The rainbow flag symbolizes the dignity and social movements of LGBT.
This article will explore the basics of the rainbow flag and look into their mission and operation.
Actions people can take towards the abolishment of problems surrounding LGBT will also be introduced.
Introduction to LGBT
LGBT is used to describe people of sexual minorities.
They can be divided mainly into four groups :
- Lesbian
- Gay
- Bisexual
- Transgender
In society nowadays, diversity is being recognized more and more, making it more important to be able to understand the notion of LGBT.
Each group will be looked at in depth.
Lesbian
Lesbian is defined as the following:
- Sexual orientation: Same-sex females
- Sexual identity: Female
- Physicality: Varies from person to person
- Gender expression: Varies from person to person
As stated above, people who identify as female with a sexual orientation of the same gender are referred to as lesbians and are in the sexual minority.
It is said that people often realize that they identify as lesbian when they feel strong affection or sexual attraction towards same-sex females.
Gay
Being gay means, you identify as male and are sexually attracted to someone who is the same sex.
Awareness of homosexuality was realized through social movements that took place in the 1950s.
In the 1960s, movements such as the gay liberation movement took place and encouraged lesbians and gay men to engage in eliminating discriminations against homosexuals.
Bisexual
Bisexual means a person, regardless of their gender, is attracted to people who identify as either male or female.
In the past, there was a lot of prejudice against bisexuality. However, nowadays it is more widely accepted in society.
On the other hand, bisexuals can still be very misunderstood thus making it imperative for sexual minorities to be studied from a broader perspective.
Transgender
Transgender describes people whose mental and physical gender is contradictory, making it insufferable.
Types of transgenders include the following:
- Trans woman: Gender identity is female, birth sex was male
- Trans man: Gender identity is male, birth sex was female
- X-gender: Gender identity is non-binary, sex can be male or female
In recent years, efforts are made to reinforce the protection of transgender rights. As for homosexuality, currently there are many countries that have officially endorsed it.
LGBT Rainbow Flag
The LGBT rainbow flag symbolizes the dignity and diversity of sexualities
To be more specific, the items listed below will be explained.
- Meaning
- Inventor
- Kinds
Meaning
The eight colors of the rainbow flag represent the below.
- Pink: Gender
- Red: Life
- Orange: Healing
- Yellow: Sunlight
- Green: Nature
- Turquoise: Art
- Navy: Harmony
- Purple: Spirit
The original flag consisted of these eight stripes, however due to production purposes it is more commonly reduced to six stripes -excluding the pink and turquoise.
Even with six colors, the meaning behind the flag does not change.
In this way, the rainbow flag stands for the pride and identity of a diverse group of people and beautifully symbolizes that.
Inventor
The flag was designed by Gilbert Bake
r of San Francisco.
It first made its appearance in the San Francisco Gay Freedom Day Parade of 1978.
Bigotry towards the LGBT community was widespread, especially in the latter half of the 1970s. Fortunately, thanks to the LGBT movements and the increase in display of LGBT rainbow flag, one may say such prejudice has been reduced.
Kinds
In addition to the rainbow flag, there are other flags that symbolizes LGBT pride.
- Bisexual flag
- Gilbert Baker Pride Flag
- Asexual flag
There are more than 30 other kinds of flags with characteristics that differ greatly from one another.
Studying the flag and what it stands for is also an important factor in understanding LGBT.
Some of the flags will be explored below.
Bisexual Flag
The bisexual flag is said to have been designed by Michael Page, and represents the bisexual individuals and community.
The colors of the bisexual flag stand for the below.
- Pink: Homosexual attractions
- Blue: Attractions to different genders
- Purple: Attraction regardless of sex or gender
Gilbert Baker Pride Flag
The Gilbert Baker Pride flag was designed upon request of Harvey Milk who was the first openly gay person in a high public office as a member of San Francisco Board of Supervisors.
The meaning behind the flag is to send a positive message of hope and celebrate love.
The colors symbolize the bellow.
- Red: Life
- Pink: Gender
- Orange: Healing
- Yellow: Sunlight
- Green: Nature
- Blue: Peace
- Turquoise: Art
- Purple: Spirit
Asexual Flag
The asexual flag was created in 2010.
Asexual is defined as those who mainly do not have any sexual desire.
The colors of the flag represent the following.
- Black: Asexuality
- Gray: Gray-area between sexual and asexual
- White: Sexuality
- Purple: Community
LGBT Mission
The legal obligations concerning human rights for LGBT are as follows:
- Protect individuals from homophobic and transphobic violence
- Prevent torture and cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment
- Repeal laws criminalizing homosexuality and transgender people
- Prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity
- Safeguard freedom of expression, association and peaceful assembly for all LGBT people
Fields that LGBT face issues in:
- Education
- Work
- Medical service
In recent years, many countries have made changes to include LGBT in their social systems and as a matter of fact, violations and discriminations against the LGBT community has decreased.
Each field will be reviewed.
Education
It is easy for impressionable children to not have a good image of LGBT when they are offered or exposed to little information.
In fact, some feel uncomfortable with sexuality in their adolescence which may lead to mental harm.
Therefore, to avoid such situations, promoting awareness and better education related to LGBT is key in advancing acceptance of sexual diversity.
Work
In regions and companies where there is prejudice towards the LGBT community, there are clear negative effects on working conditions for them.
For example, there has been cases where job offers were revoked once their belonging to the LGBT community was disclosed.
Furthermore, promotions at the work place are often a bigger challenge for the LGBT community, thus making it a serious social problem.
Medical Service
If your partner is hospitalized, it is not rare that the hospital denies explanation and/or visitations.
Even after sex reassignment surgeries, changes in the family registry may take time hence making it difficult for these patients to seek medical service during this time.
This becomes an issue of human rights as they are denied medical care which is a fundamental right.
What Can Be Done to Solve Issues LGBT Faces?
In order to lessen discrimination against the LGBT community, many countries have guaranteed human rights in their legislations.
However, drawbacks such as lack of funds and human resources for activities targeted to eliminate discrimination still exist.
The enriching of knowledge on LGBT is indispensable to realize a future with more diversity and equality.
