The Pink Triangle
Origin: Used by the Nazi regime to mark gay men in concentration camps. An estimated 10,000-15,000 men were imprisoned under Paragraph 175. Many were subjected to forced labor, medical experimentation, and execution. Reclamation: Reclaimed by gay activists in the 1970s. In 1987, ACT UP inverted it to point upward and paired it with "SILENCE = DEATH" - transforming it into a symbol of resistance during the AIDS crisis.
The Black Triangle
Origin: Used in Nazi camps to mark "asocials" - including some lesbians, Roma, sex workers, and the homeless. Reclamation: Reclaimed in the 1980s-1990s by lesbian and feminist communities as a symbol of solidarity.
The Lambda (λ)
Chosen in 1970 by activist Tom Doerr as the logo of the Gay Activists Alliance in New York. In physics, lambda represents energy and wavelength - symbolizing change and liberation. Adopted as an international gay rights symbol at the 1974 Edinburgh conference.
The Labrys
A double-headed axe associated with ancient Minoan religion and Greek Amazons. Adopted by lesbian feminists in the 1970s as a symbol of female power. Appears on the 1999 Labrys Lesbian Flag.
Gender Symbols
- Double Venus (⚢) - lesbian identity
- Double Mars (⚣) - gay male identity
- Transgender symbol (⚧) - combination of Venus cross, Mars arrow, and an additional stroke
The Black Ring (Asexual)
A plain black ring worn on the right middle finger - a subtle, community-specific signal of asexual identity. Spread through AVEN in the 2000s.
Ace Playing Cards
- Ace of Spades - asexual
- Ace of Hearts - aromantic asexual
- Ace of Clubs - gray-asexual / gray-romantic
- Ace of Diamonds - demisexual / demiromantic
The Infinity Heart (Polyamory)
An infinity symbol incorporating a heart shape - representing infinite love. Widely recognized symbol for polyamory, predating the 2022 flag redesign.
Lavender / Violet
Associated with LGBTQ+ identity since the late 19th century - a blend of pink and blue. "Lavender menace" was used as a slur against lesbians and reclaimed as a positive term. Appears in genderqueer and non-binary flags.
The Safe Space Symbol
A pink triangle inside a circle marks physical spaces as safe for LGBTQ+ people - particularly in schools and workplaces.