The history of LGBTQ+ symbols, from pansies to pink triangles

lambda; pink triangle; lesbian lovelis

Shutterstock; Lee Snyder/Photo Images/Corbis via Getty Images. shutter stock

Before rainbow flags and pronoun pins, queer people had to get creative. We just couldn’t say it. we had to signal that. So we talked about colors, flowers, and shapes that convey a whole world of meaning.

From Oscar Wilde’s green carnations to the pink triangles that became protest flags, LGBTQ+ people have winked at each other throughout history with symbols of survival and the exploration of queer joy.

pink triangle

Gay rights march in Washington DC

Lee Snyder/Photo Image/Corbis via Getty Images

Once used by the Nazis to label homosexuals, the pink triangle was reclaimed in the 1970s and reborn as an era of queer resistance. Pain turned into protest. The pink triangle is living proof that we are turning persecution into power.

black triangle

black triangle

shutter stock

Less well known than the pink triangle, the black triangle was a symbol used to represent “non-social” people under fascism, such as Roma, the homeless, alcoholics, and lesbians. Among some people, it is a symbol of state-sanctioned persecution It has been reclaimed as a symbol of lesbian pride and solidarity.

lambda

lambda

shutter stock

Lambda, chosen in 1970 by Tom Doerr of the New York chapter of the Gay Activists Alliance, represents energy, change, and liberation. It became the Greek letter that promoted the movement.. Never underestimate the symbols that look good on protest signs and silver pendant.

Interlocking gender symbols

Interlocking gender symbols

shutter stock

Since ancient times, the symbols of Venus and Mars have represented women and men, respectively. But the interlocking symbols have become shorthand for lesbian and gay love, and the ⚧ combination has become a symbol for transgender and non-binary siblings.

lesbian loveliss

lesbian loveliss

shutter stock

The ancient double-headed ax, once associated with powerful ancient figures like Amazons and goddesses, became a feminist statement of power in the 1970s. Think of it as a sapphire Excalibur.

Biangles

Biangles

shutter stock

Before the bi-flag, Artist Liz Nanea created overlapping pink and blue triangles to symbolize cross-gender appeal. They were simple, sophisticated and understated scandals.

hanky cord

hanky cord

shutter stock

Long before apps like Grindr existed, our pockets spoke for us. The leather and cruising culture of the 1970s gave us a coded language through bandanas. The color of the bandana (e.g., light blue for blowjobs) and the placement of the pockets (e.g., on the right side for presents) indicated to other gay men what the wearer was interested in.

freedom ring

freedom ring

universal spada

In 1991, designer David Spada 6 colorful metal rings Something that symbolizes pride. Jewelry sparkling with joy!

ace ring

ace ring

shutter stock

With a silent signal, asexuals claim the black ring on the middle finger of their right hand. This symbol of ace pride is understated, elegant, and powerfully personal.

green carnation

green carnation

shutter stock

Oscar Wilde, London in the 1890s asked his brave followers to wear green carnations His plays became a symbol of his queer bohemian lifestyle. I don’t know if he intended to use this as a symbol of homosexuality, but it was a subtle nod to queerness in an era of decadence.

lavender

lavender

shutter stock

It’s neither blue nor pink, but somewhere in between. Once used against the community during the McCarthy era “Lavender Scare” The color was reclaimed at the beginning of the modern LGBTQ+ movement as a color of empowerment.

lavender rhino

lavender rhino

shutter stock

In 1974, Queer activists pasting lavender rhinos Bus crossing in Boston. After all, if you want visibility, why not just add a horn? It’s safe to assume that the Rhinoceros Society was founded because the rhinoceroses are powerful, misunderstood, and will (allegedly) only denounce when provoked. I can relate.

safe space triangle

safe space triangle

equal!

A pink triangle inside a circle? It’s more than just a retro pride decoration. Development is equal!originally founded as an employee resource group for AT&T, the symbol has marked safe areas in schools and offices since the 1990s. Because every queer child deserves to know which doors are safe to open.

From encrypted flowers to safety signs, every strange symbol is a love letter to resilience. We have turned shame into brilliance, secrets into unity, and geometry into pure gay drama.

So the next time you see someone with a little triangle, purple pin, or black ring, remember that they represent our community’s years of struggle and survival.