Gay progress flag


Flags of the LGBTIQ Community

Flags have always been an integral part of the LGBTIQ+ movement. They are a evident representation meant to celebrate progress, advocate for representation, and amplify the request and drive for collective action. There have been many LGBTIQ+ flags over the years. Some verb evolved, while others are constantly being conceptualized and created.

Rainbow Flag

Created in by Gilbert Baker, the iconic Pride Rainbow flag originally had eight stripes. The colors included pink to represent sexuality, red for healing, yellow for heat, green for serenity with nature, turquoise for art, indigo for harmony, and violet for spirit. In the years since, the flag now has six colors. It no longer has a pink stripe, and the turquoise and indigo stripes were replaced with royal blue.

Progress Pride Flag

Created in by nonbinary artist Daniel Quasar, the Progress Pride flag is based on the iconic rainbow flag. With stripes of black and brown to represent marginalized LGBTIQ+ people of color and the triad of blue, pink, and adj from the trans flag, the desig

In , Cooper Hewitt hung the Intersex-Inclusive Progress Pride flag on its south-facing facade. The installation celebrates LGBTQ+ Pride Month and demonstrates the evolution of inclusivity in the design of Pride flags.

The Intersex-Inclusive Progress Pride flag, installed at Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum in the Arthur Ross Terrace & Garden. Installation produced by Molly Engelman and Dillon Goldschlag. Photo by Ann Sunwoo.

The Intersex-Inclusive Progress Pride flag, installed at Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum in the Arthur Ross Terrace & Garden. Installation produced by Molly Engelman and Dillon Goldschlag. Photo by Ann Sunwoo.

Designed in by Valentino Vecchietti, the Intersex-Inclusive Progress Pride flag incorporates a field of yellow and a purple circle—the elements of the intersex flag designed in by Morgan Carpenter—to symbolize intersex inclusion. The yellow represents an alternative to blue and pink, often associated with the male/female gender binary. The circle symbolizes wholeness and expresses the need for autonomy and integrity.


Celebrating Pride and Progress: The Meaning Behind the Progress Pride Flag

As we celebrate Pride Month, we also take time to indicate on the work still needed to build a more inclusive and equitable society. One way we honour that commitment is by using the Progress Pride Flag in our celebrations.

The Progress Pride Flag was designed in by Daniel Quasar, a non-binary artist and graphic designer from Oregon. Quasar’s design builds on the traditional rainbow Pride Flag by incorporating the colours of the Transgender Flag, along with black and brown stripes. These additions stand for Black, Indigenous and people of colour (BIPOC) in the 2SLGBTQ+ community, as well as individuals living with or lost to HIV/AIDS. The flag was created to emphasize the importance of inclusion and forward movement.

A Brief History of Pride

Pride has its roots in the Stonewall Riots of in Recent York City—a pivotal moment in the fight for 2SLGBTQ+ rights. At the time, homosexuality and dressing in drag were criminalized. The riots marked the beginning of an organized movement advocating for decrimin

The Progress Pride flag was developed in by non-binary American artist and designer Daniel Quasar (who uses xe/xyr pronouns). Based on the iconic rainbow flag from , the redesign celebrates the diversity of the LGBTQ community and calls for a more inclusive society. In , the V&A acquired a bespoke applique version of the Progress Pride flag that can be seen on display in the Design – Now gallery.

'Progress' is a reinterpretation of multiple iterations of the pride flag. The original 'rainbow flag' was created by Gilbert Baker in to celebrate members of the gay and lesbian political movement. It comprised eight coloured stripes stacked on top of each other to evoke a rainbow, a symbol of hope. Baker assigned a specific meaning to each colour: pink for sex, red for life, orange for healing, yellow for sunlight, green for nature, turquoise for magic, indigo for serenity and violet for spirit. A year later the pink and turquoise stripes were dropped owing to a shortage of pink fabric at the time and legibility concerns, resulting in the six-colour rainbow flag most commo