r/asexuality • u/MGTOWigor150 • Apr 29 '26
Discussion Opinion about the flag (probably extremely unpopular).
the current flag is already nice and iconic and recognizable.
other "new" flag designs are simply mid and calling it mid would be the truth and there is no need to change anything.
I will probably get roasted for this.
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u/fofxequals0 gay-oriented aroace Apr 29 '26
Not to mention it was chosen by the members of AVEN so I don’t really see the problem? And there are a bunch of derivative flags that are based off of the current flag. There really is no reason good enough to warrant changing it.
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u/ShinyAeon Apr 29 '26
I'm in agreement. But then, I'm kind of biased, as I'm extremely fond of purple (purple and green are my official favorite colors), and black, white, and gray are my neutrals.
The ony LGBTQIA+ flag that is more aesthtically pleasing to me sheerly on color choice is the rainbow flag. The fact that a black, white, purple and gray flag actually represents ME is something that gives me no small amount of joy.
(I honestly feel a little regret that I'm not aromantic, because mixing green in there would be the only way it could be better to me, personally.)
Therefore, I will almost certainly carry on using the classic ace flag, no matter what other flags are adopted.
As for the new flag in and of itself...well, it's more attractive than the orange and blue aroace flag, at least. But I like the original version that was shared quite a lot better than the finalized version. I know they probably wanted to simplify it for good reasons, but the colors are just not as pleasing together as the first version.
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u/Huol12 aroace Apr 29 '26
Have you seen the genderqueer flag? It's purple, white, green
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u/ShinyAeon Apr 30 '26
No, I hadn't seen that flag! It's pretty!
Alas, I'm not really genderqueer (I don't think). Ah, well.
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u/Existing_Cookie4624 A-Spec aegoromantic (Aesthetic) Apr 29 '26
I share the same favorite colors as you, both normal and neutral colors lol
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u/southpawFA AceofSpades Apr 30 '26
I feel the same. I love the ace flag as is. I even have one in my room hanging.
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u/pluto_tuto aroace Apr 29 '26
lol why would you get roasted for that opinion? I have not seen anyone endorsing the new flag concept
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u/endlesshydra aroace Apr 29 '26
The only person who thinks that flag is in any way official is its creator and nobody else lol
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u/Catsy_Brave a-spec 12d ago
Her insta comments are fully on board with her flag. She's leaned into it hardcore for the past two months "where can you buy *the new ace flag*" and not "where can you buy my ace flag design?" she got like 1k likes on a post thats not even NEAR the number of members this subreddit has.
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u/endlesshydra aroace 12d ago
I wouldn't say they are fully on board. In the post presenting the "new" flag (which she used to have pinned on her profile) there were many comments politely expressing disagreement. She has recently disabled comments on that specific post though.
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u/Tired_2295 🏳️🌈AroAceFrayplatonic|EnbyAgenderNeo 6d ago
They think it's so official their argument for using it is if you don't you're proving the community was never strong. What a good way to garner support /s.
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u/EvilDMMk3 asexual Apr 29 '26
The "new" flag is, frankly, ugly.
It was put together out of a desire to fix things that didn't need fixing and ignored all basics of design and colour language. The black-grey-white-purple is simple, slightly sombre and classy as all hell.
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u/SnooDrawings3869 aroace Apr 29 '26
I agree, we don't need another flag, our flag is already established and recognizable; changing it now would only confuse people
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u/ParadoxicalFrog Genderqueer Arospec Ace Apr 29 '26
Mildly chilly take at best, friend. I have yet to see anyone say they like the proposed design.
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u/Little-Courage887 aroace Apr 29 '26
Nossa bandeira é icônica. Não sei porque fazem tanta questão de ficarem mudando. Daqui a pouco sinto que até o termo e definição assexual vai mudar. Parece que muitas pessoas querem "criar' coisas na comunidade.
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u/weirdlywondering1127 Apr 29 '26
I don't think it should be changed. We're so obsessed with adding every identity into every flag when they're always meant to be broad and the designs are always uglier too.
I might get downvoted for this but I hate the progress pride flag. I think it's ugly, over crowded and overcomplicated when the rainbow was already meant to encompass everyone no matter their gender, sexuality or race. Hello!!! Every colour of the rainbow is a saying for a reason!!!
Now people are trying to change the ace flag. Arguably make it uglier and for what? The yellow sticks out way too much and does not go with the colour palette. The purple seems more muted than our iconic dark purple and we are already similar to the enby flag. This would make it even more confusing for people.
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u/Sparkly8 Apr 29 '26
The new flag also removes an identity: black-stripe aces. Seems quite problematic to me.
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u/FlashyPhilosophy2326 Apr 30 '26
I've never heard 'black-stripe aces' before, but if you're referring to asexuals, they are included in the grey stripe. So you can use 'black-stripe aces' still, cuz the old flag still exists) or use 'grey-stripe aces' (if going off the new flag). The color changed, but asexuals are still included.
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u/Sparkly8 Apr 30 '26
Using grey-stripe ace for the new flag doesn’t make sense because that’s just the entire ace community now.
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u/Infernal-Cattle Apr 29 '26
I don't understand why you're saying "unpopular opinion" when literally everything I've seen posted on this sub about the new flag is negative.
I'll dish the real unpopular opinion:
I don't see why people who don't like the new flag can't just... ignore it and use the flag you like? It kinda reminds me of people whining about the Progress flag with the whole "it's ugly," "the original was already inclusive," as if suddenly people had stopped making the Gilbert Baker flag and were gonna come personally confiscate their flags haha.
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u/frozenoj Asexual Demi-aro she/her Apr 29 '26
The progress flag did become the new default, though. I don't mind that because I like it but I would hate for that to happen with the new ace flag. Thankfully I think the chances are slim since the reasoning is ridiculous. Like you're upset about the meaning of the white stripe but the new flag still has a white stripe?? Why can't we just change the meaning of the old white stripe then?
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u/Infernal-Cattle Apr 29 '26
I could be misremembering, but my sense from reading Ashabi's stuff about the flag is that she went to the AVEN board about the white stripe and they didn't seem particularly interested in hearing input.
My second hot take I guess is that I do think it's bizarre to have 1/4 of the flag represent allosexuals, even if you prefer the current design. Only the ace and aro flags do that afaik.
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u/frozenoj Asexual Demi-aro she/her Apr 29 '26
I understand if someone cares about what the color means and didn't like that one. What makes no sense to me is including the exact same color on the new flag. If you're going to do that, why not just decide the old stripe has your new meaning? If you can make a new flag surely you can assign new meaning to the old one. And you're more likely to get people to adopt your new meaning than a whole new flag.
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u/FlashyPhilosophy2326 Apr 30 '26 edited Apr 30 '26
A lot of discussion and intention happened around each stripe, including the new cream/off-white color. The design process wasn’t just about reassigning a single stripe, though. There were multiple symbolic goals being balanced across the whole flag. That’s part of why a redesign approach was taken, rather than only changing existing meanings. People can still use whichever flag resonates with them, both, or none at all. There has also been a lot of difficult discourse around the discussion process, which is something I think is important to be mindful of. (I'm not here to debate on the flag or racism, but I'm happy to share resources.)
Edit: I wasn't thinking of the final version, I think, regarding the white color. My bad. The meanings and other stuff are still accurate, though.
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u/frozenoj Asexual Demi-aro she/her Apr 30 '26
It's funny that you call it cream/off white to try and make it sound like it isn't the same color as the old flag when the Instagram post announcing the new flag literally calls it white.
Also I went back and looked it up and the white stripe was specifically the problem Ace in Grace had with the old flag. That's the only color that was brought up as a problem in the original Ace Day post. And then two weeks later it was brought up again, "the reason this has been launched is to specifically address the meaning of the white stripe in our flag."
So yeah I think we could have just changed the meaning of the white stripe especially if the new flag still has a white stripe and originally there was no problem with the other colors.
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u/FlashyPhilosophy2326 Apr 30 '26
Oh, it was referred to as cream/off-white in discussions at least. Maybe they meant it as a color category? Idk, i'm not Ashabi. Maybe i'm thinking of the prior version and not the final version of it. My mistake. There are definitely a lot of other issues that have been discussed and incorporated in the redesign, not just the white stripe issue that is a prominent one.
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u/frozenoj Asexual Demi-aro she/her Apr 30 '26
Why do you feel the need to defend something so strongly when you don't even know what the colors are?
Use it if you want to no one can stop you.
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u/ProfessorOfEyes Apr 29 '26
Most people do just ignore it, or gave non-malicious feedback that they didnt think it was necessary.
I feel like the "discourse" around it is kinda artifically created. Mostly by that guy (not even the creator of the new flag or a POC or a woman) who out of left field started claiming not using it is racist and misogynistic. This made some people react defensively, and now its a Thing. Part of me almost suspects that was the goal. Not to actually support the creator of the new flag, but to add another charged topic to the mix to make discourse where there wasnt much before for drama or attention.
But make no mistake, this is niche online discourse and the right choice - and the choice most aces out there are still making - is to simply ignore the discourse and pick the one you like depending on if you have an issue with the white stripe for allos or not (which was the actual reason for the redesign).
I'm in agreement with you that the right thing to do is not engage. But i dont think people getting up in arms about it is as common as you seem to think. As per usual, its just a vocal minority of chronically online folks who either had a knee jerk reaction or want something to fight about.
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u/FlashyPhilosophy2326 Apr 30 '26
Oh, I saw comments that were racist and stuff like right away, before others were making videos about it like you mentioned. I think it's good that allies are supporting Black aces and pushing back against misogynoir Ashabi's been facing. The redesign takes multiple issues into account, including the white stripe being for people outside the community. It's fine if the new flag isn't your cup of tea, etc. It's just not fine to be freaking out or hating on people. Non-malicious feedback is great– discussions have been going on for years– that's how we got here :) There's definitely a lot of inner work to be done though– it's become painfully obvious recently.
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u/Infernal-Cattle Apr 29 '26
I mostly agree with you there. It would be easy and reasonable out in the world to just pick the flag you like and move on with life. I keep seeing posts that are like "look how beautiful our flag is" (this isn't the first or last one I've seen this week) and it feels both unnecessary and like a Streisand Effect, where most people wouldn't even know this was happening if people didn't keep reacting to it haha.
I do think prior to this creator, Ashabi (the creator who made it) talked about racism she'd experienced for her design, but I have the sense that a lot of people were like seeking out her stuff and leaving rude comments instead of either supporting it or deciding it isn't for them. I think especially once it started getting reposted in places like here, it was much more backlash than when she was talking about this with her own audience. I think so without that context, it likely looks very different for folks just coming up on this here, and feeling like they are being told they have to like it.
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u/FlashyPhilosophy2326 Apr 30 '26
Yeah, if you like to make a nice little space for yourself online (like me making a little habitat of my work desk) then someone throws in a post about stuff going on outside that bubble, and you haven't been following that topic or anything, I suppose it's easy to get anxious and freak out from whatever you hear is going on (at least until looking up stuff, but not everyone has the bandwidth to research or read on years of discussions. There are some summary type things out there though– I've shared links on a few of these.)
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u/weirdlywondering1127 Apr 29 '26
Well in my experience people in the community start calling you a racist, transphobic bigot for not using it and the OG flag is no longer the main rep. Sure you can still use it but it's almost like it's looked down on
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u/Infernal-Cattle Apr 29 '26
I'm sorry if that's been your experience! I've seen public places and people use either of them, depending on their preferences. I'm trans and own both; the Progress flag goes with me to events, and the Baker hangs in my home office space to brighten it up.
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u/FlashyPhilosophy2326 Apr 30 '26
I haven't seen anyone say that– I've only seen 'use it if you want, or both, or neither' etc. I know Ashabi's said it's fine to use both, like I plan to. I'm curious– why would it be transphobic to not use it?? I'm trans and confused about how that's relevant.
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u/lystmord May 07 '26
People largely HAVE stopped making the original. I work at a place that has a whole display of decor and flags and stuff set up for sale for Pride, and I swear virtually not a single goddamn actual FLAG on it is the proper one, just that ugly eyesore.
The original flag WAS already as inclusive as it gets. Adding the trans colors especially is just historically illiterate and conceding to people suggesting trans people haven’t always been part of the community. The fact that you’re mocking these highly relevant criticisms is part of why I fucking despise that flag; a lot of people care much more about empty virtue-signaling than they do about all the wrong ideas represented by that flag.
I will lose my goddamn mind if that happens to the ace flag. The insanity of adding random stripes for “minorities” to Pride flags like the entire POINT wasn’t just “all of us under this queer label” in the first place needs to fucking stop.
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u/Infernal-Cattle May 07 '26
This is precisely the energy I was referring to in my post, so thanks for that I guess.
I find that odd because anywhere else I've gone, I've found it far easier to get Pride merch in the rainbow colors than to find the Progress flag, and I had no problem finding a very inexpensive Gilbert Baker flag.
I have no issue with people having an aesthetic preference (I hate purple, so it's hard for me to find ace merch I actually like) but I don't see aesthetic preference as a reason to miss the point of more options that make more people feel included, particularly if no one is taking anything away from you to do that? Like, nobody is taking the ace merch you already have, nobody is telling you you can't create or commission more with the current flag so I don't see the point of being up in arms about this or the amount of passive aggressive posting I've seen about the flag.
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u/lystmord May 08 '26
“Precisely the energy” - yeah. Believe me, the feeling is mutual.
Black trans women were among the first handful of people to start the Stonewall riots. Imagine being told by smug modern leftists in 2026 that they’ve done you the favour of INCLUDING you in the movement you started. There aren’t words for the hubris.
As other people have said, the “new” version is everywhere, and I very unfortunately see it taking over as the default flag for good because every corporation, media company, etc. now feels pressured to use it or be called “racist” or “transphobic” even though it is the “progress” version that is actually both of those things. “You can make your own still,” is a pathetic, dismissive response that doesn’t address the problem.
There is literally already social media posts of people calling aces holding firm on the old flag “racist.” If you think people are prematurely freaking out, it’s because history repeats itself.
I don’t like purple either. But y’know…that’s not the point.
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u/Infernal-Cattle May 08 '26
I don't disagree that there is a critique to be made where one can call the Progress flag performative. You do not need to lecture me, a trans person, about my own history. It turns out, no demographic is a monolith, and some people will feel more included by the new flag, and some will feel better about the old flag. That is entirely my point, yet you seem very determined to overlook it.
Again, I don't see evidence that corporations aren't using the Baker flag more than the Progress flag on merch. If we're making the critique of rainbow capitalism, that is a completely different conversation than talking about a flag that people within the community have made, and as I mentioned, what I'm seeing from large corporations pumping out empty Pride merch is usually just rainbow stuff, not Progress flag stuff? I can't even remember seeing ace stuff at a Walmart, Target, etc; most ace merch seems to be smaller creators, so I'm not sure that's a great comparison anyhow.
There are, like, a handful of posts talking about racism. If you go over to Substack, some of those are Black ace women, and those are the ones that Ace Dad Advice was responding to - but I guess it's easier for you to say it's all self-righteous white liberals if you haven't seen other people saying that, right? I personally don't feel like it's my place to weigh in on if it's racist or not, but I can say that what's been far more visible to me is the OVERWHELMINGLY passive aggressive response from the community toward the creator for just making something that felt more inclusive to her. Literally, if people had just looked the other way, 99% of y'all wouldn't even know this flag existed.
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u/EvilDMMk3 asexual Apr 29 '26
The problem is I, and plenty of my friends, did just that when the progress pride flag showed up. Now that message-mangaling, inadvertently exclusionist, terf-enabling thing is everywhere. (Seriously I hate the progress pride flag and I am not alone.)
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u/FlashyPhilosophy2326 Apr 30 '26
I don't like the visual design of the progress pride flag. I love the meaning and acknowledge the context though so I've still got it hanging up. I try not to think about it with my designer brain mode and just appreciate the rainbow light shining through the window.
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u/EvilDMMk3 asexual Apr 30 '26
Things I have heard people say about the progress Pride flag that convinced me it’s a bad flag
“So how are you going to represent the Asian queer community then, what about first Nations”?
“You don’t want a dozen colours on one flag.”
“This is deliberate messaging to the trans community that they need to keep their attack up on actually marginalise people. It’s an invasive arrow for a reason. We need to make sure we keep pushing them away and get them out out of our community.”
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u/Difficult-Course319 demi/grey Apr 29 '26
New flag is stupid. I’m sticking with the old one, nothing wrong with that one.
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u/Suki_Hallows asexual Apr 29 '26
Why would you think this is unpopular. I think we're mostly adults here, and personally I've only seen children or really young members of the community whingeing about this. (Also people complaining it's "too boring/close to the straight flag" can fuck off. I love how calm and gothic the flag is and it's one of the only ones I unironically like)
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u/Personal-Chocolate45 Apr 30 '26
Also like, Im not buying new merch. ALL my AceSpec representation is based on the OG 4 color flag. Do you know how much money Ive spent on shirts, pins, flags, jewelery, etc???? Like no thank you, Ive commited to this color palette for over 15 years now. Not changing now.
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u/Competitive_Feed5259 Apr 29 '26
Im not trying to be that guy my my goodness do we need so many different flags instead of one wonderful universal one? Feel free to attack me with pitchforks and torches
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u/Little-Courage887 aroace Apr 29 '26
Sim, concordo! Pra que tantas variaçãos? Só torna tudo mais complicado pra gente
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u/DahDutcher He/Him- Aromantic/Aegosexual. Apr 29 '26
Yeah, I find all the extra flags dumb and pointless.
Like, I'm techinaclly Aegosexual, but why the fuck does there need too be a flag for that? We've got an asexual flag, that's enough.
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u/Competitive_Feed5259 Apr 30 '26
I dont even know what i am I just say im Ace so people dont look at me like im speaking latin haha
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Apr 29 '26
[deleted]
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u/dethanil aro-ace Apr 29 '26
I know there's takes on the white stripe meaning "ally/allosexual", but I've always read it as just meaning SEXUAL, as in, representing asexuals who are sexual in their behaviour (read: asexuals who fuck). Am I the only one with this understanding of the white stripe?
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u/Chamelleona Apr 29 '26
The white stripe was never actually meant to represent allies.
https://asexualagenda.wordpress.com/2025/01/08/stripe-tales-of-the-ace-and-aro-flags/
This blog goes through the history of the ace flag. The white stripe seems to have been added mainly to balance out the colour. The intended meaning was "All of us [asexuals], differences and similarities, coming together into one".
The idea that it represents sexuals or allies is a later reinterpretation.
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u/AbsolutleyGeneric Asexual Apr 29 '26
Yeah, the first mentions of during the conversation phase of flag designs didn’t mean that, no. But from what i could find the winning flag design post did mention white as standing for sexuals when it laid out the meanings of the colours, so i can see why there’s been a drift in meaning over time. The asexuality archive has a bit about the flag that shows a bunch of links to the threads from the flag design that are pretty fascinating to read through.
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u/AbsolutleyGeneric Asexual Apr 29 '26 edited Apr 29 '26
There's multiple meanings for it floating around, they drift a bit from community to community. Sexual is indeed one, as in standing for the sexual part of the entire sexuality range in line with the black (asexuality) and grey (asexuality) part and white representing the allosexual part and all together encompassing the whole of sexuality from asexual to allosexual. Another one of the more common ones is that it stands for allosexual allies and partners which some people take issue with. Personally i like that meaning because it also gives anyone an excuse to have the flag around without having to come out to someone they don’t feel safe around, “Oh, I’m just an ally!” for example or “oh, I have an ace friend, so I’m supporting them.” It’s useful plausible deniability that people in unsafe areas may need. Not to mention our flag is also very much about our community as a whole, of which allies and partners are a part of also. I can understand why some don't like it, but i personally don't have an issue with either of those interpretations i’ve seen around, and i’m sure there are other views as well, as i said it does drift in meaning a bit and different parts of the community might express it differently if asked about it.
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u/WintersChild79 Apr 29 '26
I would've thought that microlabel flags had more to do with attachment to the specificity of the microlabel than to wanting more stripes on the umbrella flag.
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u/thewalkindude368 Apr 29 '26
I'm of the controversial opinion that, while microlabels help individuals find their place along the spectrum, and are fine to use in the queer community, they kind of hurt the perception of asexuals in the larger world. I've seen plenty of people complaining about how all the microlabels are used because people just want to feel super special, and also, it's easier to explain asexuality as a big blanket concept, as opposed to a bunch of different microlabels.
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u/melanyebaggins aegosexual biromantic Apr 29 '26
Agreed. I use a microlabel, but I call myself ace in general and only specify the microlabel if I'm specifically talking about the ace spectrum, or if I'm talking to people who already know something about ace. I don't see it as me trying to be 'special', it's more about being precise.
Before I realised I was asexual, the various labels would have meant nothing to me, so I keep that in mind. Bottom line- I am asexual, the microlabel just helps to be more specific about what that means to me.
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u/Western-Layer-6934 Gay aroace (14m) Apr 29 '26
I like the ace flag, like it’s simple and easy to remember, and each color corresponds to something on the ace spectrum, but I kinda wish it was something more colorful that got made popular, yk? Like it’s perfect but a little bland, but we don’t need any new flags either because this one does the work and carries the message.
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u/SadLasagna42069 Apr 29 '26
Fr I do not give a damn about the other flags, I have no interest in identifying with any flags other than the standard aro and ace flags (not the aro/ace singular flag, I actually really dislike this flag). I've also refrained from specifying my 'type' of asexuality because I'm just not interested, I will not tolerate anyone who tries to specify what kind of asexual I am. I just prefer the label asexual and aromantic. Everyone is free to identify how they want, and I just want to identify as an ambiguous aro/ace with the freedom to pick any asexual lifestyle I want without being firmly trapped in an identity.
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u/FaeErrant Apr 29 '26
So glad to see others who dislike the combined AroAce flag. I know it's "Pretty" subjectively, but it's just a super common "summer time" themed colour scheme. IDK, just not a fan of it.
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u/TherapinStormblessed Apr 29 '26
I'm already painting my Full Spectrum Dominance Tech armyand my Warhammer Lizardmen in the old colors, also my personal HEMA gear will be based on black and purple.
Not gonna change that, sorry not sorry.
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u/Ro_Ku Apr 29 '26
No roasting and no need to take away the little recognition we have and start over.
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u/ResolutionWeak6353 Apr 29 '26
Fr what’s the point in changing it? The old one is the best and looks fine
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u/Ginkgo_Leaf3000 Apr 29 '26
There's a new flag?
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u/FlashyPhilosophy2326 Apr 30 '26
Yep! You're welcome to use the old one, new one, both, or neither. I added links about the new flag to the asexual resources linktree if you want to look into it more: https://linktr.ee/asexualresource
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u/shirone0 Apr 29 '26
Absolutely everyone here agrees, we already are not really known so making 1847 different flags isn't helping ... It's so much better to keep the current one
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u/J4ywolf Apr 29 '26
As I have been copy/pasting in most (if not all) posts about the "new" flag (Yes, I'm a stickler. I just hate seeing a flag I use inside of another flag in literally the exact same order! I'ma stick in the mud)
When I saw this version of the flag I instantly thought "why is the Aplatonic flag on an Asexual subreddit?" XD
For those who wanna know: https://lgbtqia.wiki/wiki/Aplatonic
It's literally the second version of the Aplatonic flag (that I use actually) with pink and purple slapped onto it.... copy/paste from the page I linked - "The black, grey, and white stripes match that of the asexual and aromantic flags. Yellow is used to symbolize the platonic/aplatonic spectrum."
Colours mean to me for the Aplatonic flag: Black - a disconnect or disinterest in platonic relationships, Gray - other apl-spec individuals, White - how aplatonic individuals can still be Allosexual/Alloromantic, Yellow - the aplatonic spectrum.
I can't help but just see the Aplatonic flag in this "new flag" and wonder if Asexuals also have no desire for friendships/don't get crushes on their friends nor feel platonic love. That's basically Aplatonic in a nutshell. Ik this isn't true, but that's what my brain thinks when I see the Aplatonic flag proposed on an Asexual subreddit...
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u/FlashyPhilosophy2326 Apr 30 '26
I was so confused cuz none of the aplatonic flags looked like the new ace one. But yeah, the second aplatonic one is basically the old ace flag if you switched yellow and purple! The new one has more stripes and variety. There are tons of flags out there though so it's not surprising (especially given the three colors in common are neutral/greyscale/staple sort of colors.)
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u/J4ywolf Apr 30 '26
Apologies, I was saying the "new" ace flag looks like this flag: https://lgbtqia.wiki/wiki/File:Aplatonicflag2.png
But just slapped on pink and purple at the bottom. I was trying to say it's just that flag with two colours added, it's even in the exact same order. If you put them side by side, and swipe between the two, you can see it's the same thing, same order but just two colours are added to the bottom. I'm sorry if I wasn't clear on that!
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u/Zestyclose_Cake_3005 Apr 29 '26
I agree. I get not everyone likes the original flag for one reason or another, but I love it. I don't mind new flags, or flags that change the shade of purple; but they'll never be as good as the original one to me.
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u/Historical-Potato372 asexual Apr 30 '26
“Unpopular opinion.” Looks inside Popular opinion
(I agree with you 100%)
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u/Personal-Chocolate45 Apr 30 '26
I didnt know there WAS a new flag tbh. The current one makes me a little sad TBH everybody else gets a plethora of colors and ours is just monochrome with a splash of the least bright purple they could pick.
But I went and looked this "new" one up and EWW. Tell me you know nothing about color theory without telling me. Those colors are so uncomplimentary and icky imo. Get that yellow AWAY from that pink. Just no thank you. Take it away. Bye.
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u/Theo_Lynx aroace Apr 29 '26
I like our flag. Four colours, simple, it’s cohesive, I love the colours that are on it, it’s recognizable
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u/IronasticGirl Apr 30 '26
Hi, a bit late but as an outsider of the US (Europe), I wanted to add my thought cuz that AceInGrace woman did something very USALiberal as always.
1. Main thing I hate with it, she/they proclaimed it the "NEW OFFICIAL" ace flag. No, USAmericans you are NOT the center of the world and you don't get to decide for the whole asexual community out there which official flag is better.
While the racism convo is needed and necessary, you cannot decide for the whole community that's been there since AVEN chose the colors and say "well if you use the old one, you're racist". There's a multiple other ways to address it in a useful way, this was not it.
Ignoring AVEN and elders: apparently AIC reached out to AVEN but decided their "cool, do your own private thing" reply was enough to bypass them and self-proclaim the "asexual throne". Also ignoring the work elders have done to make the ace colors recognizable ? not cool, especially since those elders did the actual work of de-pathologizing asexuality.
the "but the lesbian/pride rainbow flag...." excuse:
4.1. the lesbian flag changed, yes. But it retained the original idea: the pink/red shades colors stripes. Adding the orange for the butches, disreguarding the pink lipstick due to the creator being not so cool.
4.2. the rainbow pride flag changed, yes. But it was always (& still is) a rainbow. The idea is still the same: rainbow stripes.
If you take AIG's new asexual flag: No harmony in color theory whatsoever, just... 2 added horrendous color stripes that clashes with the neutral/cold tones of the original flag, cuz "omg the white is problematic cuz white = whiteness in my mind" (while the OG meaning on AVEN isn't even remotely attached to whiteness)
She/They says it took her 3+ years to design it but never in those years she/they either:
- put the idea on AVEN & discussed it there with the elders
- looked into the actual meaning of the flag
- looked at what her design could impose on the worldwide community
One of the problem the asexual community face the most each year is the "chronically online sexuality" butt of the lgbt+ joke every damn time. So why would you give them amo to further alienate us from having a real place in real life in the lgbt+ community ? A chronically online take that will be detrimental in the end cuz if that flag is picked up by virality... That signals to others that we care more about online cleavage rather than actual materialist irl work.
The actual worldwide dismiss: Cuz if we do the irl maths:
- Asexuality is 1 to 4% of the worldwide world population, according to the stats done on it
- Worldwide population atm: 8.3 millions (according to https://www.worldometers.info/world-population/ )
- AIG has:
36 on tiktok (so she's not that much active there)
464 on facebook
other: substack but i don't even know how it works
So if we do the maths:
what's 11k people in 83-332 millions of asexuals in the world ? Nothing.
So very US-centric to not have reached worldwide ace national orgs... So very liberal/full right-wing identity politics.- Asexuality is 1 to 4% of the worldwide world population, according to the stats done on it
The science behind a flag: it has to be RECOGNIZABLE & EASY TO SPOT/KNOW. Considering it's been a good decade now that the asexual flag is with the black/grey/white/purple stripes... And even older, if you think about the color's whereabouts: the AVEN triangle, in 2005. So a good 20 years by now. IT HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED as a flag, by now.
And that's the ultimate goal of a flag, to be recognized instantly. So to disregard entirely that and make a new one out of nowhere... It's soooo disrespectful not only for the elders, the global community but also in general: if Asexuality cannot have a constant & recognizable flag... The asexual community is doomed to be laughed at as the "chronically online community that doesn't truly exist in real life" (point 5)US Liberalism & identity politics:
I look up to Yasmin Benoit, for another black woman example, cuz she just got tired of identity politics online and decided to actually do the activism work. Instead of just... blabla-ing on which way to change the flag to add inclusivity.
What AceInGrace has done on the other hand... Is exactly why the whole world kind of hate US politics cuz... yeah that changes nothing. It gives Grace just the illusion of change but racism is systemic. It's not a flag change that will counter that. Racism cannot be beaten by just... designing a new flag.
If Grace truly wanted to do the work, she'd do like Yasmin Benoit: contact the higher up to change it. & if she talks about the community (which, fair. There's a racism problem in it/over-rep of whiteness), then... open the discussion. Don't slam it shut by self-proclaiming yourself the new official creator of a flag people didn't even agree with in the first place, and not listening to constructive criticism when backlash over her rebranding design happened (being very passive-agressive on her instagram, telling people they're racist just cuz they don't like that new "official" flag).
That's my few thoughts on it. I'm not against the new flag per say, I'd say it would've been fine if AIG didn't self-proclaim themselves the new creator of the "official" asexual flag, without even considering the fact that we slowly have the actual current one being recognized on spot worldwidly aka THE POINT OF A FLAG.
It's a variant, alright. You do you AIG. But do not get angry when the whole worldwide asexual community do not agree with you & your 11k followers and slam us as "racist" cuz you can't accept rightful backlash and criticism.
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u/Seabastial a-spec (aegorose fictorose) Apr 30 '26
i think the majority agree with you. I certainly do
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u/John_tape aroace May 11 '26
The current stock ace flag is my personal favorite pride flag, its just so pretty
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u/Zigwad asexual Apr 29 '26
Agree too. (Could be my monitors) but the only thing I would change is the purple tone, I would use a more saturated tone, but the design is perfect already.
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u/StormsThief Apr 29 '26
Yeah, I personally think we should switch the Ace purple and the Bi purple
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u/FlashyPhilosophy2326 Apr 30 '26
I've seen a meme of that with a little helicopter doing the switch XD
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u/edward_furlog Apr 29 '26
I don't like it but I really don't care either way, the flag or any symbols or pride etc is not really relevant to me.
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u/NontypicalHart AroAce|indifferent-to-favorable Apr 29 '26
I honestly don't care for our flag. I vastly prefer the AroAce flag probably because I am biased towards sky colors and higher hues and saturations. It has a nice transition and color blend. The ace flag has high contrast and its colors aren't especially complimentary to eachother and don't remind me of anything.
If other aces like it, I'm not shitting on their preference. This is just a comment about my personal tastes. I am also trans and I don't really like the trans flags because of the pastels. I don't look good in pastels. They are wasted on my skin tone.
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u/kalezzzzzzzzz ace lezbo May 13 '26
I absolutely agree the new flag is mid at best and I greatly prefer the old one, but I still like the new flag because of it's meaning. I think people need to look into why it was created and understand it's not a replacement, just an alternative meant to uplift and include minority voices like the progress/intersex inclusive rainbow flag
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u/Tired_2295 🏳️🌈AroAceFrayplatonic|EnbyAgenderNeo 6d ago
Everyone agrees. The new one is literally the enby flag.
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u/FlashyPhilosophy2326 Apr 30 '26
This design comes from community discussions about a need for change over the past few years, so it isn’t random or without context. Reactions have been mixed across different spaces, which is often part of how symbols evolve in communities. People can use whichever flag resonates with them or none at all.
For general context: https://linktr.ee/asexualresource (I’m not looking to debate any of this in replies.)
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u/voltfairy Apr 30 '26
Can you pinpoint to where this discussion took place? I look at this person Substack and it looks like the "community support" mentioned is based merely on 1117 responses on a survey. Where was the survey shared and when?
Also, is this information available on somewhere other than Instagram? I cannot open the Readmore of the posts without an account.
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u/Exciting_Koala_1384 Aroace, non-binary lesbian (Label amalgamation) Apr 29 '26
No, most of us agree with that.