Gay Pride Tattoos, Designs, Pictures, Ideas, and meanings

The rainbow is probably the most popular symbol for gay pride. The red symbolizes life, orange is for healing, yellow is for the sun, green is for nature, blue is for harmony and purple is for the spirit. The use of the rainbow flag first appeared in the San Francisco Gay and Lesbian Freedom Day Parade in 1978. Gilbert Baker borrowed symbolism from the hippie movement and black civil rights groups as a need for a symbol that can be used year after year.

The pink triangle is also one of the most easily recognized symbols for the gay community. This symbol can be traced back to World War II when homosexuals were subjected to extermination by the Nazi regime. The black triangle is also rooted in Nazi Germany. It was used to designate prisoners with anti social behaviors. Black triangle prisoners included lesbians, prostitutes, women who refuse to bear children and women with other anti social traits.

The Labrys, or the double bladed ax used by the goddess Demeter is also another popular symbol of the gay community. It was used in battle by Scythian Amazon warriors. The Amazons ruled with a dual queen system and were known to be ferocious in battle. It is said that rites involving the worship of Demeter involved lesbian sex. Today, the Labrys has become a symbol of lesbian and feminist strength and independence.

Interlocking gender symbols of the male and female are also gaining popularity as a tattoo choice for the gay community. Originally, they were astrological signs from the Roman times. The male symbols have been used as a symbol of pride for gay men. The female symbols have been used as a symbol of pride among gay women and as a symbol of sisterhood.

The Lambda is also a popular gay symbol used in tattoos. It is a Greek lower case letter l for liberation. It is also a symbol that denotes energy. It symbolizes the synergy of the gay movement where the common belief is the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. The lambda is also a symbol of scales and balance, and the force that keeps opposing sides from overcoming each other. It is also a symbol of unity for the Greek Spartans and to the Romans, it is a symbol of “the light of knowledge shed into the darkness of arrogance”.

The bisexual pride flag is also a meaningful symbol for the gay community. The pink represents attraction to the same sex; the blue represents sexual attraction to the opposite sex; and the overlapping color which is purple represents sexual attraction to both sexes. The bisexual symbol of two triangles overlapping each other is also a recognized symbol for bisexual men and women.