Flowers have been important to the LGBTQ community for years. Before now, LGBTQ people were often segregated at their workplaces because of who they love and their gender identity. In June 1969, the Stonewall Inn in New York City was raided, killing several gay people.

This massacre led to a riot which cost even more lives. However, a few years later the Supreme Court ruled a judgment in their favor that stopped the discrimination. In 1970, a solidarity match occurred which was in memory of all the LGBTQ individuals that were killed and tortured.

Some demonstrators carried flowers while they marched through Greenwich Village. About eight years later, a rainbow flaw was created by Gilbert Baker in San Francisco. This flag symbolized gay pride and became an iconic symbol for the LGBTQ community.

Soon after, flowers became another way to express their LGBTQ movement and ever since, flowers became a part of the coded language of the LGBTQ community.

Contact Chappell’s Florist in Burlington for custom flower arrangements today.

The Green Carnation

The green carnation was popularized by Oscar Wilde in 1892. He requested that his friends wore them on their lapels to the opening of his comedy. After which, this flower became a coded symbol for gay men.

Violets

The violet signified female love. The Greek poet Sappho who lived on the island of Lesbos often sang it in her poems and ever since violets have been used to signify female love.

Lavender

Lavender has been associated with both gay men and women. Because lesbians were left out of the women's movement, lavender became a representation for lesbians who wanted to get involved with the women's movement.

Because lavender is a mix of pink and blue, a writer suggested that it became a symbol of mixing where the pink connected to the girls and the blue to the boys. Today, lavender roses are one of the sought-after roses for LGBTQ partners for valentines day or same-sex marriage.

Roses

Roses are sometimes referenced to the transgender community. This is because transgender people were murdered at alarming rates those times and roses are associated with mourning. Therefore, roses became a symbol in memory of them.

Tie-Dye Roses

The tie-dye roses were initially associated with Woodstock and the love and peace movement. But recently, it became an iconic symbol for the LGBTQ community. This was as a result of the rainbow flag Gilbert Baker made.

The tie-dye rose passed a message of welcoming to everyone in the community. This flower, just like people, is bright, colorful, beautiful, and varied.

Work With Chappell’s Florist for Beautiful Flower Arrangements

Compared to someone who is straight, it is different when you get these flowers for anyone who is gay. They each have their significance and as you know, the LGBTQ community holds flowers in high esteem. For more information, you can always reach out to us at Chappell's florist and we will be happy to help.