Pride flags and their meanings
The rainbow flag has represented LGBTQ+ pride since 1978, and today almost every identity in the community has a flag of its own. Here are 13 of the most widely used pride flags: what each colour means, who designed it, and when.
Rainbow Pride Flag
Designed by Gilbert Baker, 1978 · Also called the gay pride flag or LGBT flag
The original symbol of LGBTQ+ pride. Gilbert Baker designed it for San Francisco's 1978 Gay Freedom Day; the original eight stripes (including hot pink and turquoise) were reduced to today's six for easier production.
What the colours of the Rainbow Pride Flag mean
- Red: Life
- Orange: Healing
- Yellow: Sunlight
- Green: Nature
- Blue: Serenity and harmony
- Violet: Spirit
Progress Pride Flag
Designed by Daniel Quasar, 2018 · Also called the new pride flag or inclusive pride flag
Adds a chevron to the rainbow flag to centre trans people and LGBTQ+ people of colour. The arrow points right to show forward movement, while sitting along the hoist to show progress still needs to be made.
What the colours of the Progress Pride Flag mean
- Black and brown: LGBTQ+ communities of colour, and those living with or lost to HIV/AIDS
- Light blue, pink and white: Transgender and gender-diverse people (from the trans flag)
- Rainbow stripes: The wider LGBTQ+ community
Intersex-Inclusive Progress Pride Flag
Designed by Valentino Vecchietti, 2021
Builds on the Progress Pride Flag by adding the intersex flag's yellow triangle and purple circle, so intersex people are explicitly included.
What the colours of the Intersex-Inclusive Progress Pride Flag mean
- Yellow with purple circle: Intersex people, wholeness and bodily autonomy
- Chevron: Trans people and LGBTQ+ people of colour
- Rainbow stripes: The wider LGBTQ+ community
Transgender Pride Flag
Designed by Monica Helms, 1999 · Also called the trans flag
Created by trans US Navy veteran Monica Helms. The pattern reads the same either way up, which Helms described as meaning that whichever way you fly it, it's always correct, just as trans people find what is right in their own lives.
What the colours of the Transgender Pride Flag mean
- Light blue: The traditional colour for baby boys
- Pink: The traditional colour for baby girls
- White: Intersex, transitioning, and gender-neutral or undefined people
Lesbian Pride Flag
Designed by Emily Gwen, 2018 · Also called the sunset lesbian flag or orange and pink lesbian flag
The most widely used lesbian flag today, often called the sunset or community lesbian flag. A simplified five-stripe version is also common.
What the colours of the Lesbian Pride Flag mean
- Dark orange: Gender non-conformity
- Orange: Independence
- Light orange: Community
- White: Unique relationships to womanhood
- Pink: Serenity and peace
- Dusty pink: Love and sex
- Dark rose: Femininity
Gay Men's Pride Flag
Designed by Community design shared online, 2019 · Also called the MLM flag or green and blue gay flag
A flag for gay and bisexual men and men-loving-men (MLM), using shades of green, white and blue. It was created as a counterpart to the lesbian flag, while the rainbow flag remains a symbol for the whole community.
What the colours of the Gay Men's Pride Flag mean
- Greens: Community, healing and joy
- White: Gender non-conforming, non-binary and trans men
- Blues: Love, fortitude and diversity
Bisexual Pride Flag
Designed by Michael Page, 1998 · Also called the bi flag
Designed by Michael Page to increase bisexual visibility. The purple band blends into both pink and blue, just as bi people can be attracted to more than one gender.
What the colours of the Bisexual Pride Flag mean
- Pink: Attraction to the same gender
- Purple: Attraction to more than one gender
- Blue: Attraction to a different gender
Pansexual Pride Flag
Designed by Shared online, 2010 · Also called the pan flag
Represents attraction regardless of gender, and distinguishes pansexuality from bisexuality.
What the colours of the Pansexual Pride Flag mean
- Pink: Attraction to women
- Yellow: Attraction to non-binary and gender non-conforming people
- Blue: Attraction to men
Asexual Pride Flag
Designed by AVEN community vote, 2010 · Also called the ace flag
Chosen by the Asexual Visibility and Education Network (AVEN) community to represent the asexual spectrum.
What the colours of the Asexual Pride Flag mean
- Black: Asexuality
- Grey: Grey-asexuality and demisexuality
- White: Non-asexual partners and allies
- Purple: Community
Non-Binary Pride Flag
Designed by Kye Rowan, 2014 · Also called the enby flag
Created to represent non-binary people whose gender doesn't fit within the man/woman binary.
What the colours of the Non-Binary Pride Flag mean
- Yellow: Gender that exists outside the binary
- White: People with many or all genders
- Purple: A mix of male and female genders
- Black: People without a gender (agender)
Genderfluid Pride Flag
Designed by JJ Poole, 2012
Represents people whose gender identity shifts over time.
What the colours of the Genderfluid Pride Flag mean
- Pink: Femininity
- White: Lack of gender
- Purple: A mix of masculinity and femininity
- Black: All other genders
- Blue: Masculinity
Intersex Flag
Designed by Morgan Carpenter (Intersex Human Rights Australia), 2013
Uses colours deliberately chosen to avoid gendered pink and blue. The unbroken circle stands for wholeness, completeness and the right to bodily autonomy.
What the colours of the Intersex Flag mean
- Yellow: A colour free of gender stereotypes
- Purple circle: Wholeness and the right to be who and how you want to be
Aromantic Pride Flag
Designed by Cameron Whimsy, 2014 · Also called the aro flag
Represents people who experience little or no romantic attraction.
What the colours of the Aromantic Pride Flag mean
- Green: Aromanticism
- Light green: The aromantic spectrum
- White: Platonic and aesthetic attraction, and queerplatonic relationships
- Grey: Grey-aromantic and demiromantic people
- Black: The sexuality spectrum
Pride flag FAQ
What are the colours of the pride flag?
Today's rainbow pride flag has six stripes: red (life), orange (healing), yellow (sunlight), green (nature), blue (serenity) and violet (spirit). Gilbert Baker's original 1978 flag also had hot pink and turquoise.
What does the Progress Pride Flag mean?
Daniel Quasar's 2018 Progress Pride Flag adds a chevron of black, brown, light blue, pink and white to the rainbow, to centre LGBTQ+ people of colour, people living with or lost to HIV/AIDS, and trans people.
What do the colours of the trans flag mean?
Monica Helms' transgender flag uses light blue and pink, the traditional colours for baby boys and girls, with a white stripe for intersex, transitioning and gender-neutral people.
What does the lesbian flag look like?
The most common lesbian flag has stripes of orange, white and pink: dark orange, orange, light orange, white, pink, dusty pink and dark rose. A five-stripe version is also widely used.
How many pride flags are there?
There are dozens of pride flags. Beyond the rainbow and Progress Pride flags, most identities in the LGBTQIA+ community, including bisexual, pansexual, asexual, non-binary, genderfluid, intersex and aromantic people, have a flag of their own.
Next: when Pride Month is and how to celebrate, or find pride events and LGBTQ+ community on HelloLGBTQ+.