Transgender Visibility Day is around the corner. A day that celebrates transgenders around the world and raises awareness of discrimination against them. This time over, we pay tribute to them celebrating their vibrance that makes the world a better place. And how better to do that than with extraordinary florals?
Flowers have been used to symbolize and signify the community with pride and respect.
But the floral connection is far more deeply rooted in the community’s history. In 1970, on the first anniversary of the Stonewall Riots where police raided a gay bar, demonstrators walked with flowers as markers of solidarity. And that was the moment that gave rise to this everlasting bond of floral pride love and the Pride March.
Here are some of the flowers that represent the pride of the queer community. They may have had a dark past but what makes them truly wondrous is how the community made it their own with an unparalleled essence of love.
Pansy
The association started back in the 1900s when drag performers were also known as ‘pansy performers’ due to their colorful and exuberant clothing. Even though it started out as a derogatory term, today we take pride in the drag community. Courageous, strong and so comfortable with displaying their real self to the world, they’ve come to be a symbol of true strength.
Rose
Found in myriad colours and symbolic of so many beautiful emotions, roses have been at the forefront of the LGBTQIA+ movement. When it comes to Pride March, tie-dye or rainbow roses are the most common occurrence as they pay tribute to the Pride Flag and to the acceptance of love beyond orthodox understanding.
Lavender
In the early times, ’Lavender boys’ aka gay men and ‘Lavender menace’ aka lesbian women were derogatory words used against the community. But today, they hold a mesmerizing significance. Since the color lavender is a blend of blue and pink, they represent a mixture of the two and display the love that transcends all. And reinforce, love is love.
Green Carnation
Elliot Page
Popularized by Oscar Wilde in 1892, when he asked his friends to sport green Carnations on their lapels to his play. Ever since then, the florals have become a secret symbol of the queer community. And the tradition carried on. Actor Elliot Page who came out as transgender wore a Green Carnation lapel pin to Met Gala and garnered appreciation for the same.