The Labrys flag is one of the lesser-known Pride flags in the LGBTQ+ community, but it’s a significant one.
The Labrys Pride flag features a double-headed axe on an upside-down black triangle with a violet background.
Though the flag was created in 1999, it hasn’t yet really gained mainstream traction. There are several reasons for this, many of which are rooted in the flag’s history. So, what exactly is the meaning of the Labrys Pride flag? Let’s find out.
What is the meaning of the Labrys Pride flag?
The Labrys Pride flag is a prominent symbol of lesbian pride, and is used by members of that community.
The flag appears with a white double-headed axe named a labrys in the centre. The axe is on an inverted black triangle against a violet background.
All these individual components of the flag hold meaning. For instance, the labrys represents feminine strength, associated with female warriors like the Amazons in Greek mythology.
The flag’s violet background is associated with the Greek poet Sappho, who is widely understood to have been a lesbian. Violet is a colour that has now become closely linked to lesbian pride.
Lesbian fashion historian Eleanor Medhurst says: “Violets became a lesbian symbol because they appear multiple times across Sappho’s poetry, alongside declarations of love for women.”
Finally, the inverted black triangle is said to reference the Nazi “asocial” badge, a symbol representing lesbian persecution during the Holocaust.
What is the history of the Labrys Pride flag?
The Labrys flag was created in 1999 by gay graphic designer Sean Campbell.
The flag was first published in the Palm Springs edition of the Gay and Lesbian Times Pride issue, in June 2000.
As mentioned above, the inverted black triangle has a historical meaning associated with Nazi Germany. Women who were seen to not conform with the Nazi ideals, which included LGBTQ+ women, were condemned to concentration camps and wore an upside-down black triangle as an identifying badge.
Like gay men reclaiming the pink triangle, many lesbians have reclaimed the black triangle.
As mentioned, the labrys is linked to Greek mythology and ancient matriarchal societies, but the lesbian community adopted the symbol in the 1970s.
In the seventies, the lesbian radical feminist movement also used the axe to symbolise empowerment.
Why do lesbians associate themselves with the Labrys symbol?
The labrys and axe symbolism have inspired many lesbian tattoos and accessories.
The axe and its association with strength and power are an engaging image for many lesbians. However, there are some who have not adopted the flag for a variety of reasons.
For some, the fact that a man designed the lesbian flag is a reason not to use the imagery.
Also, the use of the Holocaust black triangle has proved contentious.
More recently, an issue has sprouted with the use of the labrys. The image has been co-opted by lesbians who are part of the gender-critical movement, which excludes transgender women.
This has led to a waning in the Labrys Pride flag’s use, though new versions of Pride imagery incorporate parts of the trans flag (notably, its blue, pink and white colours) to ensure trans inclusivity.
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