# Disability flag

The Disability Flag, Disability Pride Flag or Flag of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities is a flag that represents people with any kind of disabilities. It was created by the disbled activist Ann Magill and then presented to the United Nations. The flag is meant for general use, particularly at disability-centered events aswell as part of the Christopher Street Day. It is part of the International Day of Persons with Disabilities and movements for disabilty rights around the world.

## Design and meaning

The Disability Pride Flag is a charcoal grey flag bisected diagonally from the top left corner to the lower right corner by five parallel stripes in red, pale gold, pale grey, light blue, and green. The Flag comprises several different elements, each symbolizing various aspects of the disability experience. The Flag is a powerful symbol representing the diversity, struggle, and pride of the disabled community. It was originally designed by Ann Magill, a disabled activist, and later revised to improve visual accessibility. The flag is intended to represent people with disabilities, their struggle and fight for rights. Related concepts are including the disability pride movement and the LGBTQIA+ movement.
Meaning of the colors and design:
* The diagonal bands signify: "Cutting across" the walls and barriers that separate the disabled from society.
* Black Field: Mourning for ableist violence, abuse victims, people who commited suicide and everyone who died due to the disability. Hexadecimal and RGB: #585858 RGB(80, 80, 80)
* Red Stripe: Physical Disabilities. Hexadecimal and RGB color: #CF7280 RGB(207, 114, 123)
* Gold Stripe: Neurodivergence. Hexadecimal and RGB color: #EEDF77 RGB(238, 223, 119)
* Blue Stripe: Psychiatric diseases. Hexadecimal and RGB color: #7AC1E0 RGB(122, 193, 224)
* Green Stripe: Sensory disabilities. Hexadecimal and RGB color: #3AAF7D RGB(58, 175, 125)
* White Stripe: Undiagnosed and Invisible disabilities. Hexadecimal and RGB color: #E9E9E9 RGB(233, 233, 233)

## History

There were several attempts to create a flag that represented all disabilities. However, three had the greatest success.

### The Gold-Silver-Bronze Flag

The Gold-Silver-Bronze Disability Flag aimed mainly to highlight the achievements and value of disabled individuals in society.

### Concept and History

The Gold-Silver-Bronze flag was designed with a metallic color scheme inspired by the medals awarded in sports and competitions, espacially the paralympics. The idea behind this design was to emphasize the worthiness, accomplishments, and contributions of disabled people, countering societal narratives that often focused on limitations rather than strengths. On December 3, 2017, at the United Nations' International Day of Persons with Disabilities, parliamentarians from Latin American countries gathered in a plenary assembly in Peru. By acclamation, they declared the flag to be the symbol of all people with disabilities. On the same day, the flag was handed over to the European headquarters of the United Nations. Many Spanish cities and municipalities display the flag on the International Day of People with Disabilities. In 2018, the flag was shown in the city of Santa Cruz de La Palma on the Canary Island of La Palma. On December 3, 2018, the flag was adopted by the "Foment d'Esportistes amb Reptes" (FER), an Olympic and Paralympic sports organization in Spain.

### Design and Meaning

The flag is a tricolour flag with three equally-sized horizontal stripes of gold, silver, and bronze. These colours are meant to evoke the three medals at the Paralympic Games, and are intended to represent the collective's overcoming of obstacles, rather than the competitive and meritocratic sentiments related to the event itself. For example, discriminatory adversities imposed by society, the victory of new rights achieved for the collective, and a celebration of increased awareness of social inequality. According to Recio, the three colours also represent the different forms of disability. However, the meanings of these colours are intended to be decided by the collective community they represent.
* Gold – Represented excellence, resilience, and leadership in the disability community.
* Silver – Symbolized adaptability and intelligence, reflecting how disabled individuals navigate a world often not built for them.
* Bronze – Stood for perseverance, hard work, and the everyday struggles and triumphs of disabled people.

### Why It Was Not Widely Adopted

While the message behind the Gold-Silver-Bronze flag was positive, it had several limitations:
* It lacked a direct representation of different types of disabilities, unlike the later five-striped Disability Pride Flag by Ann Magill.
* The metallic color scheme was not as visually distinct or symbolic as other flag designs.
* Some critics felt that linking disability representation to a ranking system (gold, silver, bronze) could unintentionally reinforce a hierarchy among disabled individuals.
Because of these factors, the flag never gained significant traction within the disability rights movement.

### Transition to the Current Disability Pride Flag

The Gold-Silver-Bronze Flag, while an interesting concept, faded from use as the community embraced a design that better reflected the diversity and struggles of disabled people. As disability activism evolved, there was a push for a more inclusive and representative symbol. This led to the 2019 Disability Pride Flag by Ann Magill, which introduced specific colors for different types of disabilities and a black background to honor those lost to ableism. To improve the visual safety and inclusive meaning the 2019 Version Flag was replaced in 2021. The new (2021) Disability Pride Flag is an evolution of the Lightning Bolt Disability Pride Flag, which is safer for people with visually-triggered disabilities. The color brightness changes also make the flag more accessible to those with color blindness.

## Influence of "Disability Pride"

The Disability Pride flag represents the Disability Pride Movement. Its origin is in English-speaking countries, where the movement's presence is greater. The original Disability Pride flag was created in 2019 by Ann Magill, a disabled woman, and featured a zig-zag or lightning bolt design but after receiving input from people with visually triggering disabilities, the flag was changed in 2021 to have muted colors and straight diagonal stripes. Certain events and celebrations include Disability Pride Month, Disability Pride Week, and the parades for both events.
The movement has its roots in pride awareness events for other minority communities. The concept and design of the Disability Pride Flag were also inspired and influenced by social movements such as LGBT pride and Black pride.
The first Disability Pride Parade in the United States was held in Boston, Massachusetts, in 1990. Since then, disability pride parades have spread throughout the country. Parades have also occurred in Norway, the United Kingdom, South Korea, and Germany.
The Chicago Disability Pride Parade outlines these goals in its statement:
* Change the way people think and define "disability".
* Break and end internalized shame among people with disabilities.
* Promote the idea in society that disability is a natural and fundamental part of human diversity that people living with disabilities can be proud of.

## The relationship to the "LGBTQIA+"

The Disability Pride Movement and the LGBTQIA+ community share significant historical, political, and social intersections. Both movements advocate for rights, visibility, and acceptance, while also challenging systemic discrimination, stigma, and ableism.

### 1. Shared History of Activism

* Stonewall and the Disability Rights Movement: The modern LGBTQIA+ rights movement gained momentum after the Stonewall Riots in 1969. Around the same time, the disability rights movement was also growing, leading to key legislation like the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990.
* Protests and Civil Disobedience: Both movements have used direct action, protests, and legal battles to demand equal rights. Groups like ACT UP (AIDS Coalition to Unleash Power) fought for medical rights for people with HIV/AIDS, many of whom were also disabled.

### 2. Overlapping Identities (Queer & Disabled Experiences)

* A significant number of disabled people identify as LGBTQIA+, and vice versa.
* Studies suggest that queer people are more likely to be disabled due to factors like healthcare discrimination, mental health disparities, and the long-term effects of minority stress.
* LGBTQIA+ disabled individuals face dual marginalization, experiencing discrimination both in queer spaces (due to ableism) and in disability spaces (due to heteronormativity or transphobia).

### 3. Pride Movements and Visibility

* Both communities use Pride events to foster visibility, celebrate identity, and demand systemic change.
* Just as Pride Month (June) celebrates LGBTQIA+ identities, Disability Pride Month (July) highlights disability culture and activism.
* Flags and symbols play a crucial role in both movements, with the Disability Pride Flag and the Rainbow Pride Flag serving as unifying emblems.

### 4. Common Struggles: Ableism, Discrimination, and Healthcare Barriers

* Medical Gatekeeping: Both communities have had to fight against medical discrimination, such as the denial of gender-affirming care for trans people or the forced institutionalization of disabled individuals.
* Legal and Social Inequality: Many disabled LGBTQIA+ people struggle with workplace discrimination, inaccessible housing, and lack of legal protections.
* Sexuality and Autonomy: Disabled individuals are often infantilized, leading to assumptions that they are asexual or incapable of relationships. This mirrors past stereotypes that LGBTQIA+ people faced about their identities being "unnatural" or "invalid."

### 5. Mutual Support and Advocacy

* Disability justice and queer activism increasingly intersect, with groups advocating for inclusive policies, accessible healthcare, and intersectional approaches to human rights.
* LGBTQIA+ spaces are becoming more disability-inclusive, with efforts to provide accessible venues, ASL interpreters, and sensory-friendly Pride events.

## Copyright and licence of the Disability Pride Flag

In 2022, Ann Magill, the creator of the flag, officially released all copyright claims and placed the flag into the public domain. This decision was made to ensure that the flag could be freely used by the disability community without legal restrictions.
Before this, there were concerns that the flag might face commercial exploitation or restricted access, which could limit its use in activism and representation. By making it public domain, Magill ensured that anyone can reproduce, modify, and distribute the flag freely without needing permission or facing copyright issues.