What are the colors of the lesbian flag? Get to know variations of the Pride flag

In the LGBTQ+ community, there are many flags that signify pride. From the Rainbow Pride Flag to the individual sexual orientation Pride flags, there are various and unique symbols representing the joy, pride and persistence of the LGBTQIA individuals.

According to a 2023 Gallup poll, 7.6% of U.S. adults self-identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or something other than heterosexual. In the last 11 years, this statistic has increased by 4.1%. Today, over 20% of Gen Z adults – those between the ages of 18 to 26 – identify as part of the LGBTQ+ community, Gallup reports.

Whether you identify with the community or want to learn more, here is what to know about the lesbian pride flag from its history to the meaning of its colors.

What are the colors of the lesbian pride flag?

There is no single, official lesbian flag; there are several which represent the lesbian community. The most widely accepted is the "orange-pink" lesbian flag.

In 2018, a new flag was created featuring a seven-stripe layout with colors ranging from orange to pink. The colors represent:

• Dark orange: gender non-conformity

• Orange: independence

• Light orange: community

• White: unique relationships to womanhood

• Pink: serenity and peace

• Dusty pink: love and sex

• Dark rose: femininity

LGBTQ Pride flags go beyond the classic rainbow. Here's what each one means

History of the lesbian pride flag

Throughout history, there have been many iterations of the lesbian flag.

The labrys lesbian flag was created in 1999 by Sean Campbell. It features a white labrys in an inverted black triangle on a purple backdrop. In the 1970s, the labrys was adopted by the lesbian feminist community as a symbol of empowerment. The usage of the inverted black triangle reclaimed the symbol once used by Nazi Germany to identify lesbian women in concentration camps.

The "Lipstick Lesbian" Flag was created by Natalie McCray, who posted it on the blog "This Lesbian Life" in 2010. The flag features six shades ranging from pink to red with a white stripe in the center. The original "lipstick lesbian" flag also featured a kiss on the top left corner, but the non-kiss version was more frequently used.

While some still use this version of the lesbian flag, others oppose it. McCray's blog, which is now deleted, contained racist, biphobic and transphobic statements, leading many to stop using the flag. "Lipstick lesbian" is also a derogatory term within the community.

The "orange-pink" lesbian flag was created in 2018 by Tumblr blogger Emily Gwen. It initially had seven stripes but a five-stripe version was later introduced, featuring the colors: dark orange, light orange, white, pink and dark rose.

When is Pride Month 2024? How the celebration of LGBTQ+ identities came to be.

More Pride Flags explained

Pride Flag | Progress Pride Flag | Transgender Pride Flag | Bisexual Pride Flag | Pansexual Pride Flag | Asexual Pride Flag | Intersex Pride Flag | Gender Identity Flags

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Lesbian flag: Here is its history, variations and what its colors mean