When: anually, August 19.
Meaning of the flag
In 2021, Harm Jagerman wrote an article entitled The flags of the rainbow. This article has been reproduced on this website and can be found here. This article previously appeared on the website of De Goede Huisvader and was later reprinted on the website of Harm Jagerman. In this case, it is about one of those flags, namely the Transgender Pride Flag and it takes centre stage on Transgender Flag Day or Transgender Flag Day.
Not just one flag
To be clear, there is not just one flag that represents the transgender community. The blue, pink and white flag created by Monica Helms in 1999 is only the most famous flag. As such, that is the flag that will be seen most often on 19 August. Helms introduced her flag on 19 August 1999. The flag was first seen a year later in the US city of Phoenix, Arizona, during the Pride Parade.
The meaning?
Now that the Helms flag has been clarified, it is a good time to explain what the Helms flag stands for. What is the significance of this flag? When you look at the colours of the flag, it evokes an association with babies. Light blue and pink are simply the colours people associate with babies. Whether this is entirely justified remains to be seen. Pink does not have to belong to girls and blue does not have to belong to boys. There is plenty to discuss about that. In this case, it is about the traditional colours associated with boys and girls. Blue for the boys, pink for the girls. The colour white is there for those in transition, those with neutral gender/gender, and those without gender/gender or intersex. Everything returns, which is a conscious choice. This ensures that the flag is always clearly visible, no matter how it is worn, no matter how it’s displayed or positioned.
More flags
Besides Monica Helms’ flag, more flags have been introduced. These are just less well-known. The examples can be found in the article “The flags of the rainbow.“
August 19
The date of 19 August is not an illogical one. That was the date when Helms showed her design. It is the day when the world pays attention to the importance of this flag, and its meaning and, above all, makes a fist against hate. The flag evokes a lot of hate. This is a day when you have the opportunity to speak out against hate. Not only that. You can make a fist against discrimination and violence.
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