Link to my LGBT Symbols Gallery
Pride Flag | Red
Ribbon | Pink Triangle | Black
Triangle | Labrys
Lambda | Freedom Rings |
Leather | Transgender | Other
Diversity! Unity! Pride!
Find a Cure!
Never Forget, Never Again!
The Rainbow Flag, created in 1978 for San Francisco's Gay Freedom Celebration
by Gilbert Baker, depicts not the shape of the rainbow, but its colors
in horizontal stripes. The Rainbow Flag has been adopted as the Gay and
Lesbian flag. It represents the diversity yet unity of Gays and Lesbians
The Red Ribbon is a symbol of our concerns for our brothers and sisters
afflicted with AIDs and HIV related disease.
The wearing or displaying of the Red Ribbon also indicates our disgust
and abject horror at the negligence of governments and health organizations
to act promptly when this disease was first encountered in the early 80s.
If Reagan and Bush had gotten off their sanctimonious sorry asses
and done something, men, women and children may not still be dying of
this horrible disease.
A cumulative estimated 220,000 gays and lesbians died along
with Jews, gypsies, and members of the Nazi resistance from the beginnings
of the rise of nazi power, in the concentration camps of Hitler's nazi
Germany and during the aftermath of the war.
Concentration camp prisoners were identified by a set of colored
Gay men in nazi death camps were required to wear Pink Triangles,
(with one tip pointed down), on their uniforms to identify them for
special abuse. The Pink Triangle is now used as a gay identification
symbol as well as a reminder of oppression.
The pink triangle is a symbol of the phrase "Never Forget,Never Again."
The pink triangle, inverted, was also adopted by ACT-UP (AIDS Coalition
to UnleashPower) as their symbol for "an active fight back rather than
a passive resignation to fate."
The Black Triangle was used to identify "socially unacceptable"
women, according to the Nazis. Lesbians were included in this classification.
Now, Lesbians have reclaimed the Black Triangle as our symbol in defiance
of repression and discrimination as Gay men have reclaimed the Pink
| When Allied
troops freed the other survivors of the camps, the Gay and Lesbian
prisoners were taken by U. S. Army personnel from concentration
camps to allied prisons.|
Since the 1940's, the pink and black triangles have become the
most recognizable and powerful symbols for gay people and the
oppression they have faced throughout Western History.
The Labrys, or double-bladed ax comes from the goddess Demeter
(Artemis). It was originally used in battle by Scythian Amazon warriors.
The Amazons ruled with a dual-queen system, and were known to be ferocious
and merciless in battle, but just and fair once victorious.
Rites associated with the worship of Demeter are believed to have involved
Today, the labrys has become a symbol of lesbian and feminist strength
The Lambda was first chosen as a gay symbol when it was adopted
in 1970 by the New York Gay Activists Alliance. It became the symbol
of their growing movement of gay liberation.
In 1974, the Lambda was subsequently adopted by the International Gay
Rights Congress held in Edinburgh, Scotland.
As their symbol for lesbian and gay rights, the Lambda has become internationally
Freedom Rings, designed by David Spada with the Rainbow Flag
in mind, are six colored aluminum rings. They have come to symbolize
independence and tolerance of others.
Freedom rings are frequently worn as necklaces, bracelets, rings, and
Recently, Freedom Triangles have emerged as a popular alternative to
the rings, though the meaning remains the same.
Created by Tony DeBlase and first displayed in Chicago, 1989, at the
Mr. Leather Contest, the Leather Pride Flag, gained quick, universal
recognition as a symbol of those with leather, S|M|B|D, uniform, latex,
western and other fetishes.
The IFGE (International Foundation for Gender Education)
Logo, or Transgender Symbol, is the widely recognized symbol for or
crossdressers, transvestites, transsexuals and transgenderists.
Some Other Symbols
Plant referred to by Walt Whitman as a symbol of homoerotic
Plant sometimes used by 19th century poets as symbol of
Both in Ancient Rome and 19th century England, the color
green was often associated with homosexuality
HARE, HYENA, WEASEL
Three animals associated with male homosexuality supposedly
from the 1st century epistle of Barnabus
Robin Tyler's suggestion because the Phoenix, a mythical
bird, burned and rose, more glorious from its own ashes each five
A fashion accessory worn by some men as a signal to others
they were gay during the early part of the 20th century
Another fashion very prevalent during the 50s, 60s and early
70s. Some believe it has ancient roots and mythical qualities because
the little finger represents spirituality
Boston activists decided to initiate a media campaign to
cement a symbol for the gay movement. The Rhinoceros was chosen because
it is a much misunderstood animal but is actually quite docile and
Links to Other Gay & Lesbian Symbols Pages
of Common Pride Symbols
The Knitting Circle's School