Everybody knows the rainbow flag, worldwide very popular during pride events. Inside the LGBT community there are plenty of different flags. Even sneakers have their own flag.
Traditionally at the beginning of May, the streets of Brussels adorn themselves with the colors of the rainbow. The same show will be reproduced in other cities later : Paris in June, Cologne and Berlin in July or Antwerp and Amsterdam in August, by example. The colors reflect the diversity of the LGBT communities. The original design devised by San Francisco artist Gilbert Baker has undergone several revisions since its debut in 1978. It was mostly based on availability of fabrics.
Six colors
The flag is typically flown horizontally with the red stripe on top. The pink stripe (meaning sex) has quickly disappeared. Yes, each color has a meaning : red means life, orange means healing, yellow means sunshine, green means nature, blue means harmony, and purple means spirit. Those colors have effectively replaced most other LGBT symbols including the Greek letter lambda and the pink triangle.
Like a family tree
The rainbow represents the entire community but everyone knows that it is made of multiple subdivisions. From this common point many branches are plugged with a typical flag for each ones representing the varieties of sexual identities or orientations. Asexual, bisexual, pansexual, transgender, non-binary or polyamorous people have their own colors with varied positions. There is also a wide panel for different fetishes. The best known is the flag of the leather brothers sometimes also identified as the one that groups all fetishes. Yet there is one for BDSM, another for rubbermen or for bears, puppies or the military.
Even sneakers have their own flag
As Mister Sportswear France in 2017, Fabien has traveled throughout his own country and Europe. During his wanderings, he quickly noticed these flags were true standards, symbols to which each group identifies proudly. There was a hole to stuff: the sneakers did not have their colorful symbolism. Inspired by those who existed, the wishes and remarks of his peers, he was able to reveal the result of this long process of reflection.
Our flag will float on the Belgian Pride
with the Sneakers flag of #BEsneax
A first copy was made and released on the occasion of Paris Pride last year. Since the creation of #BEsneax, it was obvious to highlight the work done and use it. That’s why the association will take it to the official events in which it will participate. A specialized company has been commissioned and the Sneakers flag will be released for the Pride Parade in Brussels on Saturday 18 May 2019, a great first. And as Fabien said when he saw the first picture of this baby: “Let it become yours, it fills me with happiness.”