Before pride flags waved in the streets, queer folks found subtler ways to say, “I’m one of you.” Colors, flowers, and shapes carried secret meanings. The pink triangle, once used by Nazis to brand gay men, became a 1970s emblem of protest and power. The black triangle, marked on “asocial” women and lesbians, now stands for resilience and solidarity. The lambda, a Greek letter of liberation, fueled early activist energy. The labrys, a double-headed axe, symbolized lesbian strength. And violets, from Sappho’s poetry, whispered queer love long before we could shout it.
