
"The term 'lipstick lesbian' itself carried a lot of baggage," says Caroline Radesky, PhD, review editor of the American Historical Association's Committee on LBGT History and visiting assistant professor of history at the University of Iowa.

What is the most common lesbian pride flag?Ī quick online search of "lesbian flag" will likely bring up images of what's known as the "lipstick lesbian flag" ("lipstick" referring to lesbians who present as traditionally feminine). The lesbian community is no exception-in fact, there have been multiple iterations of lesbian pride flags created. Thanks to the age of the internet, flags celebrating specific communities of queer people have come into popularity throughout the aughts, including those honoring transgender, asexual, bisexual, genderqueer, and pansexual people, says Del Rio. Still, that doesn't mean LGBTQ+ pride flags start and end at the many variations of the rainbow one. Radesky is also the review editor for the American Historical Association's Committee on LGBT History. Del Rio is also the co-chair of the American Historical Association's Committee on LGBT History, the creator and coordinator of Lavender LaGuardia, the college's LGBTQIA+ faculty and staff group, and the co-coordinator of Clinic Escorts for NYC.Ĭaroline Radesky, PhD, is a visiting assistant professor of history at the University of Iowa, teaching courses in American history, queer history, transnational sexualities, women's and gender history, and feminist history. "There was a need to create flags to indicate that the queer community reflects everybody who claims a queer identity," Del Rio adds.Ĭhelsea Del Rio, PhD, is an associate professor of history in the Social Science Department and Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies Option at CUNY – LaGuardia Community College. Recently, more inclusive iterations of the iconic flag have come into popularity, including those with additional stripes to represent the transgender community and people of color.

"There is a history within the queer community of not fully recognizing the needs of people with different identities," explains Chelsea Del Rio, PhD, co-chair of the American Historical Association's Committee on LGBT History and associate professor of history at LaGuardia Community College.


The Rainbow Flag is like other flags in that sense, it belongs to the people."īut though the rainbow flag aimed to celebrate the queer community as a whole, not everyone was represented. "A flag is something that everyone owns and that’s why they work. "A true flag is torn from the soul of the people," Baker told CBS Chicago in 2012. The prevalence of the rainbow pride flag, created by Gilbert Baker, has made it instantly recognizable as a prominent emblem of the LGBTQ+ community. Calling all my she's, he's, and they's, it's officially Pride Month! Meaning, you're likely going to start seeing the rainbow pride flag being flown outside more shop windows, adorned on t-shirts, and getting incorporated into brand labels and even food packaging.
