The LGBTQ+ community has a long and varied history with tattoos. In a time when it was illegal to be out and proud in Western culture, many LGBTQ+ people got tattoos to convey secret messages or as an act of defiance to authority.
The most common LGBTQ+-inspired tattoos are:
- The pink triangle tattoo: in Nazi Germany in the mid-1940s, gay prisoners in concentration camps were forced into wearing pink triangles as a badge of shame;
- Nautical star tattoo: in the late 1940s and 50s, some lesbians got a nautical star tattooed on their wrist as a signal to other lesbians;
- Scorpion/Biohazard tattoo: a gay man who is HIV+;
- Equals sign tattoo: this one’s fairly self-explanatory but it’s worth mentioning;
- Labrys (double-sided axe) tattoo: during the 1960s, lesbian feminists adopted the labrys tattoo as a symbol of strength and independence.
- Arm-band tattoo: a symbol that let the world know they enjoy anal fisting, etc.
The LGBTQ+ community has many symbols that represent this community as a whole. Even though society has taken great steps forward, the LGBTQA+ community is still looked down upon in some communities. Pride tattoos show that you’ve grown out of being afraid, and feel free to flaunt your true colours.
We found an amazing collection of LGBTQ+ tattoo ideas. These queer tattoos help show that gender and sexuality don’t look like anything in particular. A gay pride tattoo could be one of your biggest achievements as it represents your true identity. It could be inspiring for you as well as others. No matter what kind of symbol it is, whether an equal sign, a rainbow, or a colour heart, they all represent the same emotions.
Before getting an LGBTQ+ tattoo, you must have certain questions in mind, such as whether the tattoo shop you’ll go to, will be LGBTQ+ friendly or not. So, you can always search the internet for ‘LGBTQ+ tattoo shops near me’ or ‘LGBTQ+ friendly tattoo shops near me. This way, you will not end up in the wrong place.