• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Cade Hildreth

Everything You SHOULD'VE Been Taught in School.

MENUMENU
  • Blog
  • Finance
    • Cryptocurrency
    • Real Estate
    • Gold and Silver
    • Investing
    • Increasing Income
    • Financial Q&A
  • Real Estate
  • Crypto
  • Health
    • Fitness
    • Nutrition
    • Confidence
    • LGBTQ+
  • Podcast
    • "What You Should've Been Taught"
    • Audio Feed of the Website
    • Ask a Podcast Question
  • About
    • Testimonials
    • About Cade
    • Rugby Bio
    • Instagram
    • Shop
    • Contact
You are here: Home / LGBTQ+ / The Intersex Flag: Its Colors, Meaning and the Community Itself
The Intersex Flag: Its Colors, Meaning and the Community Itself

The Intersex Flag: Its Colors, Meaning and the Community Itself

February 1, 2022 By Cade Hildreth Leave a Comment

A 2017 poll revealed that about 4.5% of Americans openly identified with the LGBTQ+ community. Truthfully, the numbers are probably far higher, given the number of people who aren’t in a safe environment to come out. Plus, there are entire identities that are often overlooked in these kinds of polls.

The intersex community is one of these often-overlooked communities. You may have noticed the “I” in “LGBTQIA+” or seen the intersex flag once or twice without knowing what it represented.

The more we know about the LGBTQ+ community, the faster we can create a more inclusive world. Read on to learn about the intersex flag, its history, and the community itself.

What Does the Intersex Flag Mean?

The most commonly used intersex flag has a yellow backdrop and a perfect purple circle in the center. It is used to represent the intersex community, meaning the people who compose it.

It is not meant to represent the diverse range of gender and sexualities identities experienced by the members of the community; there are other pride flags for that.

Importantly, this flag has not been embraced by all intersex people, some of whom don’t identify with what it represents. In fact, the intersex flag has undergone many changes over the years.

Let’s take a look at the history behind the flag.

Intersex Flag History

As we’ve discussed before, the history behind LGBTQ+ symbols is just as important as the symbols, themselves. Previous attempts to establish an intersex flag were often considered derivative or inaccurate.

For example, some versions of the flag embraced the rainbow that is often associated with queer pride, while others used colors like blue and pink, which are found on the transgender flag.

The problem with these variations was that many intersex people didn’t identify with these colors. The rainbow flag has historically been used to represent sexuality, while the colors blue and pink felt closely aligned with gender identity.

That’s why in 2013 Morgan Carpenter chose the colors yellow and purple for the intersex flag, because neither color is associated with the social constructs of the gender binary (male/female).

The circle, perfect and unbroken, represents the wholeness of intersex people. It is a reminder that regardless of social norms or pseudoscientific claims, intersex people are perfect the way they are or choose to be.

Why Is the Intersex Flag Important?

Intersex people often go through an experience that is unique to them. From a young age, many are stripped of bodily autonomy and privacy. Decisions are made for them as infants or young children that should have been their choices to make when they reached an adequate age.

Having a flag to represent intersex people both raises awareness and creates community. It also validates the lived experiences of the members of this group.

The intersex flag is both a way to support the intersex community and take a stand against discrimination and unethical medical practices.

What Is the Definition of Intersex?

It’s important to remember that when we’re discussing the LGBTQ+ community, we’re not only talking about sexual preferences. In some cases, we’re also exploring gender identity or sexual identity, which are different from one another and from sexuality.

The definition of intersex can mean a variety of things, but often aligns with sexual identity or anatomical features.

At a basic level, the word intersex is most often used to describe someone who is born with variations in sex characteristics – such as chromosomes, genitals, gonads, or sex hormones. Thus, an intersex person may be born with or develop the anatomical features we associate with both (or neither) male and female anatomy.

Importantly, being intersex doesn’t translate to one specific “look” or outcome. Because it is an identity, it is critical to ask each person you meet with this identity what it means to them. 

Also, remember that anatomical differences do not inherently align with gender or sexual identity.

An intersex person can be a woman, a man, a nonbinary person, a transgender person or any other gender identity. Likewise, intersex people can also identify as straight, gay, queer, asexual—whatever matches their feelings of sexual and romantic attraction.

How Many People Are Intersex?

It is difficult to give an exact number when estimating the percentage of our population that is intersex. As of right now, it is estimated that 1 in 100 people are born with variations that could be categorized as intersex.

Why isn’t this number considered accurate?

Some intersex variations are very subtle and are overlooked at birth. Some intersex variations don’t become evident until later in life, sometimes around puberty or well into adulthood. Other variations present as subtle variations throughout one’s lifespan.

Perhaps most importantly, most intersex people prefer to be keep their medical records private, which limits large-scale documentation.

Because there is no single defining feature of intersex individuals, it’s not possible to get an exact percentage. Thus, the are odds are that the intersex community has been vastly under reported.

the intersex flag

Differences of Development

Some people mistakenly believe that being intersex falls under the supposedly medical umbrella of “disorder of sex development.” It’s important to remember that there is a negative connotation that comes with the word “disorder” and that this word has been used to harm members of the LGBTQIA+ community for decades.

Using the word “disorder” to describe an intersex person’s anatomical or hormonal development implies that there is something “wrong” during development.

Intersex bodies are as natural as any other body. After all, genetic diversity has been a mainstay across all of human evolution and development.

Knowledge Is Power

The more we know about the world and the diverse communities that exist within it, the better equipped we are to build a more inclusive future. Now that you know more about the origins and meaning of the intersex flag, please share your knowledge of the intersex community with others.

Ready to stay in the loop? Join nearly two million other readers who are learning from Cade.
Are we connected on social media? If not, let’s do it so I can share in your world too: Instagram | TikTok | Podcast | LinkedIn | Twitter | Facebook | Pinterest
4.9/5 - (43 votes)

Share this:

  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)

Filed Under: LGBTQ+

Reader Interactions

Tell Us What You Think! Cancel reply

Primary Sidebar

  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • Pinterest
  • TikTok

“As an LGBTQ+ entrepreneur, real estate investor, former USA Rugby Player, and fitness fanatic, I’ll teach you what your parents and teachers should’ve taught you, but didn’t know themselves.” -Cade Hildreth

Want to know what I learned making my first few million? Subscribe here.

Or, listen to Cade’s articles on the go as a Podcast.

Question: Where in the world were you born — and Question: Where in the world were you born — and is it where you live now? 🌎I’ll go first, I grew up in St Paul, MN, and now I live just south of Washington, DC, in Virginia.I’ve also lived in Hanover, New Hampshire; North Hampton, Massachusetts; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Vancouver, Canada; and Christchurch, New Zealand. ☺️
Scroll … for an inside look…Hope you’re a Scroll … for an inside look…Hope you’re all living a life that is true to you 💛
I post these videos to help members of our communi I post these videos to help members of our community become financially free. 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️🙏🏽I’m curious … growing up, did your family talk to you about money/investing? 🤔#lgbtqiaplus #nonbinary #financialfreedom #financialliteracy
💰Financial Lesson: You’ve got to earn your mo 💰Financial Lesson: You’ve got to earn your money TWICE … here’s why💰Are these brief financial lessons helpful?Please me know by leaving a 💯 if you find them valuable
.
.
.
.
.
#lgbtqia #lgbtqcommunity #lgbtqsupport #lgbtfamilies #nonbinary #financialliteracy
My recent podcast guest @Taryn.Durant is a LGBTQIA My recent podcast guest @Taryn.Durant is a LGBTQIA+ fitness coach, health professional, and entrepreneur. What's more, she has gone through an incredible fitness transformation of her own and now teaches other people how to do it too.If you haven’t already met all of your fitness and professional goals, then you’re definitely going to want to listen to this episode, because we go deep into...- how to construct a physique of your own imagination
- how to eat for muscle gain or fat loss
- how to make fitness inclusive for all bodies and genders
- how to handle anxiety
- what your mind tries to limit you and what to do about it
- and so much moreYou can listen on iTunes or Spotify at the "What You Should've Been Taught" podcast or you can follow this link:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/guest-taryn-durant-on-inclusive-fitness-mindset-and/id1523094339
Swipe until you read the quote, please … ➡️ Swipe until you read the quote, please … ➡️It’s funny because we’re taught that “different is wrong” but everything wonderful that has happened in my life is BECAUSE of being different.Remember…Extraordinary = extra (or beyond) ordinaryRemarkable = Worthy of remarkOutstanding = To stand outExceptional = To be the exceptionSo I say, let’s embrace different … celebrate it … and pursue it.Also, Happy Easter Weekend if you celebrate … and happy Spring if you don’t! 🐣☀️🌿#lgbtqiacommunity #lgbtqiaplus #lgbtqia #nonbinary #genderfluid
Load More... Follow on Instagram

Recent Posts

Gender Spectrum

The Gender Spectrum: A Scientist Explains Why Gender Isn’t Binary

Rich Dad Poor Dad Summary

Rich Dad Poor Dad Summary – A Foolproof System for Wealth

Pride Flags

Beyond the Rainbow: Your Ultimate Guide to Pride Flags

different types of protein powder

Different Types of Protein Powder: Secrets to Getting Swole

How to start house flipping

How to Start House Flipping: A Simple 5 Step Guide

Categories

  • Confidence
  • Cryptocurrency
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Exclude
  • Finance
  • Fitness
  • Gold and Silver
  • Increasing Income
  • Investing
  • LGBTQ+
  • Nutrition
  • Real Estate

Ask a Podcast Question | Contact Us | Terms of Use | Privacy Policy

COPYRIGHT © 2019 · CADEHILDRETH.COM | PHONE: ‪(202) 660-4705‬  | 800 CORPORATE DRIVE, SUITE 301, STAFFORD, VA 22554, USA

 

*Disclaimer: Nothing on this site should be construed as medical, health, or financial advice. Before making any health decisions, you should consult with your doctor. Before making any financial decisions, you should consult with professional adviser, such as a financial planner or CPA.