Symbols Of Pride

The pink triangle was first used by the Nazis to represent homosexuality. Under Hitler and German law, homosexuality or acts of homosexuality was prohibited. These acts were, or included, kissing, touching, sexual acts and even sexual fantasies.

Those accused of homosexuality were imprisoned and later banished to concentration camps where they were eventually sterilized, castrated and later put to death. Each prisoner wore colored triangles to show their reason for incarceration:

Green Triangle - Criminals
Red Triangle - Political Prisoners
Pink Triangle - Homosexuals
Two Yellow Triangles Overlapping (To form a Star Of David) - Jews
(Those who wore a yellow Star of David underneath a pink triangle symbolized the lowest of all prisoners: Gay Jews.)

It was not until the 1970s that gay activists used the pink triangle to symbolize the gay rights movement. The symbol is one that acknowledges the remembrance of oppression and persecution. In the 1980s, ACT-UP (AIDS Coalition To Unleash Power) used an inverted version of the symbol.

The symbol was inverted to represent pride, unity and a promise to never allow persecution and prejudice ever again. Like the pink triangle, the black triangle was also used in Nazi Germany. Even though it was not as popular, it symbolized anti-social behavior, which included unconventional women.

Unconventional women were those who were gypsies, which included lesbians, prostitutes and females who refused to bear children or abide by the laws. As the pink triangle eventually became a male symbol, the female symbol soon became that of the black triangle. Nevertheless, both triangles still symbolize pride and solidarity.

The gay pride flag was created by an artist and designer named Gilbert Baker as an alternative to the pink or black triangle, and was inspired by the civil rights movement as it debuted at the 1978 San Francisco Gay And Lesbian Freedom Day.

Even though the rainbow colored flag is strongly associated with gay pride, it was used even before the gay movement. In Europe, a rainbow colored flag once symbolized the international peace movement in the 19th century.

The most common version of the peace flag has seven colors instead of six. The color violet is included on top and the word "pace" is often written on it, which means "peace" in Italian. The gay pride flag originally had eight colors in it, but the colors hot pink and turquoise were later removed.

For every color in the gay pride flag, there is symbolic meaning:

Red - Life
Orange - Healing
Yellow - Sunlight
Green - Nature
Blue - Harmony
Purple - Spirit

To me, the flag symbolizes every wonderful color of the human race joined together as one in unity for the spirit of being free to be happy with their life and lifestyle. Like the gay pride flag, we are all different, but we are all one. Our difference in color is what makes us all beautiful together.

When celebrating Gay Pride, remember and honor it's true meaning:

1.) Be proud of who you are.
2.) Diversity is what makes us all special.
3.) Diversity in sexuality should be respected without prejudice.

Happy Pride,
Stephanie Adams