We are all familiar with the famous “rainbow” flag which was created by American artist Gilbert Baker in 1978 to honor members of the gay and lesbian community.
The original version consisted of eight symbolic colors to evoke a rainbow as a symbol of hope: pink (sex), red (life), orange (healing), yellow (sunlight), green (nature), turquoise (magic), indigo ( serenity), and violet (spirit).
A year later, the pink and turquoise colors were abandoned due to fabric shortages, resulting in the recognizable six-color flag we see today.
But there are now colorful flags for all 72 individual genders and some display eye-catching designs and unusual symbols.
Among the lesser-known identities is Astergender for non-binary genders who feel “bright and heavenly.”
The flag displays a yellow star with the signs of male, female and gender fluid icons.
Vertical stripes of pink, purple, black, gray and white with a cartoon-like eyeball in the middle adorn another flag for those who identify as Epicene.
It is associated with a strong feeling of not being able to relate to either gender of the gender binary or to both characteristics of the gender binary.
So, do you know your Epicene from your Demiflux? How about your Affectugender from your Genderpuck?
MailOnline has put together a handy interactive guide to the 72 gender flags amid the NHS’s accusation of ‘woke pandering’ after an LGBTQ+ banner was unfurled at Royal Stoke Hospital.
Simply hover over each flag below to learn about each identity and a full description of their meanings.
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We’re all familiar with the famous “rainbow” flag (pictured), which was created by American artist Gilbert Baker in 1978 to honor members of the gay and lesbian community.
Yesterday, NHS bosses were accused of “pandering to wokeness” after they brought out a banner with flags of 21 genders or sexualities.
The Royal Stoke Hospital banner includes different terms for those who consider themselves to be neither sex, or a combination of both.
The familiar Gay Pride flag, featuring a rainbow, appears on the poster alongside a selection of lesser-known identities, such as Polysexual, Demiromantic and Genderqueer. The flag collection is titled “Everyone is welcome here.”
Patients at Stoke-on-Trent hospital have expressed outrage at the banner, with one telling The Sun: “People are waiting months and even years for treatment, but it seems the NHS is more interested in to please patients than to take care of patients. ‘
The University Hospitals of the North Midlands NHS Trust, considered one of the worst performing in the country, said the flag allows patients to “be themselves”.
The trust added that the banner shows support for LGBTQ+ communities ahead of Pride month in June.
Jane Haire, chief people officer at UHNM, said: “We understand that different people may have different views on the symbols and flags used to represent different identities, but this banner symbolizes our commitment to achieving a more inclusive organization where both colleagues like the people we love are encouraged to be themselves.’
Banner with flags of 21 genders or sexualities appears at Royal Stoke Hospital
The new sign comes after an NHS hospital was criticized last year for including 18 gender options on a patient form.
In November last year, NHS doctors also criticized a “pointless” new form they were being asked to fill out which involved ticking whether patients had a penis or vagina.
The form included questions about sexual orientation, gender, sex assigned at birth, preferred pronouns, whether they have transitioned and, if so, to what extent, and whether they have any plans to change gender in the future.
Doctors were asked to indicate what “organs the patient currently has,” “organs present at birth,” “surgically constructed or enhanced organs,” and “hormonally enhanced organs,” according to the Telegraph.
Doctors received a list of possible organs the patient has, including penis, vagina, uterus, cervix, breasts, prostate, testicles and ovaries.
But some staff have described the shapes as “crazy”, “bizarre” and “nonsense” from a scientific point of view.