The bear and leather pride flags: history and meaning

Beyond the rainbow, some of the most recognisable flags at Pride belong to two gay communities with long histories: bears and the leather scene. Here’s the story behind each one.

The bear pride flag

The International Bear Brotherhood flag was designed by Craig Byrnes in 1995. It has seven horizontal stripes in dark brown, orange, golden yellow, tan, white, grey and black, with a black paw print in the top-left corner.

The stripes are the fur colours of bears around the world, a nod to a community that welcomes bears of every colour and nationality. The paw print is the bear’s mark.

Who are bears?

Bears are gay and bi men who are usually bigger and hairier, often bearded, and the community around them. Bear culture grew in the 1980s, partly as a reaction to the smooth, slim look that dominated gay media, and cubs, otters, wolves and daddies all have a place in it too.

The leather pride flag

The leather pride flag was designed by Tony DeBlase and first shown at the International Mr. Leather contest in Chicago in May 1989. It has nine horizontal stripes of black and royal blue, with a white stripe through the middle and a red heart in the top-left corner.

DeBlase chose not to say what the colours and the heart mean, and left it to each viewer to decide. Today the flag stands for the leather community as a whole, and the wider BDSM and fetish community flies it too.

Leather culture

Gay leather culture goes back to the motorcycle clubs of the late 1940s and 1950s, when leather jackets, boots and caps became a way for gay men to find each other. Today it takes in leather bars and contests, gear, pups and fetish nights, and it’s a proud part of every Pride.

Flying them

Both flags fly at Pride marches, bear weekends, leather events and in bars around the world, and plenty of guys hang one at home next to the rainbow.

Tip: Our pride flag guide explains the rainbow, Progress, gay men’s (MLM), bisexual and trans flags too.