Resources

Bi+ Flags

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Photo of a bi flag
Flying the Bi Flag

Rainbow flag graphic
The rainbow or pride flag has become synonymous with the LGBTI+ community (and by some incorrectly associated with just the gay community).
Over time many more flags have been created and adopted to represent groups of people within the LTBTI+ umbrella.
Even within the Bi+ community there are various flags to represent people associated with the various labels under the bi+ umbrellaand intersecting groups or communities.
Below we give examples of just some of the flags members of the Bi+ and wider communities use. Not everyone that uses a label will necessarily recognise or associate with a particular flag, some groups will have more than one flag or associated flags have changed over time.
Bi flag graphic

Bisexual Flag

Three horizontal bands of Pink, Purple and Blue. The central purple band is narrower than the other two.
First launched by Michael Page an American activist on 5 December 1998.
RGB Codes: Pink 214, 2, 112 / Purple 155, 79, 150 / Blue 0, 56, 168 

Pan flag graphicPansexual Flag

Three equally spaced horizontal bands of pink, yellow and blue.
Creator unknown, appeared on the internet in mid-2010.
RGB Codes: Pink 255, 33, 140 / Yellow 255, 216, 0 / Blue  33, 177, 255
Poly flag graphic

Polysexual Flag

Three equally spaced horizontal bands of pink, green and blue.
The polysexual pride flag was designed by a Tumblr user with the signature “Samlin”, and first made public on the blog @f**kyeahpolysexuality on July 11, 2012.
RGB Codes: Pink 246, 26, 185 / Green 7, 213, 105 / Blue  28, 146, 246

 

The Importance of These Flags

 

Flags are a quick, visual way to show community and bring people together.
Recognising the colours of a flag (for example the Pink, Purple and Blue of the bi flag) allows for bi/queer coding of a scene, be it in an image, film or in real life. People can wear bi colours or a pin badge of the flag that they feel represents them. To many this may mean nothing, but to those aware of the flag it can act as a sign of solidarity and allows members of a particular community to find each other.
A particular colour scheme used for an organisation’s logo can also quickly identify the organisation with its target audience.
This post is a work in progress and more details will be added over time
R. 5 December 2018 

What’s In A Name?

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Bi+and the ‘Bi+ umbrella’ are inclusive terms used to describe anyone who experiences attraction to multiple genders.

Graphic of the Bi Plus Umbrella including terms Polysexual, Pansexual, Queer, Fluid, Bi-curious, Multisexual, Questioning, Hetroflexible, Homoflexible, Lesbiflexible, Panromantic, Bisexual, Biromantic, Omnisexual and No Labels
 
A lot of these labels overlap, and it is up to you and you alone how you choose to identify yourself.

  • Bi:Attraction to two or more genders, and can include non-binary gender(s). Can also be used for attraction to all genders.

[Note: trans is not a gender of its own, trans women are women, trans men are men, and trans non-binary people are non-binary.]
  • Poly: Attraction to two or more genders, but not all genders.
  • Pan/Omni/Multi: Attraction to all genders, or regardless of gender.

[Asexuals (people who do not experience sexual attraction) might choose to use terms like biromantic or panromantic, to highlight that their attraction is only romantic.] 

  • Fluid: Attraction to multiple genders which changes over time. 
  • No Label: Some people don’t like labels, and that’s cool too. Labels are only useful if you find them helpful.
  • Bi-curious: Curiosity about experimenting with gender(s) different to their usual gender attraction.
  • Hetroflexibleor Mostly Straight: Occasional attraction to gender(s) other than their usual opposite binary gender attraction.
  • Homoflexible/Lesbiflexibleor Mostly Gay/Lesbian: Occasional attraction to gender(s) other than their usual same gender attraction.
  • Queer: Not a label solely for those attracted to multiple genders, it is for anyone who isn’t heterosexual and cisgender.
  • Questioning: Figuring out your sexuality can take time for some people, not everyone ‘just knows’.

People often ask what label they should use, but there’s no right answer. Only you can decide what label(s), or lack of labels, feel right for you.

Remember, labels shouldn’t feel constraining, they are only useful if it makes it easier for you to express yourself.
[Lorna, 15 October 2018]