Bisexual Flag - Wikipedia

Pride flag Bisexual flag

Use	Symbol of the bisexual community
Proportion	3:5
Adopted	1998
Design	Three solid horizontal bars: two fifths pink, one fifth purple, and two fifths blue.
Designed by	Michael Page

The bisexual flag, also called the bisexual pride flag, is a pride flag representing bisexuality, bisexual individuals and the bisexual community. According to Michael Page, the activist who created the flag based on a color palette designed by Liz Nania,[1][2] the pink stripe represents attraction to the same sex, while the blue stripe represents attraction to the opposite sex. The purple stripe, the resulting "overlap" of the blue and pink stripes, represents attraction to both sexes.[1]

Page designed the flag to increase the visibility of bisexuals among society as a whole and within the LGBTQ community. He aimed to give the bisexual community a symbol that is comparable to the rainbow flag for the greater LGBT community. The first bisexual pride flag was unveiled at the BiCafe's first anniversary party[3] on December 5, 1998.[4]

Design and colors

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Page stated that he took the colors and overlap for the flag from the biangles, symbol of bisexuality.[1][2] The biangles symbol of bisexuality was designed by artist Liz Nania as she co-organized a bisexual contingent for the Second National March on Washington for Lesbian and Gay Rights in 1987.[5] The design of the biangles began with the pink triangle, a Nazi concentration camp badge that later became a symbol of gay liberation representing homosexuality. The addition of a blue triangle contrasts the pink and represents heterosexuality. The two triangles overlap and form lavender, which represents the "queerness of bisexuality", referencing the Lavender Menace and 1980s and 1990s associations of lavender with queerness.[2]

Page described the meaning of the pink, purple, and blue colors:[1][6]

The pink color represents sexual attraction to the same sex only (gay and lesbian). The blue represents sexual attraction to the opposite sex only (straight) and the resultant overlap color purple represents sexual attraction to both sexes (bi). The key to understanding the symbolism of the Bi Pride Flag is to know that the purple pixels of color blend unnoticeably into both the pink and blue, just as in the 'real world,' where bi people blend unnoticeably into both the gay/lesbian and straight communities.

Since the original design, the purple overlap has been reinterpreted and is now widely understood to represent attraction regardless of sex or gender.[7]

The flag is used in different aspect ratios; 2:3 and 3:5 are often used, in common with many other flags.[citation needed]

In vexillological terms, the bisexual pride flag is a simple horizontal tricolor.

Official[1]		Unofficial
Colour named as	Pantone (PMS)	RGB	Hex triplet	Color
Magenta (pink)	226	214, 2, 112	#D60270
Lavender (purple)	258	155, 79, 150	#9B4F96
Royal (blue)	286	0, 56, 168	#0038A8

The pink stripe takes up two fifths of the flag, the purple stripe takes up the middle fifth, and the blue stripe takes up the other two fifths.[1] The flag has been most commonly oriented with the pink stripe at the top, but both orientations are acceptable.[3] The flag is not patented, trademarked, or service marked.[1]

Variation

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The bisexual pride flag is used in different aspect ratios; 2:3 and 3:5 are often used, in common with many other flags.[citation needed]

In 1999, Michael Page established the use of the trillium flower as a symbol of bisexuality.[8][9][10]

Licensing controversy

[edit] See also: BiNet USA § Claims of copyright of bisexual pride flag

In 1998, Page stated that the bisexual pride flag was "for free public and commercial use" and that it was "not patented, trademarked or service marked".[1] In April 2020, BiNet USA falsely claimed that it was the sole copyright owner of the flag and flag colors, and said organizations and individuals who wished to use the flag for commercial purposes would be required to obtain a license from the organization, despite having nothing to do with the flag's design or creation.[11] BiNet's claim and the resulting controversy were covered by Out and LGBTQ Nation, which cast doubt on BiNet's claim and noted that the flag is not eligible for copyright.[11][12]

BiNet USA ultimately ceased to use the flag on May 8, 2020, opting instead to use a different design.[13]

Similar symbols representing bisexuality

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Biangles

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The biangles were designed by artist Liz Nania, as she co-organized a bisexual contingent for the Second National March on Washington for Lesbian and Gay Rights in 1987.[14][15] The design of the biangles began with the pink triangle, a Nazi concentration camp badge that later became a symbol of gay liberation representing homosexuality. The addition of a blue triangle contrasts the pink and represents heterosexuality. The two triangles overlap and form lavender, which represents the "queerness of bisexuality", referencing the Lavender Menace and 1980s and 1990s associations of lavender with queerness.[16]

Bisexual lighting

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Bisexual lighting is the simultaneous use of pink, purple, and blue lighting and is used to represent bisexual characters. The colors may be a direct reference to the bisexual pride flag.[17][18] Bisexual lighting has been used in studio lighting for film and television, and has been observed in the cinematography of various films. According to BOWIE Creators, the concept of bisexual lighting was invented in 2014 by a Tumblr fan of Sherlock who believed that the lighting was being used to signal that Dr. Watson was bisexual and would eventually be in a romantic relationship with Sherlock Holmes.[19]

Double crescent moon

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Because many bisexuals objected to the use of the biangles symbol involving the Nazi-associated pink triangle, Vivian Wagner designed the double crescent moon symbol as an alternative way to symbolize bisexuality.[20][21]

• The double crescent moon bisexuality symbol with bisexual flag colors, designed by Vivian Wagner
• Another version of the double crescent moon bisexuality symbol with bisexual flag colors
• A version of the double crescent moon bisexuality symbol with rainbow flag colors

See also

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• Bisexuality in the United States
• Bisexual community
• Bisexual lighting
• Celebrate Bisexuality Day
• LGBTQ symbols

References

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1. ^ a b c d e f g h "History, Bi Activism, Free Graphics". BiFlag.com. December 5, 1998. Archived from the original on August 1, 2001. Retrieved April 20, 2020.
2. ^ a b c "Biangles, bisexual symbol, bi colors, bi history — Liz Nania". Liz Nania. Retrieved June 26, 2022.
3. ^ a b Young, Randy (June 6, 2015). "BiPride Flag". Flagspot. Flags of the World. Retrieved October 24, 2015.
4. ^ "Counseling and Wellness Services - Safezone Symbols". October 20, 2013. Archived from the original on October 20, 2013. Retrieved December 28, 2021.
5. ^ Jordahn, Sebastian (October 23, 2019). "Queer x Design highlights 50 years of LGBT+ graphic design". Dezeen. Retrieved June 12, 2021.
6. ^ Rosiek, Jerry (2005). "Rainbow Flag and Other Pride Symbols". In Sears, James Thomas (ed.). Youth, Education, and Sexualities: An International Encyclopedia. Vol. 2. Westport, Conn.: Greenwood. p. 701. ISBN 0-313-32755-6.
7. ^ "Flags of the LGBTIQ Community". Outright International. Retrieved June 22, 2023.
8. ^ Eidson, Jessica (June 25, 2024). "Plants That Can Symbolize LGBTQIA+ Pride". Discover + Share. Missouri Botanical Garden.
9. ^ Eyvanaki, Ashley (October 29, 2020). "Queer Objects: William Keble Martin Lily Illustration". out and about. University of Exeter. Retrieved August 14, 2024.
10. ^ "Bisexual Botany". Lincoln Park Zoo. June 20, 2024. Retrieved August 14, 2024.
11. ^ a b Bollinger, Alex (April 29, 2020). "A group is threatening legal action & demanding payment for use of the bisexual pride flag". LGBTQ Nation. Retrieved April 29, 2020.
12. ^ Street, Mikelle (April 29, 2020). "This Organization Wants to Be Paid for Use of the Bi Pride Flag". www.out.com. Out. Retrieved April 29, 2020.
13. ^ Prager, Sarah (May 7, 2020). "A Bi Advocacy Group Claimed Copyright Over the Bi Pride Flag. Activists Were Outraged". them. Retrieved January 25, 2021.
14. ^ "Biangles, bisexual symbol, bi colors, bi history". Liz Nania. Archived from the original on April 26, 2024. Retrieved April 19, 2024.
15. ^ Jordahn, Sebastian (October 23, 2019). "Queer x Design highlights 50 years of LGBT+ graphic design". Dezeen. Archived from the original on June 13, 2021. Retrieved June 12, 2021.
16. ^ "Biangles, bisexual symbol, bi colors, bi history — Liz Nania". Liz Nania. Archived from the original on June 8, 2022. Retrieved June 26, 2022.
17. ^ "Is 'bisexual lighting' a new cinematic phenomenon?". April 21, 2018 – via www.bbc.com.
18. ^ "JANELLE MONÁE HHHHH Dirty Computer Wondaland/Bad Boy/Atlantic - the Irish Times | HighBeam Research". Archived from the original on May 3, 2018.
19. ^ Olguin, Michelle (October 7, 2021). "The Rise (and fall) of bisexual lighting". BØWIE Creators. Retrieved April 9, 2023.
20. ^ Smith, Erika W. "Violets, Bi-Angles, And Double Moons: A Guide To LGBTQ+ Symbols". www.refinery29.com. Archived from the original on September 7, 2024. Retrieved April 19, 2024.
21. ^ Koymasky, Matt; Koymasky Andrej (August 14, 2006). "Gay Symbols: Other Miscellaneous Symbols". Archived from the original on April 9, 2011. Retrieved February 18, 2007.

External links

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• BiPride flag at Flags of the World

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