Lesbian flags

Lesbian flags are pride flags used to symbolise the lesbian community. Since the design of the labrys lesbian flag in 1999, many designs have been proposed and used, including the controversial lipstick lesbian flag, which some describe as excluding butch lesbians. The 2018 Orange-Pink lesbian flag is most widely used by the community today.

Lesbians wearing the Pink flag (left) and Orange-Pink flag (right) at Berlin Pride 2022

History

Labrys flag

The Labrys lesbian flag consists of a labrys (a double-headed axe) superimposed on an inverted black triangle, set against a violet background. It was designed in 1999 by graphic designer Sean Campbell, and published in June 2000 in the Palm Springs edition of the Gay and Lesbian Times Pride issue.^[1][2]

The lesbian feminist movement adopted the labrys as a symbol in the 1970s, due to its association with the Amazons of Greek mythology.^[3][4][5] The black triangle was used in Nazi concentration camps as a badge of shame to mark "asocials" (including Roma and Sinti people, disabled people, and gay women).^[6][7] Some lesbians reappropriated the symbol, similarly to the pink triangle.^[7] The color violet is associated with lesbians via the poetry of Sappho.^[8]

Lipstick flag

See also: Lipstick lesbian § Flag controversy

The lipstick lesbian flag consists of seven stripes in a gradient from purple (top) to white (center) to red (bottom), with a red kiss mark superimposed in the top left corner.^[9][10] It was designed in 2010 by lesbian blogger Natalie McCray, and symbolizes lipstick lesbians—slang for highly feminine lesbians.^[11][12] The flag has not been widely adopted, as some have argued it excludes butch lesbians, while others oppose its use due to blog posts made by McCray deemed racist, biphobic, and transphobic.^[1][13][14]

Pink flag

The Pink lesbian flag uses the colors of the lipstick flag, with the kiss mark removed.^[10] The flag attracted more use as a general lesbian pride flag.^[15] The creator of this flag version is unknown.

Orange-Pink flag

The Orange-Pink lesbian flag (sometimes called the "sunset" flag) is based on the Pink flag,^[16] and consists of seven stripes: dark orange (representing gender non-conformity), orange (independence), light orange (community), white ("unique relationships to womanhood"), pink ("serenity and peace"), dusty pink ("love and sex"), and dark rose (femininity).^[16][17] The flag was created by Tumblr blogger Emily Gwen in 2018, and popularized by a separate Tumblr poll seeking an official flag for the community.^[18][16][19] A simplified five-stripe variant was soon derived.^[16][20]

As of 2025, it is considered the most commonly used lesbian flag.^[21][22]

Gallery

• 
  Labrys lesbian flag created in 1999^[1]
• 
  Illustration of Lipstick lesbian flag created in 2010^[12] (This is not the original design: the kiss graphic has been modified.)
• 
  Pink lesbian flag with colors copied from the lipstick lesbian flag^[15]
• 
  Orange-pink lesbian flag derived from the pink flag in 2018^[16]
• 
  Five-stripes variant of orange-pink flag^[20]
• 
  Lesbian pride variant of the gay pride flag with the double-Venus symbol^[23][5]

Flags at events

• 
  Double-Venus rainbow flag at London Pride parade, England, 2011
• 
  Double-Venus rainbow flag at Istanbul Pride solidarity demonstration, Berlin, Germany, 2018
• 
  Labrys flag at Berlin Dyke March, Germany, 2019
• 
  Labrys flag at Pride March, Rouen, France, 2019
• 
  Labrys flag at Pride Serbia, Belgrade, Serbia, 2019
• 
  Double-Venus rainbow flag at Berlin Dyke March, Germany, 2020

See also

• LGBTQ symbols