While many of us are now familiar with the famous rainbow flag, there are also other LGBQT+ flags that each represent the different sex, sexuality, attraction, and gender diversities within our fabulous community.
Even if most queer people identify with the rainbow flag itself, many also desire to fly their own particular flag alongside it. Because, y’all, representation is crucial!
One such flag is the Gay Leather Pride Flag – a flag you might already have seen flown at any number of pride festivals around the world, from Milan to Cape Town…and everywhere in between!
Photo by Gooch.Since the 1990s, the leather subculture has utilized the leather pride flag as a symbol. Tony DeBlase developed it, and the homosexual leather scene rapidly accepted it. Since then, it’s been connected with leather in general, as well as allied communities like the BDSM community.
On May 28th, 1989, he debuted the design at International Mister Leather. The flag is made up of nine equal-width horizontal stripes. The stripes change between black and royal blue from top to bottom. White is the middle stripe. A huge red heart appears in the upper left quadrant of the flag. His stated intention was to let the spectator decide how to interpret the colors and symbols.
Despite its popularity in the gay leather scene, the flag is not just a gay symbol; it symbolizes the whole leather community.
Photo by Gooch.