International Pride Month: Know your Pride flags

June is here, marking International Pride Month!

Whether you’re a member of the LGBTQIA+ community or an ally, you’re likely familiar with the international gay flag that usually flies high during a pride parade. Or, you’ve probably seen the South African version being waved in the streets of Mzansi.

As the LGBTQIA+ community becomes more recognised and accepted, you’ll likely see other colourful flags unfurled, usually expressing a sexual orientation, gender identity or intersex traits.

RALLY ‘ROUND THESE LGBTQIA+ PRIDE FLAGS

There are many flags out there that represent the multi-coloured spectrum that is the LGBTQIA+ community. They signify the pride of queer culture, a melting pot of gender and sexual identities striving for equality and non-discrimination.

These are just some of the flags you are guaranteed to see this Pride Month:

1. ASEXUAL FLAG

Created in 2010, this flag represents asexual individuals who do not have a sexual attraction to any gender. Black stands for asexuality; grey stands for grey-asexuality and demisexuality; white stands for non-asexual partners and allies; and purple stands for community.

2. BISEXUAL FLAG

The bisexual flag was introduced in 1998. According to the Human Rights Campaign, pink represents a bisexual individual’s attraction to the same gender; blue represents the attraction to the opposite gender; and purple stands for an attraction to both genders.

3. DEMISEXUAL FLAG

Three colours of the demisexual flag – black, grey and purple – represent the same values as the asexual flag. As for white, it symbolises sexuality. In the case of demisexual folks, they only form sexual attraction for people after a deep emotional connection with them has been established.

4. GAY FLAG

The original flag meant to represent gay men consisted of three colours at first: green, blue and white. Now, this second iteration features varying shades of green and blue, indicating its inclusion and support of non-cisgender gay men.

5. INTERSEX FLAG

Point of Pride defines intersex as “a person born with physical sex traits – such as chromosomes, hormones, reproductive anatomy or genitalia – that don’t fit the typical definitions of male or female.” The intersex flag, created in 2013 using gender-neutral colours, consists of a purple circle – symbolising wholeness and potentialities – on a yellow background.

6. LESBIAN FLAG

The lesbian flag is a display of pink, red, white and orange stripes. These symbolise the different femininities that make up the lesbian community. The flag has seen widespread use since 2018.

7. NON-BINARY FLAG

Members of the non-binary community do not identify with a particular binary gender. Enter the 2014 non-binary flag: yellow symbolises a gender outside of the binary; white represents those who have multiple or all genders; purple stands for individuals falling between the male and female binary; black is a symbol for those with no gender.

8. PANSEXUAL FLAG

The pansexual flag was rolled out in 2010. It symbolises a community whose members experience romantic, emotional or sexual attraction to people, no matter their gender identity. Pink represents attraction to women; blue means an attraction to men; yellow stands for an attraction to others on the gender spectrum.

9. PRIDE OF AFRICA FLAG

This flag comes with a local flavour! The Pride of Africa was unfurled for the first time at Johannesburg Pride in 2019. Its colourful, pattern-shaped design is infused with an African influence, a tribute to both the continent’s heritage and its LGBTQIA+ community.

10. TRANSGENDER FLAG

Over 25 years ago, Monica Helms debuted the transgender flag. Its pastel blue and pink stripes are traditionally associated with boys and girls, respectively. The white stripe is a symbol for those who are transitioning, intersex or have an undefined gender.

WAVE YOUR FLAG THIS PRIDE MONTH

As International Pride Month marches along, you’ll see these flags – alongside many others – in abundance, both in the online and offline streets of South Africa.

At the end of the day, flying these flags is one of the many ways to show support to the LGBTQIA+ community in the Rainbow Nation and beyond.