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Emily Ayers
ENGL 419.001
Multimodal Research Essay
25 November 2015
Pride: Flag Waving and Protest
Expressing oneself is always visual. The clothes someone wears and the
flags they wave tell a story. The Pride flag is no different. Created in 1978 by
Gilbert Baker, it is a symbol of a movement, an identity, and social upheaval.
Waving this flag is still punishable by law, even death, in many countries. It
can be argued that flying the Pride flag represents resistance to a heterosexual
society, and fights for a place within it.
World War II was used to oppress and exterminate many people.
Included in the list of victims were homosexual males. Identified by a pink
triangle, these men were convicted of sexual deviance, and were lumped in with
pedophiles, people who practiced beastiality, and others (Saifer). Although this
symbol has been reclaimed by some in the LGBT movement, Gilbert Baker
wanted a better solution, so he created the pride flag (Pride Flag Creator). The
Pride flag is just that, a symbol that shows the world that LGBT people are still
here, still strong, and still fighting for inclusion and rights.

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Figure 1 Pride Flag meaning

Public domain
Source: http://www.cbc.ca/radio

Flag-Waving
The act of waving a flag is political. When used in protests, it often
disrupts the norm. The pride flag was created originally as a response to the
pink triangle that some homophobic people would use to oppress gay or
presumed gay individuals (Pride Flag Creator). The continued use of the flag
has been instrumental in securing rights for people with non-normative
sexualities, especially in the context of Pride parades.
As with the flag-waving of immigrants highlighted in Pineda and
0Sowardss analysis, people who wave the Pride flag are often saddled with the
perception by the greater public as an example of failure to assimilate and
cultural deviance (172). This perception is due to societal expectations of

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heterosexuality. Therefore, both activists and the opposition react to the
ideograph of the pride flag differently.
As shown in figure 2, protestors/activists see the flag as a rallying point
of frustration with the current structure of societyChik-fil-A consistently
donates money to anti-LGBT organizationsso they will wave flags to show
their disgust with the political climate. This is similar to the protests outlined
in Pinedas article that occurred in 2006 protesting unfair immigration laws
(164-195). Many protesters around the time of marriage equality battles waved
flags, held signs, and chanted in support of their goal.

Figure 2 Protester waves pride flags in front of Chik-fil-A restaurant

Allen J. Schaben
Source: www.gettyimages.com

By being photographed in front of a well-known opponent with the Pride flag

flying, this protester is using both immediate and cultural/historical context to
build his argument (Pineda and Sowards, 165). He is relying on the audiences

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knowledge (through media or otherwise) of Chik-fil-As position on the issue of
gay rights to provide contrast and more effectively use his flags as an
argument. Therefore, the flag waver is using the Pride flag to create a visual
construction of us versus the Other (Pineda and Sowards, 166). By creating
this dichotomy, it inspires others to take action.
On the flip side, anti-marriage supporters often spouted rhetoric
referencing the biblical story of Noah to combat the now common perception of
the rainbow as a gay rights symbol. Although Bakers design choices shown in
figure 1 are positivespirit, life, healing, etc.the colors of the rainbow now
represent corruption to the people who are against same sex marriage. These
conflicting ideographs contribute to the battle inherent in activism.
Acceptance

Figure 3 American Pride Flag

Source: flicker.com
Jason Pier

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As with the immigrant movements, gay pride protestors will often either
fly the American flag with their exotic flag (Pindea & Sowards 166), or create
an entirely new one. Figure 3 is an example of a new flagby combining the
colors of the Pride flag with the symbolism of the American flag (which
represents our melting pot of a nation) activists are making a statement:
accepting their sexuality is following the American Dream. By attempting this
transformation, there is a softening of the political blows, and an established
dual citizenship between the gay community and America. However, that is
not enough.
Many activists wish to be included in anti-discriminatory laws. With the
ruling for same-sex marriage in the Supreme court, many people were happy
that the fight was over. They are now included in a long-standing tradition with
the ones they love, and they can no longer be excluded from decisions about
medical care for their spouses. However, there is still a need for Pride in a
world that is not completely accepting.
Despite constant backlash from the heteronormative community, gay
protestors continue to assert their difference. The Pride flag provides a rhetoric
of resistance, love, and defying the norms of society. It effectively employs an
us versus them dichotomy and provides a sense of community to those who
unite under it. It has become an ideograph that represents an entire
community of non-heterosexual people within the larger society.

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Works Cited
Pier, Jason. 2011 DC Pride Parade. Photograph. Flickr. Yahoo. 11 Jun. 2011.
Web. 24 Nov. 2015.
Pineda, Richard D. and Stacey K. Sowards. Flag Waving as a Visual Argument:
2006 Immigration Demonstrations and Cultural Citizenship.
Argumentation and Advocacy 43 (2007): 164-174. Web. 23 Nov. 2015.
Pride flag creator Gilbert Baker on the rainbows real meaning. CBCradio.
CBC/Radio-Canada, 26 June 2015. Web. 24 Nov. 2015.
Saifer, Scott. The History of the Gay Male and Lesbian Experience during
World War II. www.pink-triangle.org. Scott Saifer, 1992. Web 5 Dec.
2015.
Shauben, Allen J. Protester Holds up Pride Flags. Photograph. Gettyimages.
Getty Images. 3 Aug. 2012. Web. 24 Nov. 2015.