Intersex Pride Flag

If your sex characteristics aren’t entirely male or female, you are intersex. This may be in your chromosomes, gonads, sex hormones or genitals.

The flag’s creator, Morgan Carpenter, unveiled the design on 5 July 2013. At the time, Carpenter was co-chair of Organization Intersex International Australia. The flag is deliberately original rather than derivative of other Pride or rainbow flags.

Yellow and purple are gender-neutral colors. Meanwhile the circle represents wholeness or completeness and the potential of intersex people.

Carpenter said: ‘We are still fighting for bodily autonomy and genital integrity, and this symbolises the right to be who and how we want to be.’

Tris Reid-Smith/GSN

What Does It Mean to Be Intersex?

Being intersex refers to a natural variation in biological sex characteristics, such as chromosomes, hormones, or anatomy, that do not fit typical definitions of male or female. Intersex individuals may be born with these traits or develop them during puberty. This is a naturally occurring condition and can present in many different ways. Intersex is not the same as being transgender, as it relates to physical traits rather than gender identity. Intersex people, like anyone else, have diverse gender identities and expressions.