You did an absolutely amazing, passionate, accurate job! I have nothing to add except to say it’s not only UGLY, it’s INCREDIBLY UGLY!! Thank you, thank you.
Summed up a lot of things not just the flag. The ubiquitous LGBTQetc”, the complete absence of any reference to GAY Pride month, glorification of drag to schoolchildren, Disney World for example drenched in the pink and blue pedo colors for all the special foods, the total surrender of the corporations and the mutilation of gay children in the name of helping them find their real selves. All turning the clock back 50 years.
Wow! TERF much? Civil rights for black people only? Baby colors? Aren’t all colors baby colors?You can keep your tiny tiny little heart and fly your own flag. No objections here.
Full disclosure: I'm a white Brit mid 50s heterosexual man. In my youth I was very fortunate to spend a lot of time with, and learning from, a group of political activists calling themselves Lesbians and Gays Support the Miners (an alliance supporting the mine workers during the UK strike of '84–85). This was when I first understood Pride was seeking emancipation for Lesbians and Homosexuals, for them to be accepted for what they are, gain equality in law and society, etc. Quite right too! Now the gender identity extremists seek the opposite: they demand, often with threats, affirmation for what they aren't.
It's quite remarkable that trans women in particular have largely attained emancipation in a few short years. Yet despite thousands of years of male domination and oppression of women, females are still waiting for emancipation, and us men remain largely in charge including of your single sex spaces and places.
To me the the “progress pride flag” are the colours of anti-science new oppression being hawked as progress. Trampling over marginalised groups in a half arsed attempt to lift a marginalised group isn't progress or liberation: it's more oppression.
I think it's not a half bad film in terms of historical accuracy, but unsurprisingly fails to fully reflect what happened due to added showbiz sparkle, Borehamwood polish and significant rose tinting.
In an effort to not have a gaggle of angry militant lesbians after me, let’s break this down. The article’s main argument is that the Progress Pride Flag erases, insults, and harms lesbians and gay men. But this entire critique rests on a mix of misinformation, bad faith interpretations, and exclusionary rhetoric. The flag does not erase the rainbow, it expands upon it to include marginalized members of the LGBTQ+ community, particularly BIPOC and trans people who have historically been sidelined. Claiming that the flag implies lesbians and gay men are “regressive” is an overreach. The flag acknowledges that progress is ongoing, not that past gains are irrelevant.
The pink and blue stripes do not reinforce gender stereotypes but represent trans people, whose fight for rights is inseparable from the broader LGBTQ+ movement. Similarly, the argument that the flag “forces” the inclusion of heterosexuals is a misreading; no part of the flag represents cishet people. The claim that adding black and brown stripes suggests that “lesbian and gay” meant “white” is a strawman. The reality is that racism has always been an issue within the LGBTQ+ community, and explicit representation helps address that.
Perhaps the most inflammatory argument is the suggestion that the flag links homosexuality with pedophilia, an old homophobic trope weaponized against queer people for decades. Suggesting that trans-affirming care is akin to conversion therapy is equally dangerous and ignores the reality that conversion therapy is about forcing people to deny their identities, while gender-affirming care helps people live authentically.
At the end of the day, complaints about the flag’s aesthetics or supposed “confusion” about LGBTQ+ identities don’t hold weight. The Progress Pride Flag isn’t about replacing or erasing anyone, it’s about ensuring the whole community is seen. The real question is: why does that make some people so uncomfortable? Do better lesbians. I honestly thought this was an April Fools Joke.
This is extremely well put response to an article written with a malicious misunderstanding of lgbtq+ representation. However I would not address this to all lesbians. I frequent gay bars, lesbian bars and many lgbtq+ spaces. I have not heard opinions like this expressed in any of those spaces. Looking deeper into their posts this whole account was focused on anti LGBTQ+ rhetoric and stopped posting 2 years ago, and I believe they're an unfair representation of the consensus of the lesbian community.
Hi May, my apologies if this came across as being directed at all lesbians, that was not my intention. When I reference the “gaggle of angry militant lesbians” it was directed at the writers and those that ascribe to these anti-lgbtq beliefs. I believe we are all one family and need to stick together, but we have people within our own community that attempt to divide us. I hope you can forgive me.
I was actually so angered by this dilapidated Substack that I wrote my own article, calling out many of these divisive groups that scroll among us on Substack.
It’s also just plain ugly. The rainbow is pretty and natural. These new iterations of it are crowded, unsightly, and confusing to look at. There’s no need to steal a perfectly good flag and modify it how you like to represent something new. Just make a new flag with a new symbol.
There is no single community, the acronym is a collection of subcultures and that gay and lesbians worked together to win right to serve in military, marriage equality and housing, education and careers, those are public square human rights. There is no right to sexually harass others or practise kink to a nonconsenting public
This is a great article. It's time that Lesbians leave behind all the GB's etc. groups and unite. Unless our voices ring loud and clear about our issues we will always be wrapped in the flags designed by men for men. Thanks for standing up for all of us...Lesbians.
I agree. It's time lesbians stop taking gay/bisexual male organizations' money and go make bread somewhere while advocating for the murder of unwanted babies.
1. The chevron cover apart of the rainbow to ensure that people of colour and trans siblings are represented. It does not erase the rainbow. There is room for everyone.
2. The word ‘progress’ is important for any marginalised community. Your refusal to recognise that makes you part of the problem.
3. What absolute tosh re: sexist stereotypes
4. I’m not even bothering to tackle this rubbish
5. This smacks of white privilege
6. See point 4
7. The only thing that is self-destructive is the person who wrote this nonsense
8. I’m a homosexual man - I’m not feeling an urge to run off for conversion therapy after looking at the progress pride flag - what a joke
9. Your attitude is ugly
10. Through visual storytelling the flag celebrates inclusion of EVERYONE in the LGBTQ+ community
I’ve never read so many hateful and ridiculous things in one post.
Why do YOU hate the "progress pride flag"? Let us know if we missed anything!
You did an absolutely amazing, passionate, accurate job! I have nothing to add except to say it’s not only UGLY, it’s INCREDIBLY UGLY!! Thank you, thank you.
I don’t hate it. But I see your grief and I hold space for all emotions.
Terfs need to get a life.
That was basically my thought the entire time I was reading this.
Summed up a lot of things not just the flag. The ubiquitous LGBTQetc”, the complete absence of any reference to GAY Pride month, glorification of drag to schoolchildren, Disney World for example drenched in the pink and blue pedo colors for all the special foods, the total surrender of the corporations and the mutilation of gay children in the name of helping them find their real selves. All turning the clock back 50 years.
This is one of the worst takes I've ever seen.
I can’t even finish reading this because it reeks of anti-trans and anti-intersex privilege.
You aren’t being erased because we are being represented. 😒
Wow! TERF much? Civil rights for black people only? Baby colors? Aren’t all colors baby colors?You can keep your tiny tiny little heart and fly your own flag. No objections here.
Full disclosure: I'm a white Brit mid 50s heterosexual man. In my youth I was very fortunate to spend a lot of time with, and learning from, a group of political activists calling themselves Lesbians and Gays Support the Miners (an alliance supporting the mine workers during the UK strike of '84–85). This was when I first understood Pride was seeking emancipation for Lesbians and Homosexuals, for them to be accepted for what they are, gain equality in law and society, etc. Quite right too! Now the gender identity extremists seek the opposite: they demand, often with threats, affirmation for what they aren't.
It's quite remarkable that trans women in particular have largely attained emancipation in a few short years. Yet despite thousands of years of male domination and oppression of women, females are still waiting for emancipation, and us men remain largely in charge including of your single sex spaces and places.
To me the the “progress pride flag” are the colours of anti-science new oppression being hawked as progress. Trampling over marginalised groups in a half arsed attempt to lift a marginalised group isn't progress or liberation: it's more oppression.
I saw the original movie "Pride" some years ago. "Lesbians and Gays Support the Miners."
I think it's not a half bad film in terms of historical accuracy, but unsurprisingly fails to fully reflect what happened due to added showbiz sparkle, Borehamwood polish and significant rose tinting.
In an effort to not have a gaggle of angry militant lesbians after me, let’s break this down. The article’s main argument is that the Progress Pride Flag erases, insults, and harms lesbians and gay men. But this entire critique rests on a mix of misinformation, bad faith interpretations, and exclusionary rhetoric. The flag does not erase the rainbow, it expands upon it to include marginalized members of the LGBTQ+ community, particularly BIPOC and trans people who have historically been sidelined. Claiming that the flag implies lesbians and gay men are “regressive” is an overreach. The flag acknowledges that progress is ongoing, not that past gains are irrelevant.
The pink and blue stripes do not reinforce gender stereotypes but represent trans people, whose fight for rights is inseparable from the broader LGBTQ+ movement. Similarly, the argument that the flag “forces” the inclusion of heterosexuals is a misreading; no part of the flag represents cishet people. The claim that adding black and brown stripes suggests that “lesbian and gay” meant “white” is a strawman. The reality is that racism has always been an issue within the LGBTQ+ community, and explicit representation helps address that.
Perhaps the most inflammatory argument is the suggestion that the flag links homosexuality with pedophilia, an old homophobic trope weaponized against queer people for decades. Suggesting that trans-affirming care is akin to conversion therapy is equally dangerous and ignores the reality that conversion therapy is about forcing people to deny their identities, while gender-affirming care helps people live authentically.
At the end of the day, complaints about the flag’s aesthetics or supposed “confusion” about LGBTQ+ identities don’t hold weight. The Progress Pride Flag isn’t about replacing or erasing anyone, it’s about ensuring the whole community is seen. The real question is: why does that make some people so uncomfortable? Do better lesbians. I honestly thought this was an April Fools Joke.
This is extremely well put response to an article written with a malicious misunderstanding of lgbtq+ representation. However I would not address this to all lesbians. I frequent gay bars, lesbian bars and many lgbtq+ spaces. I have not heard opinions like this expressed in any of those spaces. Looking deeper into their posts this whole account was focused on anti LGBTQ+ rhetoric and stopped posting 2 years ago, and I believe they're an unfair representation of the consensus of the lesbian community.
Hi May, my apologies if this came across as being directed at all lesbians, that was not my intention. When I reference the “gaggle of angry militant lesbians” it was directed at the writers and those that ascribe to these anti-lgbtq beliefs. I believe we are all one family and need to stick together, but we have people within our own community that attempt to divide us. I hope you can forgive me.
I was actually so angered by this dilapidated Substack that I wrote my own article, calling out many of these divisive groups that scroll among us on Substack.
https://themoralityof.substack.com/p/the-morality-of-exclusion
This is satire, right?
Oh god, its not. what the fuck
I've met schizophrenics less delusional than this article 😭
It’s also just plain ugly. The rainbow is pretty and natural. These new iterations of it are crowded, unsightly, and confusing to look at. There’s no need to steal a perfectly good flag and modify it how you like to represent something new. Just make a new flag with a new symbol.
Not gonna lie, I thought that "progress flag" was a joke/meme until people actually started using it
There is no single community, the acronym is a collection of subcultures and that gay and lesbians worked together to win right to serve in military, marriage equality and housing, education and careers, those are public square human rights. There is no right to sexually harass others or practise kink to a nonconsenting public
All the other lesbians are giving you heavy side eye for writing this.
This is a great article. It's time that Lesbians leave behind all the GB's etc. groups and unite. Unless our voices ring loud and clear about our issues we will always be wrapped in the flags designed by men for men. Thanks for standing up for all of us...Lesbians.
I agree. It's time lesbians stop taking gay/bisexual male organizations' money and go make bread somewhere while advocating for the murder of unwanted babies.
This post is absolute nonsense.
1. The chevron cover apart of the rainbow to ensure that people of colour and trans siblings are represented. It does not erase the rainbow. There is room for everyone.
2. The word ‘progress’ is important for any marginalised community. Your refusal to recognise that makes you part of the problem.
3. What absolute tosh re: sexist stereotypes
4. I’m not even bothering to tackle this rubbish
5. This smacks of white privilege
6. See point 4
7. The only thing that is self-destructive is the person who wrote this nonsense
8. I’m a homosexual man - I’m not feeling an urge to run off for conversion therapy after looking at the progress pride flag - what a joke
9. Your attitude is ugly
10. Through visual storytelling the flag celebrates inclusion of EVERYONE in the LGBTQ+ community
I’ve never read so many hateful and ridiculous things in one post.