Symbols and Origins
There are many symbols and terms used within the GLBT community, or to describe GLBT folk. Here's how they originated.
Pink
Triangle -- The pink triangle was a symbol used by Nazi's to identify
homosexual men in concentration camps during World War I. The black triangle
was used to identify "anti-social" women, who were usually lesbian.
In the 1970's the Gay Rights movement adopted the pink triangle as a symbol
of liberation by inverting it, as if to say "Never Again!"
Lambda
-- This symbol was adopted in the 1970's by New York City's Gay Activist
Alliance for it's multiple meanings. The three equal sides to the lambda represent
balance and unity. It also represents energy and change which were goals of
the early Gay Rights movement.
Rainbow
Flag -- The rainbow flag was first designed by an artist named Gilbert
Baker and used in the 1978 San Francisco Gay and Lesbian Freedom Day Parade.
The different colors represent the diversity and multiculturalism embraced
by the Gay and Lesbian movement of the time. The rainbow is also a symbol
of the gay community because of it's associations with gay icon Judy Garland
who played Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz.
Labrys
-- The labrys is a double bladed axe that can be used both as a weapon
and for harvesting. It is associated with women and lesbianism because it
was the weapon favored by tribes of Amazon women.
Red Ribbon
-- The red ribbon is a symbol of AIDS awareness and a commitment to fight
against AIDS. It was first used in 1991 by a New York AIDS awareness group
called Visual AIDS. It's popularity increased substantially after host, Jeremy
Irons, wore it to the 1991 Tony Awards.
Pink Ribbon
-- The pink ribbon is a symbol of breast cancer awareness and prevention.
Although not limited to lesbian women, women who do not bear children do have
a higher risk of developing the disease.
Blue Ribbon
- First prize in the county fair. Seriously, a ribbon to support the freedom
of speech and the end of censorship online.
Homophile - For a time, this term was used interchangeably with the term "homosexual". It may have even been the preferred term since it didn't allude to one's sexuality so blatantly.
Homosexual -- The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language defines homosexual as "Pertaining to, characteristic of, or exhibiting homosexuality" or "A homosexual person." It goes on to define homosexuality as "1. Sexual desire for others of one's own sex. 2. Sexual activity with another of the same sex."
Homophobia - An irrational fear of homosexuals and homosexuality.
Heterosexism - The belief that heterosexuality is inherently superior to homosexuality, and that homosexual persons shouldn't enjoy the same rights and social privileges as heterosexuals.
Gay - This may have come from the french term for the homosexual, gaie, used as early as the 16th century. Also, used because it describes homosexuals as "happy", countering the myth that homosexual people are lonely, sad, and mentally ill.
Lesbian - This comes from the name for the women who lived on the Greek island of Lesbos. Sappho, whose poetry concentrated much on her love for young girls, taught an all girl school here.
Inverted / Intersexed - These were 19th and early 20th century psychological terms used to refer to homosexuals. Many early psychologists considered homosexuality a mental illness. It wasn't until 1973 that the American Pscyhological Association removed homosexuality from its list of mental illnesses.
"Friend of Dorothy" - This was a code phrase used to identify other gay and lesbian people in the mid-twentieth century, as in "Are you a friend of Dorothy?" The phrase refers to Judy Garland's character Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz. Both Garland, and the movie were popular in gay culture.
"Silence = Death" -- This motto was coined by the AIDS activist group ACT-UP (AIDS Coalition To Unleash Power) in the mid-1980's, and gained wide acceptance. Essentially it means that if we remained silent about AIDS, it would only bring more AIDS related deaths. People were encouraged to push the government for more AIDS related research and funding, and speak to their family and friends about safer sex.
Sapphist - This term has been used to describe lesbians, especially during the Victorian era, because of their preoccupation with the Greek poetess and teacher, Sappho.
Uranian - This term was coined by the Greek philosopher, Plato, to describe those with natural same-sex desire.
Resources:
Lambda as a Symbol of gay/lesbian rights
Stonewall Society: Gay Symbols
Symbols of the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgendered Movements
Rainbow Icon Archive - an overview of GLBT symbols and the history behind them
In Defense of Queer -- Defends the use of the term "Queer" from a historical perspective.
EFF's Blue Ribbon Campaign Fights Internet Censorship & Protects Online Free Expression