Creator of lesbian flag homeless and crowdfunding for new accommodation
The Sunset Lesbian Pride Flag. (Getty)
The creator of one of the most widely used lesbian Pride flags has launched a crowdfunder to help pay for accommodation, after announcing on social media that they are homeless.
Australian non-binary lesbian Emily Gwen created the Sunset Lesbian Pride flag in 2018.
The flag features seven stripes in a gradient of orange to pink, each colour representing an aspect of the lesbian community.
Gwen’s website states that the colours refer to gender-non-conformity, independence, community, unique relationships to womanhood, serenity and peace, love, sex and femininity.
But, taking to X, formerly called Twitter, on 19 October, Gwen posted an image of the flag with the text “Guess who’s homeless” overlaid.
The post, captioned “This is how I cope”, featured a link to a Ko-fi crowdfunder, which remains open for donations.
One supporter wrote: “Thank you so much for making the flag. I wish you all the best in getting housing.”
Another wrote: “I’m sorry you’re going through this, thank you for all you’ve done for the LGBTQ+ community.”
Under Gwen’s X post many expressed sorrow, while others wished them luck in finding a new home.
“I’ve been sleeping on a mattress on my friend’s floor this week. He’s been helping me with rental applications and driving me to inspections and to meet with people in share houses,” Gwen wrote on 21 October.
The Labrys Lesbian Pride flag was the first of its kind, created in 1999 by graphic designer Sean Campbell, a cisgender gay man.
Lesbian flags are often adapted, either mixed with other flags or with a bright red kiss in the corner to represent lipstick lesbians.
