There are over 20 pride flags, each one designed by and for a specific community within the LGBTQ+ umbrella. You've seen the rainbow. But do you know what the black and brown stripes on the Progress flag mean? Or why the lesbian flag is orange and pink? Here's what every major pride flag stands for, who created it, and what each color means.
The short version
- The rainbow, Progress, transgender, bisexual, lesbian, gay men's, and other Pride flags each carry a distinct community history shaped by their original creators.
- Color meanings and stripe layouts come from their designers and should stay recognizable when a flag is displayed or reproduced.
- Choose the flag that represents your identity, the community you support, or the specific message you want your display to send.
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The Rainbow Pride Flag (1978)
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The Original LGBTQ+ Pride Flag The six-stripe rainbow. The one that started it all. Shop VIP Discount → |
Gilbert Baker designed the original rainbow pride flag in 1978 for the San Francisco Gay Freedom Day Parade. Harvey Milk, one of the first openly gay elected officials in the U.S., asked Baker to create a symbol for the community. Baker chose a rainbow because it represented diversity across all identities.
The original had eight stripes: hot pink, red, orange, yellow, green, turquoise, indigo, and violet. Hot pink was dropped early because the fabric was hard to source commercially. Turquoise and indigo were later combined into royal blue, giving us the six-stripe version we know today.
Rainbow Flag Color Meanings
| Red | Life |
| Orange | Healing |
| Yellow | Sunlight |
| Green | Nature |
| Blue | Harmony / Serenity |
| Violet | Spirit |
Baker never trademarked the design. He wanted it to belong to everyone. When he died in 2017, the flag had become one of the most recognized symbols in the world.
The Progress Pride Flag (2018)
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Most Popular Progress Pride Flag Rainbow with the chevron for trans inclusion and communities of color. Shop VIP Discount → |
Designer Daniel Quasar (who uses xe/xem pronouns) added a chevron to the left side of the rainbow flag in 2018. The five new colors have specific meaning:
The Progress flag didn't replace the rainbow. It built on it. The chevron is a deliberate statement that inclusion requires active effort, not just good intentions. Quasar released it as open-source, and it spread fast.
Inclusive Progress Pride Flag (2021)
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Updated Design Inclusive Progress Pride Flag Adds a purple circle on yellow inside the chevron for the intersex community. Designed by Valentino Vecchietti. Shop VIP Discount → |
The Transgender Pride Flag (1999)
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Trans Pride Transgender Pride Flag Light blue, pink, and white. Designed to look the same no matter which way you fly it. Shop VIP Discount → |
Monica Helms, a transgender woman and Navy veteran, created the transgender flag in 1999. It debuted at the Phoenix Pride Parade in 2000.
Light blue is the traditional color for baby boys. Pink is the traditional color for baby girls. The white stripe in the center represents people who are non-binary, transitioning, or intersex. Helms designed it to look the same no matter which way you fly it, because "we're always finding the right way in our lives."
The original flag now lives at the Smithsonian National Museum of American History. It was donated in 2014.
The Bisexual Pride Flag (1998)
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Bi Pride Bisexual Pride Flag Pink, purple, and blue. The purple is the blend of both. This represents attraction regardless of gender. Shop VIP Discount → |
Michael Page designed the bisexual flag in 1998 to give bi people their own symbol. Three horizontal stripes: pink (40%), purple (20%), and blue (40%). Pink represents attraction to the same gender. Blue represents attraction to a different gender. The purple stripe in the middle is the blend of both.
Page chose colors from an existing bisexual symbol called the "biangles" (overlapping pink and blue triangles). The flag was a direct response to bisexual erasure: the common dismissal that bi people are "really" gay or "really" straight depending on who they're currently with.
The Lesbian Pride Flag (2018)
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Lesbian Pride Lesbian Pride Flag Seven stripes from dark orange to dark rose. Designed to represent all lesbians, not just femme. Shop VIP Discount → |
The modern lesbian flag with seven stripes in shades of orange and pink was designed by Emily Gwen in 2018. It replaced an older lipstick lesbian flag that many felt excluded butch and non-femme lesbians. The colors range from dark orange (gender nonconformity) through white (unique relationships to womanhood) to dark rose (femininity).
A simplified five-stripe version is more common because it's easier to produce. You'll see both, and both are valid.
The Gay Men's Pride Flag
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Gay Pride Gay Pride Flag Seven stripes in greens, whites, and blues. A flag for gay men separate from the broader rainbow. Shop VIP Discount → |
The gay men's flag uses seven stripes in shades of green, white, and blue/purple. It was designed to give gay men a flag of their own separate from the broader rainbow. The colors range from teal and green (community and nature) through white (gender nonconformity) to blue and purple (pure love and fortitude).
More Flags You Should Know
Every identity has a flag. Here are the rest of the ones we carry.
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Non-Binary Pride Non-Binary Pride Flag (2014) Yellow, white, purple, and black stripes. Created by Kye Rowan at 17. Yellow for people outside the binary, white for multi-gendered, purple for a mix, black for agender. Shop VIP Discount → |
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Pansexual Pride Pansexual Pride Flag (2010) Pink, yellow, and blue. Pink for attraction to women, blue for men, yellow for non-binary and genderqueer people. Attraction regardless of gender identity. Shop VIP Discount → |
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Ace Pride Asexual Pride Flag (2010) Black, gray, white, and purple. Created by the AVEN community through a vote. Black for asexuality, gray for gray-ace, white for sexuality, purple for community. Shop VIP Discount → |
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Genderfluid Pride Genderfluid Pride Flag (2012) Pink, white, purple, black, and blue. Created by JJ Poole. Pink for femininity, blue for masculinity, purple for both, black for no gender, white for all genders. Shop VIP Discount → |
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Demisexual Pride Demisexual Pride Flag Black triangle with white, purple, and gray stripes. Demisexuality means only experiencing sexual attraction after forming an emotional bond. Falls on the ace spectrum. Shop VIP Discount → |
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For Allies Ally Flag Black and white stripes with a rainbow "A" in the center. For straight and/or cisgender people who actively support the LGBTQ+ community. Shop VIP Discount → |
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Intersectional Pride Intersectional Pride Flag The Philadelphia flag. Adds black and brown stripes to the rainbow to center people of color in the pride movement. Introduced in 2017. Shop VIP Discount → |
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American + Pride American Pride Flag The U.S. flag reimagined with rainbow stripes. For LGBTQ+ Americans who want to fly both identities on one flag. Shop VIP Discount → |
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Canadian Pride Canada Pride Flag The Canadian maple leaf flag with rainbow stripes. Same idea, for our neighbors to the north. Shop VIP Discount → |
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Peace + Pride Rainbow Peace Flag Rainbow flag with a peace symbol. Combines LGBTQ+ pride with the peace movement. Shop VIP Discount → |
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18 Different pride flags available at Pride Belongs. Every identity deserves to be seen. |
Which Pride Flag Should You Fly?
There's no wrong answer. Fly the flag that represents your identity, or fly one to support someone you love. A few common questions:
I'm an ally. Which flag do I fly?
The Ally flag (black and white stripes with a rainbow "A") was designed for exactly this. You can also fly the rainbow or Progress flag to show support.
What's the difference between the Progress flag and the rainbow flag?
The rainbow flag represents LGBTQ+ pride broadly. The Progress flag adds a chevron for trans people and communities of color to highlight that those groups face additional challenges. Neither is "more correct."
Can I fly multiple pride flags?
Absolutely. Many people fly their identity flag alongside a rainbow or Progress flag. No rules about how many you can display.
I don't see my identity here. Is there a flag for me?
Very likely yes. There are flags for aromantic, agender, polyamorous, two-spirit, bear, leather, and many more identities. The community is always growing.
Is it okay to fly a pride flag if I'm not out yet?
Your safety comes first, always. But if you feel comfortable, a flag in your room, on your laptop, or on your car is a small way to affirm who you are on your own terms.
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Find Your Flag We carry 18 pride flags, all 3' x 5', all made to fly. Claim one free and just cover shipping. |
