We are all familiar with the famous ‘rainbow’ flag which was created by American artist Gilbert Baker in 1978 to celebrate members of the gay and lesbian community.
The original version comprised of eight symbolic colours to evoke a rainbow as a symbol of hope: pink (sex), red (life), orange (healing), yellow (sunlight), green (nature), turquoise (magic), indigo (serenity), and violet (spirit).
A year later the pink and turquoise colours were dropped due to a shortage in fabric which resulted in the recognisable six-colour flag we see today.
But there are now colourful flags for all 72 individual genders with some displaying striking designs and unusual symbols.
Among the lesser-known identities is Astergender for non-binary genders that feel ‘bright and celestial’.
The flag displays a yellow star with the male, female, and gender fluid icon signs.
Vertical pink, purple, black, grey and white coloured stripes with a cartoon-like eyeball in the middle adorns another flag for those who identify as Epicene.
It is associated with a strong feeling of not being able to relate to any of the two genders of the binary gender or both of the binary gender characteristics.
So do you know your Epicene from your Demiflux? How about your Affectugender from your Genderpuck?
MailOnline has produced a handy interactive guide to all 72 gender flags amid the NHS being accused of ‘woke pandering’ after a LGBTQ+ banner was unfurled at the Royal Stoke Hospital.
Just hover over each flag below to find out about each identity and a full description of their meanings.
We are all familiar with the famous ‘rainbow’ flag (pictured) which was created by American artist Gilbert Baker in 1978 to celebrate members of the gay and lesbian community
Yesterday, NHS bosses were accused of ‘woke pandering’ after they brought out a banner featuring flags for 21 genders or sexualities.
Different terms for those who consider themselves not belonging to any sex, or are a combination of both, are included on the banner at Royal Stoke Hospital.
The familiar Gay Pride flag, which features a rainbow, appears on the banner alongside a selection of lesser-known identities – such as Polysexual, Demiromantic and Genderqueer. The collection of flags is titled ‘Everyone is welcome here’.
Patients at the hospital in Stoke-on-Trent have expressed outrage at the banner, with one telling The Sun: ‘People are waiting months and even years for treatment but the NHS is more interested in woke pandering than taking care of patients it seems.’
University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust – considered one of the country’s worst performing – said the flag enables patients to ‘be themselves’.
The trust added that the banner shows support for LGBTQ+ communities ahead of Pride month in June.
Jane Haire, UHNM Chief People Officer, said: ‘We understand that different individuals may have varying views on symbols and flags used to represent different identities but this banner symbolises our commitment to achieving a more inclusive organisation where both colleagues and the people we care for are encouraged to be themselves.’
A banner featuring flags for 21 genders or sexualities appears at Royal Stoke Hospital
The new banner comes after an NHS hospital was criticised last year for including 18 gender options on a patient form.
In November last year, NHS doctors also hit out at a new ‘nonsensical’ form they were being asked to fill out which involved ticking whether patients have a penis or vagina.
The form included questions about sexual orientation, gender, sex assigned at birth, preferred pronouns, if they have transitioned and if so to what extent and whether they have any plans to change gender in the future.
Medics were asked to fill in what ‘organs the patient currently has,’ ‘organs present at birth,’ ‘organs surgically enhanced or constructed’ and ‘organs hormonally enhanced,’ according to the Telegraph.
Doctors were given a list of possible organs the patient has which includes a penis, vagina, uterus, cervix, breasts, prostate, testes and ovaries.
But some staff have described the forms as ‘insane,’ ‘bizarre’ and ‘nonsensical’ from a scientific point of view.
Source: Mail Online
