Pride Flag

LGBTQ+ flags - The living history of a movement

When we talk about freedom and self-expression, we think of LGBTQ+ and the symbol of the movement, which is now so recognizable and so loaded with meaning and symbolism. This wave of colors that rises up the streets of cities during parades is not just decoration; they are an expression of freedom, dignity, and defiance. Each stripe is a voice, each combination of colors is a story, and represents a part of every LGBTQ+ person at every parade. Our flags are carefully crafted to be as durable as society itself; each color is resistant to fading and double-sided, so that it can withstand every parade during the time it is carried and beyond. Our flags have flown in many places and are inextricably linked to the culture and heritage of millions of people fighting for their identity and definition.

But where did this flag come from, what is its history, and why are we today making and producing the best LGBTQ+ flags, which thousands of people carry to show themselves?

The beginning in San Francisco and Gilbert Baker - artist and activist.

In 1978, in San Francisco, an artist and activist named Gilbert Baker was tasked with creating and designing a symbol for the gay community at that time. After much deliberation, he chose the rainbow. Why the rainbow, you may ask? Because the rainbow is universal, natural, and no one can own it. It is visible to everyone and speaks a language that everyone understands: hope, diversity, and life. This is how the first Rainbow Flag was born, which is still used by the LGBTQ+ community today. The original flag has eight colors, each stripe having its own meaning, from sexuality to spirit. Due to manufacturing limitations, the flag was soon reduced to a six-color version, which became the global symbol, not the eight-color one. The six-color version is waved at rallies, parades, and on personal balconies.

A brief biography:

Born: June 2, 1951, Chanute, Kansas, USA

Died: March 31, 2017, New York

He grew up in a conservative environment where being gay was considered a very bad idea and was highly stigmatized. He served as a medical technician in the army from 1970 to 1972, where he learned to sew flags and banners, and it was this craft that would later change history. How unique, right? After the army, he settled in San Francisco, which at that time was the center of the LGBTQ+ community. He simply moved there to find other like-minded people and not be lonely.

There, he became close with Harvey Milk, the first openly gay man elected to political office in California. Milk often called him "gay Betsy Ross", after the woman who sewed the first American flag, except that Baker was the first to sew the flag of the LGBTQ+ community, which is the reference in the joke. Baker began creating banners for protests and demonstrations, which became popular among activists. He saw art in this and colors as a way to give the community visibility.

The first Pride marches

It is difficult to talk about Pride without going back to 1969 and the events at Stonewall in New York, which marked the moment when LGBTQ+ people made it clear that they would no longer tolerate police harassment and discrimination. This parade was called "Christopher Street Liberation Day March." After that night and that protest, other marches followed, which we still know today as Pride parades. At that time, they did not yet have a flag, but the idea of visibility and solidarity was already ingrained, and these people declared their position as part of society.

After Gilbert Baker created the Rainbow flag, he was in the right place at the right time. People needed a symbol that would unite them and give them courage. The rainbow became their symbol and remains so to this day, a piece of cloth that says: "We are here, we are many, and we will not be silent".

The expansion of the symbolism of the flag

Over the decades, the flag began to change. More and more groups within the LGBTQ+ community wanted to be visible, new colors and variations of flags appeared, some cities added stripes to recognize the contributions of people from communities of color, while other activists emphasized the need to include the transgender community. Thus, in 2018, Daniel Quasar created the Progress Pride Flag, which retained the classic rainbow but added a chevron, an arrow, and colors pointing forward, including blue, pink, and white, which are the symbols of the transgender community, as well as black and brown stripes, which represent the fight against racism and the memory of those lost to the AIDS epidemic.

In 2021, the flag received further additions, such as a yellow triangle with a purple circle created by Valentino Vecchietti. The idea behind this change is for the intersex community, so the Intersex-inclusive Progress Pride flag (an example of such a flag) became the latest stage in the evolution of the symbol of the LGBTQ+ communities.

From a symbol of protest to a sign of belonging

At first, the flag was a sign of protest, raised high at marches and demonstrations, but today it is a sign of belonging for LGBTQ+ people. They put it in their yards, on their windows, and there are even entire neighborhoods marked with it. It is also put on bags, T-shirts, and masks. The flag has become a tool and a marker of dialogue. Wherever you see the rainbow, you know that the topics of equality, freedom, and love are on the table. In some countries, it is a symbol of solidarity, while in others, it is even a rebellion against authoritarianism and dictatorship. In this sense, the Pride flag now transcends the LGBTQ+ community and has become something universal as a symbol of human rights.

Besides the rainbow and its vibrations

Over the years, dozens of flags have been created, and we sell quite a few of them, such as the Klingon Pride flag, whose purpose is to provide a distinct identity to bisexual, pansexual, asexual, non-binary, lisian, genderqueer, and many other individuals. We are well aware of this and therefore offer every flag from these groups. If we don't have it, we will make it to order, no problem, and deliver it quickly to anywhere in the world. Let's get back to the flag. For example, the transgender flag was created by Monica Hels (a writer and veteran of the United States Navy) in 1999. It features blue, pink, and white stripes, symbolizing the traditional colors for girls and boys, as well as neutrality and transition.

Why have a Pride flag?

If you are part of the LGBTQ+ community or someone who needs to express themselves, you should have such a flag. Owning and displaying a Pride flag is not just an aesthetic choice, it is an act of belonging and support, sometimes even courage. We know why... Many people are afraid of how they will be perceived by relatives, friends, or at work, but this should not bother you. Through the Pride flag, we declare ourselves to others, so it is good to have one.

How old is the Pride flag?

When we look at what the Pride flag and the LGBTQ+ community have been through, it is no small feat, but the flag itself is more than 45 years old and has undergone transformation, problems, being covered up or burned and trampled on, like the community of people who present themselves under it, it is in itself a flag of hope and freedom to be yourself, but it will have more updates and evolutions over the years, because there is always something to add to this canvas of LGBTQ+ history. When you raise this flag, you are raising not just a piece of colored cloth, but a history and pain that many people have gone through to get their place in the sun. Whether you choose the classic Rainbow or Progress Pride, you are holding in your hands a symbol that speaks to millions of worlds, don't forget that.

Meaning of colors to explain to others

Many people ask what the colors mean, apart from the threads of the movement. Of course, there is an explanation for each color, and it is quite simple and good, but they are not chosen at random. We have written a general guide on how to understand each color and explain it to someone else.

• Red is a symbol of life.
• Orange is healing.
• Yellow is like the light of the sun.
• Green is nature.
• Blue is calm and harmony.
• Violet is the spirit.

It seems simple, but there is actually a reason for each color choice and symbolism. As we said, the flag has evolved thanks to Valentino Vecchietti, who created Progress Pride by adding the chevron to the flag. However, let's recall what its colors are here.

• Light blue, pink, and white represent transgender people.
• Black and brown commemorate AIDS victims and represent communities of color.
• The yellow and purple in the Intersex-Inclusive flag symbolize intersex identity and the right to choose.

In Progress Pride, the chevron adds:

• Light blue, pink, and white represent the transgender community.
• Black and brown represent the memory of AIDS victims and serve as a sign of inclusion for people from communities of color.
• The yellow and purple in the Intersex-Inclusive flag symbolize intersex identity and the right to choose.

We at ShopflagWorld have been making these flags for over 10 years, in general, we are trying to continue doing so. We have had quite a few problems, but we are still here and continuing with this. We have been making many people in the LGBTQ+ community happy even before we had an online store, high-quality materials, two stitch for each flag, fast delivery to anywhere in the world, yes, anywhere, we have sent such flags to strange places and packaged them in strange ways so as not to create problems for our customers.