Pro-gay slogans and symbols
Encyclopedia
LGBT slogans are catchphrases or slogans which express support for members of the lesbian
, gay
, bisexual, and transgender
(LGBT
) communities and LGBT rights.
Lesbian
Lesbian is a term most widely used in the English language to describe sexual and romantic desire between females. The word may be used as a noun, to refer to women who identify themselves or who are characterized by others as having the primary attribute of female homosexuality, or as an...
, gay
Gay
Gay is a word that refers to a homosexual person, especially a homosexual male. For homosexual women the specific term is "lesbian"....
, bisexual, and transgender
Transgender
Transgender is a general term applied to a variety of individuals, behaviors, and groups involving tendencies to vary from culturally conventional gender roles....
(LGBT
LGBT
LGBT is an initialism that collectively refers to "lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender" people. In use since the 1990s, the term "LGBT" is an adaptation of the initialism "LGB", which itself started replacing the phrase "gay community" beginning in the mid-to-late 1980s, which many within the...
) communities and LGBT rights.
Slogans
| Slogan | Notes |
|---|---|
| "Gay Is Good" | Coined by early gay activist Frank Kameny, modeled on the African American slogan "Black is beautiful Black is beautiful Black is beautiful is a cultural movement that began in the United States of America in the 1960s by African Americans. It later spread to much of the black world, most prominently in the writings of the Black Consciousness Movement of Steve Biko in South Africa... ". |
| "Gays Bash Back" | This slogan is often used by more militant gay people and implies self-defense Self-defense Self-defense, self-defence or private defense is a countermeasure that involves defending oneself, one's property or the well-being of another from physical harm. The use of the right of self-defense as a legal justification for the use of force in times of danger is available in many... against gay bashers Gay bashing Gay bashing and gay bullying is verbal or physical abuse against a person who is perceived to be gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgender . Such abuse is used also to bully heterosexual persons and persons of non-specific or unknown sexual orientation.A "bashing" may be a specific incident, and one... . |
| "We're here. We're queer. Get used to it" | This slogan was popularized by Queer Nation Queer Nation Queer Nation was an organization founded in March 1990 in New York City, USA by AIDS activists from ACT UP. The four founders were outraged at the escalation of anti-gay and lesbian violence on the streets and prejudice in the arts and media... . |
| "Hey, hey! Ho, ho! Homophobia's got to go!" | Used by National Organization for Women National Organization for Women The National Organization for Women is the largest feminist organization in the United States. It was founded in 1966 and has a membership of 500,000 contributing members. The organization consists of 550 chapters in all 50 U.S... (NOW). |
| "We're here, we're queer and we'd like to say hello!" | A variation of the above used by Queer Nation Queer Nation Queer Nation was an organization founded in March 1990 in New York City, USA by AIDS activists from ACT UP. The four founders were outraged at the escalation of anti-gay and lesbian violence on the streets and prejudice in the arts and media... during the 1992 opening of the "Queer Shopping Network". |
| "Silence=Death" | Designed by six people, including Avram Finkelstein Avram Finkelstein Avram Finkelstein is an artist, writer, gay rights activist, and member of the AIDS art collective Gran Fury.Finkelstein describes himself as a "red diaper baby", raised by leftist parents who encouraged him to develop an interest in radical politics... , this slogan was used by ACT UP to draw attention to the AIDS AIDS Acquired immune deficiency syndrome or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome is a disease of the human immune system caused by the human immunodeficiency virus... crisis in America. It was often used in conjunction with a right-side up pink triangle. |
| "Two, Four, Six, Eight! How Do You Know Your Kids Are Straight?" | This slogan against heterosexism Heterosexism Heterosexism is a system of attitudes, bias, and discrimination in favor of opposite-sex sexuality and relationships. It can include the presumption that everyone is heterosexual or that opposite-sex attractions and relationships are the only norm and therefore superior... was also used by Queer Nation Queer Nation Queer Nation was an organization founded in March 1990 in New York City, USA by AIDS activists from ACT UP. The four founders were outraged at the escalation of anti-gay and lesbian violence on the streets and prejudice in the arts and media... . Another variation is "One, Two, Three, Four! Open on up the closet door! Five, Six, Seven, Eight! Don't assume your kids are straight!" |
| "Out of the Closets and into the Streets" | This slogan was also used by Queer Nation Queer Nation Queer Nation was an organization founded in March 1990 in New York City, USA by AIDS activists from ACT UP. The four founders were outraged at the escalation of anti-gay and lesbian violence on the streets and prejudice in the arts and media... . |
| "I am gay & that's OK" | Slogan used by the Mayor of Berlin, Klaus Wowereit Klaus Wowereit Klaus Wowereit is a German politician, member of the SPD , and has been the Mayor of Berlin since the 2001 state elections, where his party won a plurality of the votes, 29.7%. He served as President of the Bundesrat in 2001/02. His SPD-led coalition was re-elected in the 2006 elections... . |
| "Rainbows Reign" | Used most notably on banners of the Pink Pistols Pink Pistols The Pink Pistols are a gay gun rights organization in the United States and Canada. Their mottos are "Pick on someone your own caliber" and "Armed gays don't get bashed." Inspired by a Salon.com article written by Jonathan Rauch, Krikket , a libertarian activist from Illinois while living in... organization. |
| "Gay by birth, fabulous by choice" | Made popular by Birmingham City University LGBT Society |
| "Why be afraid to be enGayged" | Brooks foundation |
| "Sorry girls, I suck dick" | Used on shirts by the Swedish Sweden Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund.... magazine and Internet-community QX QX (Swedish magazine) QX started in 1995 with the aim to create communication platforms for the LGBT-community in Sweden and Scandinavia. It has a circulation about 32,000 copies a month and is the largest magazine of its kind in the region.... . |
| "Armed gays don't get bashed" | The slogan for the Pink Pistols Pink Pistols The Pink Pistols are a gay gun rights organization in the United States and Canada. Their mottos are "Pick on someone your own caliber" and "Armed gays don't get bashed." Inspired by a Salon.com article written by Jonathan Rauch, Krikket , a libertarian activist from Illinois while living in... organization. |