No. 059 · Community
Pink triangle flag
An inverted pink triangle on black, reclaimed from the badge the Nazis forced on gay men and made famous by ACT UP.
Also known as Pink triangle, ACT UP flag, Silence = Death 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:
- A standard shade of pink, if one exists
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
- Reclaimed by the gay rights movement; no single designer
- Introduced
- 1970s to 1980s
- Design
- Solid field with an inverted pink triangle in the center
- License
- License not yet verified
- Used by
- The LGBTQ+ community, especially in AIDS activism and in remembrance
What the colors mean
Black #000000
Mourning, and the black field used by ACT UP and Queer Nation.
Pink triangle #F49AC1
Reclaimed from the Nazi badge for gay men, now a symbol of pride, protest, and remembrance.
History
In Nazi concentration camps, men imprisoned as homosexuals were forced to wear a pink triangle badge. Thousands of them died.
Starting in the 1970s, gay activists reclaimed the pink triangle as a symbol of remembrance and pride. In 1987 the Silence=Death Project paired it with the words “SILENCE = DEATH” on a black field, and ACT UP made that design the face of AIDS activism.
Pink triangle flags are usually shown either on white, or inverted on black, as on Queer Nation's and many local flags. We show the inverted triangle on black, without the ACT UP text, which is an artwork by the Silence=Death Project. Exact shades are not standardized.
Questions and answers
What do the colors of the Pink triangle flag mean?
Black: Mourning, and the black field used by ACT UP and Queer Nation. Pink triangle: Reclaimed from the Nazi badge for gay men, now a symbol of pride, protest, and remembrance.
Who created the Pink triangle flag?
Credited to Reclaimed by the gay rights movement; no single designer, in the 1970s to 1980s.
What are the Pink triangle flag hex codes?
#000000 (black), #F49AC1 (pink triangle).
Can I download the Pink triangle 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
- Pink triangle flags, Flags of the World
- LGBTQ symbols, Wikipedia
- Pink triangle, Wikipedia
Last reviewed 2026-11-03 by Erika Castillo, editor. Spot an error? Suggest a correction.