An Unapologetic Plea: To Ditch the Rainbow for Butch Lesbian Pride

Let’s talk about something that’s been bugging me: rainbows. Not the ones that grace the sky after a summer storm, those are beautiful and fine. But the rainbow, omnipresent, inescapable rainbow of the LGBTQ+ community?

My fellow queer people, I’m outta here! I’m an out and proud member of the LGBTQ+ community, and I hate rainbows.

Every Pride, Midsumma, gay disco, queer film festival, homo park run… I get this overwhelming sense of dread. Why did we choose clashing, garish colors? Are we all colorblind?

The Rainbow’s Reign

It all started back in 1979, when gay man Gilbert Baker decided to create a flag for our community. The “rainbow flag,” as he called it, was a vibrant symbol of inclusivity and hope: red for life, orange for healing, yellow for sunlight, green for nature, blue for harmony, and purple for spirit. Noble sentiment, I agree. But it’s become a gaudy emblem that screams “look at me!” and clashes with the minimalist chic of many within our community.

Butch Lesbian Chic

Product placement and social media have painted a picture of gay life that’s not inclusive of all of us. As an inner north Melbourne butch lesbian, I’m more drawn to cargo pants, browns, and plaid. We’re about functionality, not fanfare!

“Rainbow sparkle: ugly. Painted-on rainbow stickers: gross. I cannot even think about rainbow socks. They border on homophobic,” I say.

We Deserve Better

Let’s face it, the rainbow flag is tired. We’ve come so far in our journey towards acceptance and equality. It’s time to evolve our symbols and embrace a more nuanced representation of our diverse community.

Let’s have a real conversation about what imagery best represents the complexities and glories of LGBTQ+ life. The future of our collective visual identity is at stake. What do you think? Share your opinion in the comments below!