Let’s talk about the MLM flag today. MLM means men loving men. We’re not talking about straight men loving other men with fist bumps and rare hugs. What are we talking about?
What Is The MLM Flag?
The MLM flag is a banner, symbol, call-up, etc., that covers and introduces the presence of a community within our global community.
The community is the Men Loving Men community. This community is a cut out from the popular LGBTQIA+ community.
Everyone knows about that community. It was sort of unexpected when the MLM community decided to branch out from under the towering community.
What was the reason for their branching, you ask?
Well, it wasn’t out of animosity, for sure. It was an intentional separation to create a voice for the minority in the majority and also to expand the entire community.
You can say it’s a win-win for the LGBTQ community.
The MLM flag is composed of purple, blue, green, and many others. Each colour has its significance and reflection on the community.
It was thoughtfully chosen to confidently defend their cause (That is my opinion, though). It could have been for design purposes alone.
You would get to read all about the significance of each colour later on, or you could just slide down there right now (your choice).
The main thing that should be pointed out i that the MLM community is one of perseverance, determination and confidence.
Just like their parent community, they’ve chosen to stand tall, wave their flag and speak their truth without shame or timidity.
And now they stand tall, just like OBO (not everybody would get that).
Let’s take a look at the history of the MLM flag.
Related: Nicaragua Flag: Meaning, History & Colours
History Of The MLM Flag
The MLM Flag(men loving men), or you call it the gay pride flag. Some call it the rainbow flag (not me, though, LGBTQIA+ is the original rainbow). Sub-rainbow, you might say.
However thick their rainbow is or isn’t, the MLM Flag has a super rich history. It was one of the many designs that was drawn up for the LGBTQ+ community.
It was designed by artist and gay rights activist Gilbert Baker in 1978. This was in response to the need for a symbol that could represent the LGBTQ+ community.
The flag has six main stripes, each stripe has a colour and each colour with its significance.
Sine 1978 till now, the MLM Flag has been undulated from rising to falling. One thing it doesn’t do is stay down. It ensures that we fight the norms and rise above social acceptance.
The community has continued to encourage diversity in s3xuality and freedom to be whoever you want to be. The consequence? Well, that’s another topic entirely.
If there is anything you should take from this, it’s that the history of the MLM flag lies in its endurance, its tenacity and its dedication to daring societies and systems.
The history of the MLM flag is created day by day as the flag keeps flying. It reminds us of an esteemed set who have chosen to come out of hiding and stay true to themselves.
How courageous!
The flag has gradually become an emblem of pride, inclusivity and a stake in equal rights. It is displayed during Pride Month and various LGBTQ+ events to celebrate the advocacy for acceptance and diversity.
The moment you’ve wanted to see, what is the meaning of the colours of the MLM flag and its significance?
Meaning Of MLM Flag Colours
There are six main colours on the MLM flag. The remaining two are tints or shades of the other colours.
We would be diving deep into the symbolism of the colours of the flag and why they are so important.
On number one, we have…
1. Greens
The colour green has often been associated with Nature in our world today. You can change nature to natural.
This negates the notion that love between men in our community is Sodomy. It is not; there is enough love in our hearts to go around to women and men alike.
Love among men is usually abolished in our society. Even religion speaks highly against it. God didn’t destroy Sodom and Gomorrah for nothing, then?
Well, the MLM flag says otherwise. With gay men associating more with flowers and plants, this has symbolised their love and deepened their natural connection with nature and… man.
The green in the flag also means Community. Each time you see the green, it should be in your mind that a community is very important in our society.
The only thing more important than a community is a protected community. An unprotected community is a lost community.
2. Teal
The colour of Joy and happiness. Why?
The joy and happiness stems from the freedom to express oneself. It actualizes when you are in a world free of segregation and division.
Joy is a pivotal part of the gay male experience. A life without judgement or segregation is one they hope for day by day.
Apart from the joy from happiness, this joy also comes from discovering one’s true self. You might think that is not so hard.
You might have discovered yourself, too.
The joy that stems from self-discovery conveys a feeling of joy, confidence and journey. It shows that regarding s3xuality, there is no destination or journey.
The journey is the destination.
3. White
White represents inclusivity. How? Not all gay men fit into the traditional gay notion. Other shoes fit in the men-loving men community.
The white speaks for the non-binary, trans and other gender non-conforming roles. It goes to show the magnanimity of the gay pride community.
It is a reminder that the LGBTQ+ community stands to uplift every person who has ever been shut up directly or indirectly.
The word is representation and inclusion
4. Light Blue
Have you witnessed those baby showers, and there is a pop to reveal the gender of the baby?
When the blue colour shows, it means the woman is pregnant with a male child.
The light blue colour in the flag affirms that this is a community for boys.
Psych!
Watch as that blue bleeds into purple. This symbolises a shift in the societal views of men as rigid, non-conforming straight men.
The light blue stands as a bridge to bring men who don’t feel comfortable at their spot to a more comfortable ground.
5. Purple
Purple normally stands for royalty. But in the MLM spectrum, it stands for strength, courage and fortitude.
The strength and courage it takes to exist in a world that has a naturally segregated view is thick and needed.
Each stripe represents determination, tenacity and resilience to stand against the odds hate and discrimination.
Purple stands for equality and acceptance. This alone symbolizes the essence of MLM and LGBTQ+ as a whole.
6. Indigo
Diversity!
That’s the whole essence of the MLM movement. Diversity!
The indigo stripe celebrates a dedication to finding more scared heroes. It celebrates individualism and courage to stand for what you believe in.
This colour represents the vast array of presentations, relationships, and life experiences within the gay male community.
What more is there to say?
It might not be your traditional rainbow colours, but there is something “rainbowy” about it.
The MLM flag will continue to fly high and put the gay pride community on the front of inclusivity, admission and utmostly, love.
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Any Last Words?
Well, there’s no Gun to my head, but let’s imagine there is. What can I say about the MLM community and Flag?
Just like any flag, they represent a community, state or country without having to even speak. They inform about the uniqueness of every movement.
The MLM flag has done exactly that. The MLM flag has influenced everyone, whether or not you choose to be truthful.
It propels everyone to stand tall, stand firm and unshakable once you’ve discovered what makes you think.
Don’t waver, don’t fret. You are MLM!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What is an MLM flag?
The Gay Male Pride Flag is a newer design specifically highlighting the MLM (men-loving men) community.
The flag is a combination of different variations of blue, a colour traditionally associated with masculinity.
2. What does the progress pride flag mean?
This flag was designed to celebrate diversity and inclusion for everyone in the LGBTQI+ (lesbian, gay, bis3xual, transgender, queer, and inters3x) community.
It combines elements of the traditional rainbow flag with other LGBTQI+ flags to highlight groups that have sometimes been underrepresented in pride celebrations.
3. What does the aromantic flag look like?
The Aromantic Pride Flag, a five-stripe design of dark green, light green, white, grey, and black, represents people who either do not experience romantic attraction or do so in a nontraditional way.
4. What does the poly flag look like?
The flag has blue, red, and black bars with the Greek letter pi symbol in the middle.
The blue bar represents honesty and openness among partners, while the red bar represents love and affection.
