Topic Guide
Pride Flags and Symbols
Short answer
Pride flags are visual tools for identity, solidarity and political visibility, from the rainbow flag to community-created asexual and intersex flags.
- Status
- reviewed
- Reviewed
- 2 June 2026
- Sources
- 7
- High trust
- 6
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Overview
Pride flags help communities name themselves, claim public space, and communicate solidarity quickly. Gilbert Baker's rainbow flag became a broad LGBTQ+ symbol after 1978. Later community-created flags, including the asexual flag and Morgan Carpenter's intersex flag, made specific identities and rights claims more visible. Museum and community sources also trace how later Progress Pride designs foreground trans people, LGBTQ+ people of colour and intersex inclusion.
Rainbow flag roots
The rainbow flag began in San Francisco in 1978 and became one of the most recognisable symbols of LGBTQ+ pride, diversity and solidarity.
Community-created identity flags
The asexual flag emerged from a 2010 community vote, while the intersex flag was created by Morgan Carpenter in 2013 with yellow, purple and an unbroken circle to emphasise bodily wholeness and autonomy.
Progress and inclusion
Later Progress Pride designs built on earlier flags to make marginalised communities more visible, including trans people, LGBTQ+ people of colour and intersex people.
Key Timeline Events
Design of the Pride Flag
Artist Gilbert Baker designed the first rainbow flag for San Francisco's Gay Freedom Day Parade, with each colour symbolising a different aspect of LGBTQ+ community and pride. Originally featuring eight stripes, the flag was later simplified to six colours and rapidly became the most widely recognised symbol of LGBTQ+ identity worldwide.
Asexual Pride Flag Created Through Community Vote
The asexual pride flag was designed by AVEN user 'standup' and selected through a multi-stage community voting process. The flag features four horizontal stripes: black (asexuality), grey (grey-asexuality and demisexuality), white (allosexuality/allies), and purple (community). The purple was inspired by AVEN's website design. It has since become widely recognised in Pride events worldwide.
Intersex Pride Flag Created by Morgan Carpenter
Morgan Carpenter of Intersex Human Rights Australia created the intersex pride flag, featuring a purple circle on a golden yellow field. The colours were chosen as free from gender associations, and the unbroken circle symbolises wholeness. Released under Creative Commons, the flag was later incorporated into the Progress Pride Flag by Valentino Vecchietti in 2021.
