LGBT Culture and Symbols

The Greek Letter Lambda
The Gay Activist Alliance originally chose the lambda, the Greek letter "L", as a symbol in 1970. Organizers chose the letter "L" to signify liberation. The word has become a way of expressing the concept "lesbian and gay male" in a minimum of syllables and has been adopted by such organizations as Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund.

Use of the Word "Queer"
"Queer" is a genderless term that can refer to lesbians, gay men, bisexuals, and even transgender people equally well. Many supporters of the term use it to include anyone who does not fit into traditional societal norms. They believe that the term has positive connotations because it is used as a term of empowerment and inclusion. However, care should be taken when using the term because there are many gay men, lesbians, and bisexuals who take offense at the use of the word.

The Rainbow Flag
The rainbow flag, a flag with stripes of each color of the rainbow, is a contemporary symbol for the lesbian, gay, and bisexual community. The flag is symbolic of the diversity within the community. Gay men, lesbians, and bisexuals are members of all races, colors, religions, social, and economic backgrounds. The rainbow flag originated in San Francisco and has become the official flag of the LGBT movement by the International Flagmakers Association.

The Pink Triangle
A popular symbol of the gay, lesbian, and bisexual community is the pink triangle. Originally, during World War II Nazis used this symbol to mark gay men in German death camps. The triangle is used because it is part of the Star of David, which Jewish people were forced to wear. In the death camps, gay men and other "sexual deviants" wore a pink triangle; lesbians and other "social deviants" wore a black triangle. About 220,000 gay men and lesbians were killed in the camps.