Transgender flag
The transgender pride flag is a symbolic banner designed by Monica Helms, an American transgender woman and U.S. Navy veteran, in 1999 to represent individuals identifying as transgender.[1][2] It consists of five horizontal stripes alternating light blue, pink, white, pink, and light blue, with the symmetry of the design intended to convey that transgender journeys lack a fixed direction.[2] The light blue stripe signifies the conventional color for baby boys, the pink for baby girls, and the central white for those transitioning, intersex persons, or those without a defined gender.[2] First displayed at a pride event in Phoenix, Arizona, in 2000, the flag has become a widely recognized emblem of transgender visibility and advocacy, flown at parades, protests, and institutional displays globally.[1] Helms, who also founded the Transgender American Veterans Association, created it amid efforts to foster community pride distinct from broader LGBTQ symbols.[3] While alternative transgender flags exist, Helms' design remains the predominant variant due to its early adoption and straightforward symbolism.[1]