GLBT History Month: GLBT symbols

[Behind the Aegis]

We have a number of symbols which identify our community. These are but some:

Likely the most recognizable of our symbols is the rainbow flag. There are a few variations representing different communities within our culture, but below is the one used by all of us. A historical note: Originally, the flag had eight color bars! The colors represent the diversity within our culture.





Another common symbol is the inverted pink triangle. This was the marker used to identify gay/bisexual men in Nazi concentration camps and, like the yellow Star of David for Jews, the pink triangle was often slightly larger than others so it was easier for guards to identify. IT now is a source of pride in the face of adversity. It can represent the entire community but is usually used by gay/bisexual men.





The pink and yellow Star of David was used to mark men who were both gay/bisexual and Jewish.





The Lambda is a symbol from the 70's, after Stonewall, to represent "liberation." It was used by all parts of our community.





The Labrys is used to represent lesbians (sometimes, bisexual women). It is the legendary weapon of the Greek Amazons and was a weapon used in Crete and the ancient Greek world. It is a double-bladed axe.





The Human Rights Campaign (HRC), a GLBT rights organization, uses the following as its symbol:





The double, interlocking male symbol is used to represent gay men. The symbol is also used for the planet Mars, as it represents the Roman god's shield and spear.





The double, interlocking female symbol represents lesbians. The symbol is used for the planet Venus, whose Roman goddess namesake was famed for her hand mirror.





The female and male symbols interlocked by a merged male and female symbol represents bisexual men and women.




The merged male and female symbol has been used to represent transgender men and women. However, another one that was common (I am not certain it is still in big use), was the merged male and female symbol, with the additional symbol for Mercury (a circle with and arrow and a bar through the arrow) merged with it. Mercury represents transition, as well as comfort with the female and male aspect of self.






See also: October is GLBT History Month, The Mattachine Society, Lawrence v. Texas, & The Stonewall Riots