What Is the Nonbinary Pride Flag & What Does It Mean?

A flag waves in the air with a design of horizontal stripes in the colors of the nonbinary pride flag, from top to bottom: yellow, white, purple, and black.

The iconic rainbow flag has become a well-known symbol for LGBTQ+ pride, but did you know that there is a whole catalog of LGBTQ+ Pride flags that represent the diverse identities in this community

Just like someone from a different state or country — or sports fan — might want to fly a specific flag to represent their identity, the same goes for people in the LGBTQ+ community! And it certainly doesn’t need to be Pride Month to embrace these banners.

Flags are a recognizable symbol that projects a message to the world about who you are or what you stand for — and they are especially important to marginalized communities during times of injustice. 

One of these is the Nonbinary Pride Flag, which provides nonbinary and gender-nonconforming folks a meaningful symbol of pride, love, and community.

Here’s what you need to know about the Nonbinary Pride Flag.

→ Explore the full list of all LGBTQ+ Pride flags

By the way, we’ve included some links to be able to buy this flag — and some of the links may include affiliate links, which means we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. 

About the Nonbinary Pride Flag

History

Created and shared on Tumblr by Kye Rowan in 2014, the Nonbinary Pride Flag provides a distinct symbol for nonbinary individuals.

At the time Kye was a 17-year-old nonbinary person and created the flag to complement the Genderqueer Pride Flag as some people didn’t feel represented by the Genderqueer Flag alone. The flags are meant to be used together and not one to replace the other.

The Nonbinary Pride Flag’s four colors capture the wide range of nonbinary experiences, including gender outside the binary, a mix of multiple genders, the absence of gender, and the community’s interconnectedness. 

Colors

horizontal stripes in the colors of the nonbinary pride flag, from top to bottom: yellow, white, purple, and black.

The colors of the Nonbinary Pride Flag each represent a different concept: 

  • Yellow: Represents those who identify outside the traditional gender binary
  • White: Represents those who identify with a mix of multiple genders
  • Purple: Represents those who identify without any gender (agender)
  • Black: Represents the interconnectedness of all nonbinary individuals within the community

What Does It Mean To Be Nonbinary?

Someone who is nonbinary has a gender identity or gender expression that falls outside the binary of man or woman — or even masculine and feminine.

While some nonbinary people might present in ways that appear to align with a certain gender identity, their identity goes beyond a “black and white” model, allowing for more fluidity than the strict gender roles so many of us have come to know.

According to the UCLA Williams Institute, 1.2 million people in the U.S. identify as nonbinary, and nonbinary folks make up about 11% of LGBTQ+ adults in the U.S.

Some of your favorite celebrities are nonbinary, too, including Johnathan Van Ness, Halsey, Amandla Stenberg, Bella Ramsey, and more.

Get a Flag: Flags For Good | Amazon

We’ve provided links to Flags For Good, which donates a portion of each Pride flag sale to LGBTQ+ nonprofits and has a fully carbon neutral production and distribution process. Use our links to save 10% off your entire order.

(We’ve also included links to Amazon for accessibility purposes.)


Plus, learn more about other Pride flags:

Article Details

January 4, 2024 1:00 PM
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