This is about the flags I use to identify myself with as a lesbian. This version has evolved into variants of the colours and also removal of the lips. I use a few others besides the all-pink lesbian flag, personally. pic.twitter.com/nn8oNW3uDc. Before Ellen Degeneres, a woman who's openly lesbian, became a TV show host, nobody was really talking about LGBT stuff as a whole, neither in a good nor bad light. It's okay to feel uncomfortable or even triggered by it. In the 90s and early 00s lipstick lesbian chic became a trend in media where feminine-presenting lesbians were pushed forward as more normal than their gender non-conforming counterparts in the community. I don't go around bitching at or harassing people for using the sunset lesbian flag. The term has been used since the 80s, and gained popularity by the 90s. The flag is butchphobic, racist, and transphobic. Lesbians are part of a rich tapestry of human sexuality. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorised as essential are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. (ID, for anyone who needs it: It's a seven striped flag. This content is imported from Twitter. Unlike the lipstick lesbian flag, Radesky says there hasnt been much controversy around the butch lesbian flag, neither the blue or orange versions. The double axe known as labrys represents the strength and feminism of homosexual women and was adopted into the lesbian community in the 1970s. The flag only represents a small group of lesbians. And while I know that the lesbian experience is different from that of gay men, so are different lesbian experiences. Why trust us? The labrys is also featured within Greek and Roman mythology, associated withLaphria, Artemis and Determis. Just posting these meanings again so I can pin it pic.twitter.com/oyRHzQgbC9. I personally don't reclaim the black triangle and morally, I can't.). [10][11] The design contains a red kiss in the left corner, superimposed on seven stripes consisting of six shades of red and pink colors and a white bar in the center. The cookie is used by cdn services like CloudFare to identify individual clients behind a shared IP address and apply security settings on a per-client basis. Enough said. This content is imported from Instagram. This was the first flag that was made solely for lesbians. "There is enough concern about the position of the creator to knock [this flag] out of contention to be the lesbian flagwith or without the lips on it.". Not to get into flag discourse as you've gotten plenty of asks about this before but I'm glad you use the sappho poem flag it's so pretty. The sixth is an apple hand pie. What did you think you were going to get out of messaging me with misinformation about the main flag I use to identify myself with? You just gotta look. It sets a unique ID to embed videos to the website. Use whatever flag(s) you want. When I was growing up it was always "gay marriage" and "gay rights" and "that's so gay" I dunno if I had conformation bias but it felt like it was all I ever heard and, That's just another way of saying lesbian, and it signified that me and the boy in my grade who collected bratz dolls, we were the same. This domain of this cookie is owned by Vimeo. Lesbians who use this flag, you're not evil or a bad person for using it, okay? If not, why?". When it comes to lesbian flags, many people today may think of the one with red lipstick mark. The all-pink lesbian flag is NOT the lipstick lesbian pride flag. It does not store any personal data. Doing that will get you absolutely nowhere. Thanks to the age of the internet, says Del Rio, flags celebrating specific communities of queer people have come into popularity throughout the aughts, including those honoring transgender, asexual, bisexual, genderqueer, and pansexual people. It's shown below. You may be able to find more information about this and similar content at piano.io, 20 trailblazing non-binary celebs you need to know, Schoolboy goes viral on Twitter for prom dress, Big changes made to rules on single-sex toilets, The expert fingering guide you need in your life, Lesbian flag: The history, origins, meaning and symbolism, Cosmopolitan, Part of the Hearst UK Fashion & Beauty Network. (ID for anyone who needs it: It's a seven-striped flag. In 2010, Natalie McCray published the lipstick lesbian pride flag, which was meant to represent the lipstick lesbian sub-group. As a result, another version of the flag appeared on Emily Gwens Tumblr Blog in the same year. Out of all the known lesbian flags, Radesky says that the 2018 design by Emily Gwen might be the most commonly used and recognized, but again, "there isnt a single flag for the lesbian community; it gets back to this idea of diversity and diversity within the community.". Though the creator wasn't a lesbian, the flag's symbolism is rooted in lesbian history and referenced significant lesbian imagery. "The creator [of this flag], [Emily Gwen], gave each stripe a specific meaning," says Del Rio. Pink is a color that I personally like! This symbol represents the power of feminism of homosexual females (including Greek Gods and ordinary people). You don't have to agree with me. There are literally sixty-five lesbian flags that people have made over the years, so there's bound to be at least a few for each lesbian to use. Next, the light orange stripe honors "community," followed by white symbolizing "unique relationships to womanhood," pink for "serenity and peace," mauve for "love and sex," and lastly, magenta for "femininity.". Thank you so much for all the love I've been shown since then. Although personal preferences exist, as well as various controversies, no design has been widely accepted by the community as the lesbian flag. "There was a need to create flags to indicate that the queer community reflects everybody who claims a queer identity," Del Rio adds. Lipstick lesbian is a slang for more feminine-presenting lesbians, who may use make-up (lipstick), wear dresses, and so on. So, read on to find out what these lesbian pride flags are and what they imply! "Id love to see a flag for queer women that I can identify with". These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. It sparks joy. Here's what I've found: It was created by a gay man instead of by a lesbian. During this period of time, the term lipstick lesbian became part of popular vernacular when it was featured on an episode of Ellen. That flag is VERY problematic and I don't feel comfortable using it myself. A post shared by Robin Lord Taylor (he/him) (@robinlordtaylor), The rainbow flag is wonderful, but it is empowering to fly your own flag too. Stop trying to force me or convince me to use a flag that causes distress for me. to Natalie McCray (who had NOTHING to do with the pink lesbian flag) and it was made to represent all lesbians! Here's what each one means", "Pride in London: What do all the flags mean? The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". The sunset lesbian flag. There's quite a bit to unpack here. The third shows a clay figure looking down at a butterfly on its arm. Both of the butch lesbian flags are okay to use too, obviously. The poet Sappho described her lover aswearing a garland of violets. There is a red lipstick print in the upper left corner.). More than anything, they deserve to be treated equally. The orange shades in the sunset lesbian flag hurt my eyes due to how saturated they are (most shades of orange look more saturated to me), the color combination of orange, white and pink upsets me, it gives me headaches, and it definitely changes my mood in not so good ways. The concerns raised with this flag, says Del Rio, is that it was created by a man, and "there's been resistance in using imagery that is rooted in the Holocaust, and there's also a concern about that flag being used by trans-exclusionary lesbians or trans-exclusionary feminists. Used to track the information of the embedded YouTube videos on a website. I've definitely tried looking for them. The sunset lesbian flag, the sun and moon lesbian flags, and the butch lesbian flags are all okay to use too. [9], The lipstick lesbian flag was introduced in 2010 in the weblog This Lesbian Life. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. Gay was community, gay was our people and our cause. Flags are symbols of pride and power. It helps those who are most marginalised to find their safe spaces, find belonging, and find their tribe.. And while some lesbians feel represented by the rainbow flag, there is certainly a lesbian pride flag or flags to represent this group (or as some would argue, groups within the group), each with different meanings. They're just flags I feel included in, I find pretty, and they don't give me sensory issues. In fact, there are literally hundreds of variations. It's not that deep. [19], Illustration of Lipstick lesbian flag created in 2010[11], Pink lesbian flag with colors copied from the lipstick lesbian flag[15], Orange-pink lesbian flag derived from the pink flag, circulated on social media in 2018[17], Five-stripes variant of orange-pink flag[18], Lesbian pride variant of the gay pride flag with the double-Venus symbol[21][5], Double-Venus rainbow flag at London Pride parade, England, 2011, Double-Venus rainbow flag at Istanbul Pride solidarity demonstration, Berlin, Germany, 2018, Labrys flag at Berlin Dyke March, Germany, 2019, Labrys flag at Pride March, Rouen, France, 2019, Labrys flag at Pride Serbia, Belgrade, Serbia, 2019, Double-Venus rainbow flag at Berlin Dyke March, Germany, 2020, "Why don't lesbians have a pride flag of our own? Because that's fucked up. In regards to your mentions of the lesbian flags, is there a not bad flag for more effeminate lesbians? Fine. I'm pretty sure people who assault probably never even have heard of mspec lesbian and even if they have It's still on the person assaulting and not on the people who are trying to live their lives and use words that best describe themselves. A variation of the gay pride rainbow flag with the double-Venus symbol in the upper left corner is another version to look at. If anyone has that exact magazine and you'd like to share the pages that have the Labrys Lesbian flag, feel free to.). The Horniman connects us all with global cultures and the natural environment, encouraging us to shape a positive future for the world we all share. ], but remember this: gays and lesbians worked together A LOT back in the day. Besides the four versions introduced above, you can easily see them in Pride Month parades. (If you can guess who correctly, I'll make you whatever pride flag edits you want.). This is used to present users with ads that are relevant to them according to the user profile. The color combination upsets me. It causes distress for me physically, mentally, and emotionally. The axe-like weapon was frequently seen in depictions of women warriorslike Amazons. Okay so it's midnight and we're nearing June so. Women's Health may earn commission from the links on this page, but we only feature products we believe in. The Unicorn Library Read LGBTQ+ Books for free in Singapore, choosing a selection results in a full page refresh, press the space key then arrow keys to make a selection. The all-pink lesbian flag! Kendall confirms Devin reunion after split reports, Charithra Chandrans new full fringe is #HairGoals, Love Island fans are creasing over parents moment, Why reality dating shows are taking over TV. It is, however, not so many of them fly it. If new flags, or more inclusive versions of our flags make people feel more seen and affirmed Im all for it. The flag I mainly use isn't a bad flag to use at all! Lesbian feminists were called "mannish", seen as being "anti-men" or "man haters" back in the day too. This content is imported from {embed-name}. It's disgusting, it makes me uncomfy, and I don't know why anyone would use it. Performance cookies are used to understand and analyse the key performance indexes of the website, which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors. "There were other concerns raised about flags representing nationalism; there were concerns about having standardized flags and being able to commodify lesbian pride. Nevertheless, Del Rio does point out a common thread between the most recognizable lesbian flags: the color purple. Certain colors have a different affect on me than they might have on you. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. What is the Straight Ally pride flag and what does it mean? As far as whether I'm an ace lesbian or an aro lesbian goes, I experience both romantic and sexual attraction to other women. THEY'RE TWO DIFFERENT FLAGS MADE BY TWO DIFFERENT PEOPLE. The flag design was (apparently) stolen from another creator on here. You have NO say in the matter, regardless of whether you're a lesbian yourself or not. ), This was created by a graphic designer named Sean Campbell (a gay man) back in 1999 for the Palms Spring edition of Gay and Lesbian Times Magazine in 2000. The lipstick lesbian pride flag is a flag I have NEVER used to identify myself with. It hurts my eyes, gives me a headache, and it affects my mood in negative ways. ABSOLUTELY NOT. [But] I think symbology expands and changes as cultures and society changes. The collection comprises approximately 80,000 objects from around the world,, Company Registration Number: 02456393 - Charity Registration Number: 802725 - Charity registered in England and Wales, We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. The upside down black triangle, which serves as a backdrop for the labrys, represents the Holocaust and the triangles Nazis used to mark lesbians in concentration camps. The color purple is associated with Sapphos, the OG lesbian Greek poet from the island of Lesbos. But sometimes I feel like I should just accept the sunset one because that's the more recognizable and I can like or use something without liking a creator right? pic.twitter.com/GMd4mHqm9n. #why am I making this post though? It stresses me out and hurts my eyes. The Polyamorous Flag Meaning and Reasons It Was 10 Military Flags That Proudly Fly On Memorial Why Are Flags At Half Staff Today? Sage green is a triggering color for me (obviously I'm not triggered by sagebrush and rabbitbrush, since it's literally all over my state and it occurs in nature) because it's the color of my abuser's house and most things in her house. I'm not gonna ignore what you've said, though, as I agree with all of it. Did you think I'd be sweet as the fudge I make and magically change the flag I use to identify myself with for you to make YOU comfortable? "I think a lot of people understood it as a reaction to the lipstick lesbian flag because some butch folks didnt feel represented in that flag," explains Radesky. The one made by Natalie McCray (the lipstick lesbian flag, the one with the lipstick print) is very problematic, so I don't recommend that one whatsoever. This cookie is used to a profile based on user's interest and display personalized ads to the users. The only person who gets to call the shots on the pride flags I use to identify myself with is me. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience. I just flat-out don't like the flag, I cannot use it, and I don't want to use it to identify myself with. "There is a history within the queer community of [that flag] not fully recognizing the needs of people with different identities," explains Chelsea Del Rio, PhD, co-chair of the American Historical Association's Committee on LGBT History and associate professor of history at LaGuardia Community College. #and historically that's been the majority of my art! Unveiled on Tumblr, blog since deleted.Butch lesbian flag. The Horniman is a charity. I totally get why you wouldn't put this on your personal blog because, yes, people will come for you. The lipstick lesbian flag. Used by Google DoubleClick and stores information about how the user uses the website and any other advertisement before visiting the website. ", The lipstick lesbian flag first appeared on a blog, prompting additional concerns about the creator's political views, notes Del Rio. A lot of us seem to forget that Gilbert Baker made the eight-striped rainbow flag in 1978 for lesbians too. Sono, I'm not asexual or aromantic. Maybe they'll do studies like that in the future. Naydeline Mejia is a freelance contributor at Cosmopolitan, where she writes about sex and dating. This cookie is set by Youtube and is used to track the views of embedded videos. [15], The "orange-pink" lesbian flag, modeled after the seven-band pink flag, was introduced on Tumblr by blogger Emily Gwen in 2018. Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. Radesky affirms that while flags are a great visible symbol of representation and community, they "are just one site where queer communities can reckon with their past as well as their present, and also claim space." This cookie is created by our webshop provider, Gantner, and helps our webshop to function correctly. White represents the various aspects of womanhood. The lightest pink symbolizes Serenity and Peace. The flag doesn't scream "lesbian". I'm not going to get into everything here because I don't want to start shit. I have a post about at least the main flags that people know coming soon. A year later, in 2017, a second butch lesbian pride flag came about, created by a moderator, Jim, of the Tumblr page butchspace. (I don't like most shades of orangeit's one of my least favorite colors.) It has the complete opposite effect. Stop harassing me in my messages. It has ALWAYS included trans lesbians and butch lesbians, as well as lesbians who aren't completely butch or completely femme (like me), asexual lesbians, aromantic lesbians, and polyamourous lesbians. Some people still have issues with this flag, and that's because they think the all-pink lesbian flag is the lipstick lesbian flag. For example, maps may not appear and videos may not play, as these rely on 3rd party cookies from Google and YouTube. It's okay to use! Del Rio is also the co-chair of the American Historical Association's Committee on LGBT History, the creator and coordinator of Lavender LaGuardia, the college's LGBTQIA+ faculty and staff group, and the co-coordinator of Clinic Escorts for NYC. Currently, there are13 different lesbian flagsproposed on this encyclopedia of pride flags. I use the moon one, which is the flag in my header. [17] A five-stripes version was soon derived from the 2018 colors. I use them because they don't give me sensory issues, I find them pretty, and I feel included in them. I'm talking about people who try forcing me or convincing me to use a flag that genuinely causes me distress. I'll put the two flags side by side below. I obviously can't stop you if you do use it for yourself, but I personally just don't recommend using it. At the time, gender variation was not as accepted in mainstream media. The eighth shows chocolate eclairs on a baking sheet. If you want to, sure! "The blue flag was designed by a Tumblr user named dorian--rutherford," says Radesky. The labrys lesbian flag was created in 1999 by graphic designer Sean Campbell, and published in June 2000 in the Palm Springs edition of the Gay and Lesbian Times Pride issue. Frankly, I'm sick and tired of having to talk about this subject over and over again. Twitter user, Emily Gwen created a flag which is inclusive of butch women, Trans women, and non-conforming women. That's my choice and I'm sticking to it. "I've seen references to problematic and concerning statements that the creator had made," she says, referring to reports of biphobic and racist comments the creator posted online and has since deleted. Quite a few people also spread misinformation about the all-pink one and slander it to make the sunset lesbian flag look better in comparison. It's unlikely that you'll find any polar identification with any specific lesbian flag, Del Rio says. Women's Health may earn commission from the links on this page, but we only feature products we believe in. The creator of the lipstick lesbian flag has also been accused on social media of being biphobic and transphobic for alleged comments attributed to her, and of being racist for a comment published in her blog This Lesbian Life. The all-pink lesbian flag is one of the few lesbian flags that doesn't give me sensory issues and I love the color scheme. I don't speak for all lesbians, obviously. Last thing I need to say is something that I know some people will take the wrong way. The color light orange is used to represent the lesbian community as a whole. NO. Debating over which lesbian flag is the "right one" to use, harassing me over using mainly the all-pink lesbian flag, etc., is what I have issues with. It speaks to the stereotype that lesbian feminists of the '70s were uniformly exclusionary when it came to transgender women. Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collecting feedback, and other third-party features. The cookie is used to support Cloudfare Bot Management. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Advertisement". Want to learn more about LGBTQ Pride Month? This content is created and maintained by a third party, and imported onto this page to help users provide their email addresses. You don't have to use the all-pink one though. 100 London Road, Forest Hill (I haven't found too much information about this.). You're entitled to your own opinion. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". A higher quality pink lesbian flag (that we know today) was posted on DeviantART in 2015 by the Pride-Flags account. (Again, Gilbert Baker made the eight-striped rainbow flag for lesbians too!). Get updates when we publish awesome posts like this. Well, sugar plum, I'm glad you asked! The truth is that no one knows where it came from. Although Gwens flag seems to be gaining some consensus, there is still a lot of debate around which colours and symbols best fit the whole community. But for fuck's sake, please stop spreading misinformation and slandering it. The three top stripes are in different shades of orange, the middle stripe is white, and the three bottom stripes are in different shades of pink.). Oh, boy. Or you can always make your own, if none that you find appeal to you. I'm not talking about you. I'm not asking for you to do so. So yeah, my point is that if you don't like it or feel uncomfortable using it, don't. In 2010, what has come to be called the lipstick lesbian flag was introduced by designer Natalie McCray. Let's stay updated! Trying to force me or convince me to use a flag that genuinely causes me distress isn't going to magically make me start using it. Whether you want to reclaim either of these triangles or not is completely up to you. Did you think you'd be successful in having me mold myself to something that's acceptable in your eyes? I hope that this was easy to understand. I don't feel included or represented in this flag whatsoever. #Butch Lesbian (dorianrutherford)Created by dorianrutherford sometime prior to 2016-08-24. The fourth shows a fruit tart with brightly colored fruit. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customised ads. If it makes you happy, you like it, you feel included, whatever, go ahead and use the sunset lesbian flag.