Vincian

> *Not to be confused with gay man*
>
>

**Vincian** is a term that has gained multiple definitions and uses since its original coining. It's coining insinuated that it was intended to refer to men attracted to men (assuming this also includes non-binary individuals), as a replacement for achillean. It is still unclear whether it was made as an alternative to achillean or an alternative to gay man.

However, the term has been most commonly used to describe gay men/man-aligned, or non-binary individuals due to miscommunications. The term is also sometimes mistaken as being the masculine equivalent of the term lesbian, however, turian is more commonly known as lesbian's counterpart and was coined to act as such.

Another definition sometimes used is described as non-women who are attracted to non-women. This definition includes any genders that are not completely a woman, who are attracted to any genders that are not completely a woman and it is one of the most common definitions. However, use of 'non-women' as a term has been criticised by some non-binary individuals as those who are multigender, genderfluid, and/or identify as mlm/nblw women are excluded by this term. Another way in which you will see a similar meaning worded, is any non-woman who is attracted to men. This meaning refers to any genders that are not completely a woman, attracted to men.

## History & Coining

The term vincian was coined on June 22nd, 2018, by Tumblr user bivirgil. It was originally created as some form of alternative to the term achillean and as a word describing, or including gay men. However, there are known miscommunications that have caused confusion as to what vincian actually means and was intended to mean, therefore it its definition is not restricted to one thing. This is because the coiner also stated that vincian is for gay men, whilst also referring to a replacement for achillean.

Vincian was coined in honour of Leonardo da Vinci, who was an Italian polymath of the Renaissance. He was thought to be involved in various homosexual relationships, although no one has proven it.

Gay man is often confused with vincian and many gay man flags and definitions are incorrectly labelled as vincian flags and definitions.

## Flag

(**Note:** There are currently a lot of issues with what's considered the 'vincian' flag vs the 'gay man' flag due to what's been displayed on popular wikis - this segment includes both vincian and gay man flags)

The flag included in the coining of vincian was created by Tumblr user bivirgil. The confirmed colour meanings are: white - non binary men, purple blues - effeminate/gender non conforming men.

A flag often mistaken for the vincian flag was designed by anonymous and Mod Hermy of the @ask-pride-color-schemes Tumblr blog in 2017, named the gay man flag. It was inspired by the lipstick lesbian flag, which is now known as being plagiarised and controversial, and was criticised for its stereotypical blue colour scheme and relation to the controversial flag.

In 2019, however, the Tumblr Blog gayflagblog designed a flag based off of the aforementioned gay man flag that resolved many of the criticised aspects of it. It is also commonly mistaken for a vincian flag when it is actually a gay man flag. The top three stripes represent community, healing, and joy. The bottom three stripes represent pure love, fortitude, and diversity. The white middle stripe is taken from the trans flag and represents all trans, non-binary, and gender non-conforming vincians/gay men. The green and teal in the flag represent nature. The blue gradient on the bottom of half the flag symbolizes how some vincians might be stereotypical, some might not be, and some are in-between or fluid.

Multiple flag variants were also coined alongside gayflagblog's gay man flag.

An alternate vincian flag was designed by tumblr user Chara Violet on June 5, 2021. This flag is based on all the other flags for gay male subcultures. The top stripe is pink, taken from the twink and drag queen flags, standing for gender non-conformity. The peach stripe resembles the bear flag’s ambers and browns, while sticking to the aesthetic of the flag, representing sexuality and sensuality. The pale yellow stripe is found on both the twink flag and the bear flag, and it represents NBLM and trans men. The pale azure stripe is used in the Achillean flag, as well as in many gender flags to represent masculinity, representing strength and community. The lavender stripe is also in the drag flag, and when next to the azure stripe it can reminisce of the blues used in the bisexual flag, leather flag, genderfluid flag, etc, representing peace and community. All of the stripes come together to form a pastel rainbow, referencing how the rainbow flag used to be used by many gay men, as well as how pastel/iridescence and unicorns are often used as symbols for the community.

Inclusive vincian flags with pansy flower were designed by Tumblr user kenochoric on June 26, 2022.

## Resources

1. ↑ Term coining
2. ↑ https://archive.ph/cwSNH#selection-255.0-266.0
3. ↑ https://archive.ph/mbNvc
4. ↑ https://archive.ph/xmlyt
5. ↑ https://gayflags.carrd.co/
6. ↑ Inclusive vincian flags