Among its functions, the labrys was associated as a weapon used by the Amazons of mythology. The design involves a labrys, a type of double-headed axe, superimposed on the downward-pointing black triangle, set against a violet background. The labrys lesbian flag was created in 1999 by graphic designer Sean Campbell, and published in June 2000 in the Palm Springs edition of the Gay and Lesbian Times Pride issue. No single flag design for a lesbian pride flag has been widely adopted. The origin of the symbol, sometimes facetiously referred to as the "biangles", is largely unknown however, some postulations describe the colors as "pink represents attraction to women and the blue attraction to men, or the pink represents homosexuality, the blue heterosexuality and the purple bisexuality." Intersex The blue and pink overlapping triangle symbol represents bisexuality and bisexual pride. Page described the meaning of the colors as, "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)." He also described the flag's meaning in deeper terms, stating "The key to understanding the symbolism in 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." The finished rectangular flag consists of a broad pink stripe at the top, a broad stripe in blue at the bottom, and a narrow purple stripe in the center.
Page chose a combination of Pantone Matching System (PMS) colors magenta (pink), lavender (purple), and royal (blue). Introduced on December 5, 1998, the bisexual pride flag was designed by activist Michael Page to represent and increase the visibility of bisexual people in the LGBT community and society as a whole. The International Bear Brotherhood Flag was designed in 1995 by Craig Byrnes. Bear events are common in heavily gay communities. Bear clubs often serve as social and sexual networks for older, hairier, sometimes heavier gay and bisexual men, and members often contribute to their local gay communities through fundraising and other functions. The bear community has spread all over the world, with bear clubs in many countries. Some state that self-identifying as a bear is the only requirement, while others argue that bears must have certain physical characteristics, such as a hairy chest and face, a large body, or a certain mode of dress and behavior.īears are almost always gay or bisexual men transgender men attracted to other men are increasingly included within bear communities. There is ongoing debate in bear communities about what constitutes a bear.
The bear concept can function as an identity, an affiliation, and an ideal to live up to. Bears tend to have hairy bodies and facial hair some are heavy-set some project an image of working-class masculinity in their grooming and appearance, though none of these are requirements or unique indicators. Bear is an affectionate gay slang term for those in the bear communities, a subculture in the gay community and an emerging subset of the LGBT community with its own events, codes, and a culture-specific identity.