LGBTQ Emblems

[Elect Marx]

I am posting this here because I am foremost interested in the groups/interests I want to represent with this image. I would like to get thoughts from people that identify with LGBTQ groups, and those more likely to frequent the Discrimination forum. Perhaps I could ask that it be moved to graphics for more aesthetic analysis. I would like to get thoughts on the iconography and if people feel this embodies a spirit of unity and conveys the solidarity that has carried the LGBTQ movement so far. Does the message appeal to you? Do you have a better idea? Just let me know!

[Bitter Ashes]

I always thought the standard rainbow was pretty inclusive.
This, I must admit looks very cluttered.

[Elect Marx]

I must admit that I do tend to overcomplicate... must you be so right on :P

I've always loved the reclaimed inverted triangle though; it speaks defiance and struggle.

[Bitter Ashes]

The thing about the pink triangle is that it was only ever given to gay men, so it isnt really very inclusive.

[Elect Marx]

Good point... I don't know how otherwise to represent this in a unified form though.

Here goes:

[F9]

One question:o what does the rainbow symbolize?I mean i see it in many pro-gay(?) groups, but what really represents?:o
Is this only about the image?So i know to move it in Plastic&Graphs. ;)

Fuserg9:star:

[Elect Marx]

From Wiki:

LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender) Pride (1978)

Main article: Pride flag (LGBT community) (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pride_flag_%28LGBT_community%29)

The rainbow flag, sometimes called 'the freedom flag', was popularized as a symbol of lesbian (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lesbian), gay (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gay), bisexual (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bisexual) and transgender (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transgender) (LGBT (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LGBT)) pride (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gay_pride) and diversity by San Francisco (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/San_Francisco) artist Gilbert Baker in 1978. The different colours symbolize diversity in the gay community (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gay_community), and the flag is used predominantly at gay pride (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gay_pride) events and in gay villages (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gay_village) worldwide in various forms including banners, clothing and jewelry. For the 25th Anniversary of the Stonewall riots (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stonewall_riots) held in 1994 in New York city a mile-long rainbow flag was created and post-parade cut up in sections that have since been used around the world.
Originally created with eight colors, pink (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pink) and turquoise (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turquoise) were removed for production purposes and as of 2008, it consists of six colored stripes, which should always be displayed with red on top or to left. Aside from the obvious symbolism of a mixed LGBT community (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sexuality_and_gender_identity-based_cultures), the colors were designed to symbolize: red (life), orange (healing), yellow (sunlight), green (nature), blue (harmony), and purple/violet (spirit). The removed colors stood for sex (pink) and art/magic (turquoise). It is most commonly flown with the red stripe on top, as the colours appear in a natural rainbow.



Is this only about the image?So i know to move it in Plastic&Graphs.No, this is hopefully a broad discussion on iconography and the meaning these symbols hold for people. Like I said, mere aesthetics can be discussed later.

I do like the rainbow triangle that is often used:

[Bitter Ashes]

that is kinda good actualy

[Black Dagger]

You've got the symbology down, but can i suggest that maybe you try using white instead of black for the symbols? It might help them stand out more.

[Elect Marx]

Great idea. I think a simple drop shadow helps too. Here is my next batch:

[Mujer Libre]

The last batch are looking really good. 1 and 3 are my faves.

The white text with shadow looks great- really stands out.

[Sean]

They look like something from Le Clef de Grands Mysteres if I'm honest.

http://www.geocities.com/cranesco/keymys/key1.gif

Too cluttered with traditional boring symbols in my opinion. Unless its true purpose is for summoning lesbians at midnight in a graveyard. Anything other than those traditional symbols you could use? What about some variations on the men and women figures from road signs/toilets?

[Le Libérer]

The thing about the pink triangle is that it was only ever given to gay men, so it isnt really very inclusive.Not true. I'm a woman and have it tattooed above my heart.

[Le Libérer]

Moved to plastics & graphic arts.

[Elect Marx]

Not true. I'm a woman and have it tattooed above my heart.

Indeed, it seems to have been embraced by the LGBTQ community in general. I like the thinking of an injury to one is an injury to all. The pink triangle was simply the most well-known emblem of sexual oppression from Nazi Germany. I am a bit of an outsider, but hopefully that is the point of what it has come to mean; I've seen it primarily as the emblem used for a growing coalition, to humanize non-mainstream and stigmatized relationships.


Moved to plastics & graphic arts.and you left the moved tag, great.

Since I am not alone in my thinking about the pink triangle:

[Elect Marx]

Too cluttered with traditional boring symbols in my opinion. Unless its true purpose is for summoning lesbians at midnight in a graveyard.

You've lost me. Lesbians are summoned to graveyards by traditional symbols? Sounds like a bad cult movie.


Anything other than those traditional symbols you could use? What about some variations on the men and women figures from road signs/toiletsI like that idea, and it would make a good poster, but this is supposed to have wide applications, like on a 2" logo. Plus that plays with the traditional gender dichotomy, I'm thinking more to the point militant support of LGBTQ rights, rather than mocking the gender roles of the establishment. Again, that might be good on a poster.

[Sean]

You've lost me. Lesbians are summoned to graveyards by traditional symbols? Sounds like a bad cult movie.
I simply mean those symbols on top of triangles and circles look very occult.

[Elect Marx]

I simply mean those symbols on top of triangles and circles look very occult.

You are the first person I've heard this from, but maybe your cemetery affairs have corrupted your thinking... On the other hand, you could be right. I've seen the symbols superimposed before though (I'm not being that original).

[Le Libérer]

Indeed, it seems to have been embraced by the LGBTQ community in general. I like the thinking of an injury to one is an injury to all. The pink triangle was simply the most well-known emblem of sexual oppression from Nazi Germany. I am a bit of an outsider, but hopefully that is the point of what it has come to mean; I've seen it primarily as the emblem used for a growing coalition, to humanize non-mainstream and stigmatized relationships.


Yes, it was the most well known emblem of sexual oppression from Nazi Germany, but was later used at the beginning of the AIDS pandemic as its symbol of oppression of those living with AIDS. When I think of the pink triangle is think of this.
http://www.abstractdynamics.org/archives/silencedeath.jpg
I have been an AIDS activist most my life, working directing with People Living with AIDS, and unlike the stereotype, too many women are also effected by AIDS. I wear this symbol as a sign of soladarity of those who were outcast and have died needlessly.

[Elect Marx]

The problem with campaigns like this is that they just try to win a better position within the capitalist system for a certain group. It's reformist identity politics pure and simple. The truth is that non-hetero people will never enjoy full equality until the profit system dead and buried. That's what we need to convey.

Certainly these problems will not be solved by simply trying to advance a particular group. That is not what this project is about though. Feel free to read into LUNkRadio.org; we are a radical leftist group and this is simply another branch of support for oppressed and degraded people. We support all struggles for human rights and autonomy, while applying a critical thought to where we all fit into large-scale social change.


Nice work on the graphics though. Even many people who are good at photoshop seem to have trouble with things like logos and symbols. It's a definite skill and you've clearly developed yours.

Thank you. I work mostly in vector graphics. I'm touching them up with Photoshop before they go to print.