No. 058 · Community
Lambda flag (Gay Activists Alliance)
A chrome yellow Greek lambda on a dark blue field, one of the first flags of the gay liberation movement.
Also known as Gay Activists Alliance flag, GAA lambda flag, Lambda pride flag
Help us verify this flag
This flag is widely shared, but we have not been able to confirm some details from reliable sources yet:
- The exact shades of blue and yellow on the original flag
If you know this flag's history, its designer, or a trustworthy source, please tell us through the submission form. Any help in verifying it is greatly appreciated.
- Creator
- Tom Doerr, for the Gay Activists Alliance
- Introduced
- 1969 to 1970
- Design
- Solid field with a chrome yellow lambda in the center
- License
- License not yet verified
- Used by
- Historically the Gay Activists Alliance of New York, and later the gay rights movement as a whole
What the colors mean
Dark blue #1B2A6B
The field of the original Gay Activists Alliance flag.
Chrome yellow lambda #FFB000
The Gay Activists Alliance and its political work; later a symbol of gay liberation as a whole.
History
Graphic artist Tom Doerr, a founding member of New York's Gay Activists Alliance, designed the lambda symbol in December 1969, and the group adopted it in 1970. He placed it in chrome yellow on a dark blue field.
At first the lambda referred to the Gay Activists Alliance and its political work. It soon spread as a symbol of gay liberation in general, and in 1974 the International Gay Rights Congress in Edinburgh adopted it.
Other lambda flags followed, including a lavender lambda on white in Los Angeles in the early 1970s and, later, a white lambda on the rainbow flag. Exact color shades for the original are not documented, so ours are close matches.
Questions and answers
What do the colors of the Lambda flag mean?
Dark blue: The field of the original Gay Activists Alliance flag. Chrome yellow lambda: The Gay Activists Alliance and its political work; later a symbol of gay liberation as a whole.
Who created the Lambda flag?
Credited to Tom Doerr, for the Gay Activists Alliance, 1969 to 1970.
What are the Lambda flag hex codes?
#1B2A6B (dark blue), #FFB000 (chrome yellow lambda).
Can I download the Lambda 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
- Lambda flags, Flags of the World
- LGBTQ symbols, Wikipedia
Last reviewed 2026-11-03 by Erika Castillo, editor. Spot an error? Suggest a correction.