by Lynette Alice

Created on: March 19, 2009

The gay and lesbian community (LGBT) has a long history of symbols which identify exactly who we are and oft times where we fall on the spectrum of the rainbow so to speak. While these symbols are now mostly well known and associated with displaying pride in who we are, it wasn't always that way. At times symbols associated to the gay community were used somewhat like a handshake in some secret societies, or even as a mark for death in truly gruesome time. While there are far more symbols than can be fully explored, there are some significant ones which should be known and have interesting backgrounds.

While red ties and pinkie rings faded from favor over the years due to changes in fashion trends, some things never went out of style like the rainbow. The rainbow is perhaps the most universally recognized symbol of the LGBTQI community. Gilbert Baker developed the first rainbow symbol in San Francisco in 1978 which was to be used for a Gay Pride event. He felt the community needed something which blended the entire community together in a visibly united manner. The colors individually are symbolically important as each represents some aspect of gay life. Hot pink symbolized sexuality and red life. Orange was for healing while yellow and green symbolized the sun and nature respectively. Blue stood for art, and the indigo and violet stripes represented harmony and spirit. Some thirty years later the rainbow is still the LGBTQI's main symbol so he obviously did a good job!

The Pink and Black Triangles returned to prominence in the 1970's. The triangles were originally used by the Nazis in concentration camps to mark what each prisoners offense was. The Pink Triangle denoted a gay male, while the Black Triangle marked lesbians, prostitutes, feminists, or any woman that did not somehow conform to Nazi standards of what womanhood was. While never proved, it has long been rumored transgenders were marked with a burgundy triangle. By the 1980's the symbols were revived again after disappearing for a couple years by ACT-UP. They reclaimed the Pink Triangle and turned it upside down to symbolize the ongoing fight against AIDS.

Interlocking male and female symbols have long denoted a gay or lesbian person as can often be seen on a large variety of jewelry, tee-shirts, stickers, and almost anything one can imagine. These symbols date all the way back to Roman Mythology as the male symbol is the same as is used for Mars the god of war and stood for masculinity and strength.

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