No. 039 · Sexual orientation
Labrys lesbian flag
A white labrys, the double-headed axe, on an inverted black triangle over a violet field: one of the earliest lesbian pride flags.
- Creator
- Sean Campbell
- Introduced
- 1999
- Design
- Solid field with a labrys on an inverted black triangle
- License
- License not yet verified
What the colors mean
Violet #993399
Lesbians, through the violets of Sappho's poetry.
Inverted black triangle #000000
Reclaimed from the Nazi badge used to mark lesbian prisoners.
White labrys #FFFFFF
Strength and self-sufficiency, a symbol taken up by lesbian feminists in the 1970s.
History
Graphic designer Sean Campbell created the labrys flag in 1999. It was published in June 2000 in the Palm Springs edition of the Gay and Lesbian Times Pride issue.
Every element is a reclaimed or historic symbol. The labrys, a double-headed axe from Minoan religion, was adopted by lesbian feminists in the 1970s as a symbol of strength. The inverted black triangle turns around a badge Nazi Germany used to mark lesbian prisoners. Violet links to lesbians through Sappho's poetry.
The drawing here follows a public domain (CC0) redraw on Wikimedia Commons. Some sources give a deeper violet, #792491.
Questions and answers
What do the colors of the Labrys lesbian flag mean?
Violet: Lesbians, through the violets of Sappho's poetry. Inverted black triangle: Reclaimed from the Nazi badge used to mark lesbian prisoners. White labrys: Strength and self-sufficiency, a symbol taken up by lesbian feminists in the 1970s.
Who created the Labrys lesbian flag?
Credited to Sean Campbell, 1999.
What are the Labrys lesbian flag hex codes?
#993399 (violet), #000000 (inverted black triangle), #FFFFFF (white labrys).
Can I download the Labrys lesbian flag?
Not from this site. License not yet verified. We are confirming the usage terms for this design. Until then it is shown for reference only.
Download
License not yet verified. We are confirming the usage terms for this design. Until then it is shown for reference only.
We only offer downloads for flags that are public domain or openly licensed. How we handle licensing.
Where to buy
Affiliate link. As an Amazon Associate, My Pride Flag earns from qualifying purchases.
Related flags
Sources
- Lesbian flags, Wikipedia
- File:Labrys Lesbian Flag.svg (CC0), Wikimedia Commons
- Labrys lesbian flag colors, Flag Color Codes
Last reviewed 2026-10-31 by Erika Castillo, editor. Spot an error? Suggest a correction.