Last modified: 2015-06-20 by rick wyatt
Keywords: marriage equality |
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The Same Sex Marriage Movement, sometimes referred to as "equal marriage" or "gay marriage," has produced some interesting and colorful flags. Same-sex marriage is basically marriage between two persons of the same sex or gender. Supporters of legal recognition for same-sex marriage refer to it as marriage equality.
As more States pass these civil rights laws, the evolving protest flag for equal marriage rights in the United States will continue to change and add stars in the manner similar to the Woman's Suffrage Movement of the early 20th Century. They have also chosen to use modified Stars and Stripes and other historical flags to represent their cause. In protest, the suffragists created their own National Women's Party (NWP) flag (horizontal tricolored stripes of Gold/White/Purple) starting with only four centered stars on the white stripe, representing the four states that first allowed women to vote. The flag flew at the podium of the First International Women's Suffrage Conference in 1902, and as more States allowed woman the vote, they added stars to the design. Eventually, there were two rows of eighteen stars each, representing the 36 State votes necessary to amend the Constitution.
During the campaign for legalization of same-sex marriages in Delaware, a Delaware Rainbow Flag with the diamond and Coat-of-arms from the State flag was used, and in the California Proposition 8 fight the old California Rainbow Gay Flag reappeared. It is a California Bear Rainbow Flag with the normal single red stripe which usually appears across the bottom of the flag replaced with seven small rainbow stripes. The Georgia Rainbow Flag and the Texas Rainbow Flag were derived from the their state flags, from which they borrowed the hoists (blue vertical stripe charged with the state seal and star respectfully), combining them with the gay rainbow flag, whose pattern forms the flys.
Other Same-Sex Marriage/Equal Marriage flags making their appearances are using the Mars/Venus symbols centered on a rainbow background. Although they were not developed as strictly marriage equality flags, they are being used in that context. Variants on this theme included several similar designs using the Mars/Venus symbols in the canton replacing the stars, such as the 1990 Gay Pride Flag.
Variants of these basic design continue to appear and can be seen both on the Internet and at LGBT/Same Sex Marriage/Equal Marriage demonstrations, including the Rainbow Heart/Love Flag which has become popular in some areas.
source: Historical Flags of Our Ancestors
Pete Loeser ), 12 June 2015
image from Pete Loeser, 12 June 2015
This Black flag with the words "BORN THIS WAY" in rainbow colors (each word in two colors) is being increasingly used as a sexual orientation flag. It has been seen in demonstrations in various American cities such as West Hollywood (California), San Francisco (California), and Jacksonville (Florida). It first appeared in England in 2011, but quickly made the trans-Atlantic crossing to the New World.
The words themselves may have come from a song and album title from recording artist Lady Gaga, herself a major supporter of the LGBT community.
source: Historical Flags of Our Ancestors
Pete Loeser, 12 June 2015
image by Tomislav Todorovic, 12 June 2015
This flag was created to be specific for Civil, Gay and Same-Sex Marriages and to contrast the Gay Pride Flag. The white field is said to represent new beginnings, the pair of interlocking rings depict the commitment between two partners; the six colors within the rings standing for gay and lesbian pride. The flag is commonly defaced with the name of whichever state the movement or demonstration for equality of rights is currently taking place. The name of the state, usually either in red or black, is placed either horizontally below the rings or vertically up the hoist side of the flag. The Californian version of this flag was used at the anti-Proposition 8 rallies.
source: Historical Flags of Our Ancestors
Pete Loeser, 12 June 2015
images by Tomislav Todorovic, 12 June 2015
Other Same-Sex Marriage/Equal Marriage flags making their appearances are using the Mars symbols centered on a rainbow background. Although they were not developed as strictly marriage equality flags, they are being used in that context. Variants on this theme included several similar designs using the Mars symbols in the canton replacing the stars
Pete Loeser, 12 June 2015
images from Tomislav Todorovic, 12 June 2015
Other Same-Sex Marriage/Equal Marriage flags making their appearances are using the Venus (female) symbols centered on a rainbow background. Although they were not developed as strictly marriage equality flags, they are being used in that context. Variants on this theme included several similar designs using the Venus symbols in the canton replacing the stars
Pete Loeser, 12 June 2015