8 Important LGBTQIA+ Milestones For Each of the Original 8 Pride Flag Colors

The designer of the original Pride flag connected each of the original 8 colors to a unique theme. Discover all of them!

By Google Arts & Culture

Graphic with the flag's symbolism by Jeff RabyGLBT Historical Society

Each color of the rainbow has a unique meaning that represents something different for the LGBTQIA+ community.

Here you can find 8 milestones in LGBTQIA+ rights across the globe.

Na Parada vestimos rosa (2006-06-17) by Lauro RochaMuseu da Diversidade Sexual

Pink for Sex

In 1791, France was the first nation in the world to decriminilize homosexuality and allow same sex relationships.

Even though it was not forbidden, it doesn't mean that it was culturally allowed.

Balões pela luta contra a AIDS (2007-06-10)Museu da Diversidade Sexual

Red for Life

The first known LGBTQIA+ organization, the Scientific-Humanitarian Committee, was created in Berlin in 1897.

It was founded by Magnus Hirschfeld, who conducted groundbreaking work on transgender identity.

Christopher Street Liberation Day March, 1971 (1971) by Rudy GrilloThe Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center

Orange for Healing

The activism and LGBTQIA+ rights has the Stonewall Riots, in 1969, as an important milestone.

It happened in New York but its resonance was worldwide. In the following year, the first LGBTQIA+ pride event was organized to commemorate the riots.

The Lemonheads on Parade (1997-03-01) by C.Moore HardySydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras

Yellow for the Sun

Homosexuality was considered a mental illness by the World Health Organization until 1990.

However, in 1973 the American Psychiatric Association already had depathologized it.

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Green for Nature

The same-sex civil union was only recognized in 1989, being Denmark the first country to do so.

Only in 2000 the same-sex marriage was legalized for the first time, but it was Netherlands to be first one.

Rigel Gemini by Cameron Lee Art

Turquoise for Art and Magic

The first head of state openly gay was elected in Iceland in 2009. 

At that time, Johanna Sigurdardottir couldn't marry her partner, Jónína Leósdóttir. Only in the following year of her election the same-sex marriage was finally allowed.

Pawee by Ira Girogetti (2020-06) by Photographer: Ira Girogetti and Model: PaweeRaze Collective

Blue for Serenity

Going to Latin America, Argentina was the first to recognize same-sex unions. 

Two years later, in 2012, the country also recognized transgender rights, becoming again the first in the region.

Strictly Mardi Gras Float (2014-03-01) by Markham LaneSydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras

Purple for the Spirit

Believe it or not, but it was only in 2018 that India's Supreme Court decriminalized homosexuality in the country.

Until then, a law dating back to 1861 not only forbade relationships "against the order of nature" as it punished people by a life sentence!

Credits: Story

With information from the Council on Foreign Relations

Credits: All media
The story featured may in some cases have been created by an independent third party and may not always represent the views of the institutions, listed below, who have supplied the content.
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