Gay MLM (Men Loving Men) Pride Flag

Why do gay men need a separate flag? Don't they have the Rainbow flag?

Well, not necessarily. As the community has grown and language has become more normalized and expansive, on a larger social community scale, most people will use the term "gay" as an umbrella term for the entire LGBTQIA+ community and the Rainbow Flag has also come to represent that as such.

So while all the other letters in the Alphabet Mafia has its own flag representing their specific gender identity or sexuality, there hasn't been one that represents MLM folks specifically in the community until recently.

Now, please don't get confused by the acronym MLM.

Yes, it does mean Multi-Level Marketing.

That is not the case in this instance. In regards to Pride, MLM means Men Loving Men or Masc loving Masc.

The Colors and Meanings

Similarly to the Lesbian pride flag, the original flag has 7 stripes, however the flag used for this skin in particular is the simplified 5 striped version.

Below is a list of the colors and meanings and I will point out which 2 colors are only in the original 7 striped flag and not the simplified version.

Dark Blue-Green --> Community
Blue-Green --> Healing (not in the simplified version)
Light Blue-Green --> Joy
White --> Gender Non-Conforming, NB, and Trans Men
Light Blue --> Pure Love
Blue --> Fortitude (not in the simplified version)
Dark Blue --> Diversity


*Important Information and Resources*


To this day, many members of the LGBTQIA+ community face many hardships that impact their overall health, wellbeing, and livelihood. This results in homelessness, mental health issues, emotional health issues, drug abuse, death, and social abandonment. This is because there is a vocal group of individuals who perpetrate discrimination and hatred towards the LGBTQIA+ just because they love in a different way than they believe it should be.


Love is love and there is nothing harmful about it.


If you or someone you know is part of the LGBTQIA+ community and is struggling, below are some National (USA) hotlines to reach out to for support.


Trevor Project

Age 13-24

866-488-7386


The GLBT National Hotline

888-843-4564


The GLBT National Youth Talkline

Age youth through 25

800-246-7743


National Suicide Prevention Lifeline

800-273-8255


Crisis Text Line

Text START to 741-741


National AIDS Hotline

800-342-AIDS English

800-344-7432 Spanish


National Runaway Safeline

800-RUNAWAY

800-786-2929