The flag was created in July 2013 by Morgan Carpenter of Intersex Human Rights Australia (then known as Organisation Intersex International Australia) to create a flag "that is not derivative, but is yet firmly grounded in meaning". Yellow and purple were chosen as colours as they were viewed as free from gender associations and were historically used to represent intersex people. The circle is described as "unbroken and unornamented, symbolizing wholeness and completeness, and our potentialities."[1]
The organization describes it as freely available "for use by any intersex person or organization who wishes to use it, in a human rights affirming community context".[1]
Usage
The intersex flag has been utilised by a range of media and human rights organisations.[2][3][4][5] In June 2018, intersex activists took part in Utrecht Canal Pride, waving the flag.
In May 2018, New Zealand became the first country where the intersex flag was raised outside the national parliament.[6][7][8]
Gallery
Intersex activists on a boat at Utrecht Canal Pride in the Netherlands, on June 16, 2018
The intersex flag has been remixed and adapted in numerous ways. For example, in 2021, the intersex flag was incorporated into the Progress Pride Flag version of the rainbow pride flag by Valentino Vecchietti of Intersex Equality Rights UK.[9]
The Progress Pride flag with the intersex flag (2021)
Other intersex symbols
An orchid flower.
Because the word "orchid" comes from the Greek word for testicle, and the orchiectomy is a common surgery performed on intersex infants –especially those with androgen insensitivity syndrome– the orchid flower is symbolic of intersexuality and of opposition to non-consensual genital surgery.[10][11]
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