. This flag has become the classic symbol of LGBTQ+ pride for over 40 years. It created the version we see most often today—with six stripes:
- Red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and violet
Introduced in 2017 by the city of Philadelphia, this version of the flag added black and brown stripes on top of the traditional rainbow. These stripes represent Black and Brown LGBTQ+ people, who have always been part of the movement but are often left out of the spotlight. This flag is a powerful reminder that Pride is for everyone.
Created by designer Daniel Quasar, this flag builds on the Philadelphia version. The new colors are placed in a chevron (arrow shape) pointing forward—to show that progress is still being made and there’s continuous work to do. It includes:
- White, pink, and light blue (from the Trans Pride Flag)
- Black and brown stripes (for communities of color and those lost to HIV/AIDS)
In 2021, Valentino Vecchietti added a circle on a yellow background (the Intersex flag) to the Progress Pride Flag. This new version represents intersex people— individuals born with, or who develop naturally in puberty, biological sex characteristics which are not typically male or female. That is, a person with an intersex condition is born with sex chromosomes, external genitalia, or an internal reproductive system that is not considered typical for a male or female. This flag shows that everyone in the LGBTQ+ community deserves to be seen and celebrated.
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The Queer Pride Flag
Not as widely known, but super meaningful! This flag was made in 2015 to represent people who identify with the word “queer,” a term that has been reclaimed by many as a proud and flexible identity. It celebrates the full spectrum of queerness!
- Pink and Blue = same-gender attraction
- Orange and Green = nonbinary and gender-nonconforming people
- Black and White = asexual, aromantic, and agender individuals
Flags are more than just designs, they tell stories, honor people, and make space for everyone in the LGBTQ+ community. New flags are being created all the time to represent even more identities and experiences. That’s part of what makes Pride so special, it’s always growing.
Whether you wave a flag, wear a pin, or just learn something new, you’re helping build a world where everyone can be proud of who they are.