Intersex flag
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| Use | Symbol of the intersex community |
|---|---|
| Proportion | 2:3 |
| Adopted | 2013 |
| Design | Open purple circle lying on a yellow field |
| Designed by | Morgan Carpenter |
| Intersex topics |
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| Part of the LGBTQ series |
| LGBTQ symbols |
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| Symbols |
| Pride flags |
The intersex flag is a flag representing intersex individuals and the intersex community. It was created by Morgan Carpenter of Intersex Human Rights Australia in 2013.[1]
Old flag
[edit]
In 2010, Nathalie Phox created an intersex flag on 11 August 2010. The blue and pink gradient in the middle represents "the range of sexes between male and female", while the lavender color on the top and bottom of the flag represents "a combination of male and female traits". The flag was erroneously posted as a bigender flag, but the author clarified later on that they meant bigender as in "mixed sex characteristics, not gender", which is closer to the definition of intersex.[2]Unfortunately due to being mistakenly labeled as a "bigender" design, this flag was also used as a bigender flag for some time.
History and design
[edit]The flag was created in July 2013 by Morgan Carpenter of Intersex Human Rights Australia (then known as Organisation Intersex International Australia) to create a flag "that is not derivative, but is yet firmly grounded in meaning". Yellow and purple were chosen as colours as they were viewed as free from gender associations and were historically used to represent intersex people. The circle is described as "unbroken and unornamented, symbolizing wholeness and completeness, and our potentialities."[1]
The organization describes it as freely available "for use by any intersex person or organization who wishes to use it, in a human rights affirming community context".[1]
Usage
[edit]The intersex flag has been utilised by a range of media and human rights organisations.[3][4][5][6] In June 2018, intersex activists took part in Utrecht Canal Pride, waving the flag.
In May 2018, New Zealand became the first country where the intersex flag was raised outside the national parliament.[7][8][9]
Gallery
[edit]-
Intersex activists on a boat at Utrecht Canal Pride in the Netherlands, on June 16, 2018 -
ILGA-Europe conference 2018 participants on Intersex Awareness Day, 2018 -
Rotterdam Pride, Netherlands, 2018 -
Outside the New Zealand Parliament Buildings, 18 March 2019, flown at half-staff in memory of those killed in the Christchurch mosque shootings on 15 March 2019.
Flags derived from the intersex flag
[edit]The intersex flag has been remixed and adapted in numerous ways. One way has been to replace the middle ring with the symbol of another group, to indicate the intersection of these groups. For example, the autistic intersex flag replaces the ring with an infinity symbol to represent autism.[10] Another technique is to inset another flag inside the ring: e.g. the pride flag for transgender intersex people puts the transgender flag in the centre. In 2021, the intersex flag was incorporated into the Progress Pride Flag version of the rainbow pride flag by Valentino Vecchietti of Intersex Equality Rights UK.[11]
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Autistic intersex flag (2022) -
Transgender intersex flag (2017) -
The Progress Pride flag with the intersex flag (2021)
Other intersex symbols
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Because the word "orchid" comes from the Greek word for testicle, and the orchiectomy is a common surgery performed on intersex infants –especially those with androgen insensitivity syndrome– the orchid flower is symbolic of intersexuality and of opposition to non-consensual genital surgery.[12][13]
See also
[edit]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c Carpenter, Morgan (5 July 2013). "An intersex flag". Intersex Human Rights Australia.
- ^ https://majesticmess.com/encyclopedia/intersex-flag-natalie-phox/ Archived: https://web.archive.org/web/20211203100359/https://majesticmess.com/encyclopedia/intersex-flag-natalie-phox/
- ^ Senate Inquiry reveals forced surgery on intersex children Archived 2013-11-10 at the Wayback Machine, Gay News Network, 25 September 2013
- ^ Intersex advocates address findings of Senate Committee into involuntary sterilisation Archived 2016-01-15 at the Wayback Machine, Gay News Network, 28 October 2013
- ^ Historic intersex rights inquiry in Senate Archived 2014-06-20 at the Wayback Machine, Star Observer, 26 March 2014.
- ^ Stofna Intersex Ísland Archived 2015-01-01 at the Wayback Machine, Morgunblaðið, 26 June 2014.
- ^ Newshub staff (May 18, 2018). "New Zealand becomes first country to fly intersex flag at Parliament". Newshub. Retrieved 2018-06-24.
- ^ Gattey, Megan (May 18, 2018). "New Zealand becomes the first country to fly intersex flag at Parliament". Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 2018-06-24.
- ^ Power, Shannon (May 21, 2018). "New Zealand is the first country to raise intersex flag outside parliament". Gay Star News. Archived from the original on 2018-06-26. Retrieved 2018-06-24.
- ^ intersex, queercrip (2022-04-05). "I made a few more intersex + disabled icons/flags for anybody who wants them". Retrieved 27 June 2024.
- ^ Gilchrist, Tracy E (June 8, 2021). "Pride Flag Gets Redesign to Include Intersex Folks". The Advocate (LGBT magazine).
- ^ "Symbols". Intersex Day.
- ^ Carpenter, Morgan. "Intersex Symbols". Dublin City University.
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