The intersex flag is a flag representing

intersex Intersex people are those born with any of several sex characteristics, including chromosome patterns, gonads, or genitals that, according to the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, "do not fit typical binar ...

individuals and the intersex community. It was created by

Morgan Carpenter Morgan Carpenter is a bioethicist, intersex activist and researcher. In 2013, he created an intersex flag, and became president of Intersex Human Rights Australia (formerly OII Australia). He is now executive director. Following enactment of l ...

Intersex Human Rights Australia Intersex Human Rights Australia (IHRA) is a voluntary organisation for intersex people that promotes the human rights and bodily autonomy of intersex people in Australia, and provides education and information services. Established in 2009 and i ...

in 2013.

History and design

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." 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".

Usage

The intersex flag has been utilised by a range of media and human rights organisations. 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.

Gallery

File:Utrechtpride-intersexboat.jpg, Intersex activists on a boat at Utrecht Canal Pride in the Netherlands, on June 16, 2018 File:ILGA conference 2018 Intersex Awareness Day group photo.jpg,

ILGA-Europe ILGA-Europe is the European region of the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association (ILGA World). It is an advocacy group promoting the interests of lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and intersex (LGBTI) people, at the Eur ...

conference 2018 participants on

Intersex Awareness Day Intersex Awareness Day is an internationally observed awareness day each October 26, designed to highlight human rights issues faced by intersex people. History The event marks the first public demonstration by intersex people in North America ...

, 2018 File:Rotterdam Pride 2018 036.jpg, Rotterdam Pride, Netherlands, 2018 File: Parliament buildings 18 March 2019 b.jpg, Outside the

New Zealand Parliament Buildings New Zealand Parliament Buildings () house the New Zealand Parliament and are on a 45,000 square metre site at the northern end of Lambton Quay, Wellington. From north to south, they are the New Zealand Parliamentary Library, Parliamentary Libra ...

, 18 March 2019, flown at half-staff in memory of those killed in the

Christchurch mosque shootings Two consecutive mass shootings took place in Christchurch, New Zealand, on 15 March 2019. They were committed by a single perpetrator during Friday prayer, first at the Al Noor Mosque in Riccarton, at 1:40p.m. and almost immediately afterwards ...

on 15 March 2019.

Flags derived from the intersex flag

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 The rainbow flag or pride flag (formerly gay pride flag) is a LGBT symbols, symbol of LGBT pride, LGBTQ pride and LGBTQ movements, LGBTQ social movements. The colors reflect the diversity of the LGBTQ community and the spectrum of human sexu ...

version of the rainbow pride flag by Valentino Vecchietti of Intersex Equality Rights UK. File:Intersex-inclusive pride flag.svg, The Progress Pride flag with the intersex flag (2021)

Other intersex symbols

Because the word "

orchid Orchids are plants that belong to the family Orchidaceae (), a diverse and widespread group of flowering plants with blooms that are often colourful and fragrant. Orchids are cosmopolitan plants that are found in almost every habitat on Eart ...

" comes from the Greek word for testicle, and the

orchiectomy Orchiectomy (also named orchidectomy) is a surgery, surgical procedure in which one or both testicles are removed. The surgery can be performed for various reasons: *treatment for testicular cancer *as part of gender-affirming surgery for trans ...

is a common surgery performed on intersex infants –especially those with

androgen insensitivity syndrome Androgen insensitivity syndrome (AIS) is a condition involving the inability to respond to androgens, typically due to androgen receptor dysfunction. It affects 1 in 20,000 to 64,000 XY (karyotype, karyotypically male) births. The condition result ...

– the orchid flower is symbolic of intersexuality and of opposition to non-consensual genital surgery.

References

{{portal bar, Heraldry and Vexillology, Human sexuality, LGBTQ

Flag A flag is a piece of textile, fabric (most often rectangular) with distinctive colours and design. It is used as a symbol, a signalling device, or for decoration. The term ''flag'' is also used to refer to the graphic design employed, and fla ...