The Ocean MLM flags and their creators: An analysis.
Trigger warning: Discussions of discourse, transmisia, racism, overall bigotry.
This is probably the closest you will get to a discourse post from me (Though tbh, is it really discourse if I'm trying to spread the truth?)
Most content is from an Insta post I made a while back. I am moving it to here as well for archival purposes as well as corrections.
Heads up, this post will be SUPER hecking long (And I have no idea how to cut the posts down I'm sorry)
Well I've been seeing stuff about the gay pride flags again. A lot of it being misinformation. I think it's time to debunk them one by one.
Let's start off with myth number one: "It rips off the lesbian flag."
There's millions of ways I can debunk this, but let's start with the simple ones.
Fact: One MLM flag (Which I have referred to as the "Listerine" flag) actually came before the Sunset lesbian flag.
(Sidenote: I lost the original and edited files when my previous computer broke but I did have the original screenshots saved on my private discord server which I use for screenshot storage, so I went ahead and saved them, and re-added the circles that I used to point out the dates).
(I would also like folks to keep this screenshot in mind, as it'll be important for debunking the next myth).
Fact: The flags are actually *completely* different hue shifts.
When I did a hue shift of both the MLM flags *and* Lesbian flags (both Sunset and Lipstick), I got different results.
(I forgot to make a diagram with the hue-shifted MLM flags, but I do remember what it was supposed to look like so I went ahead and made one instantly)
See the difference? All it takes is one hue shift to prove a myth wrong.
Also, this is where things get really interesting. Outside of the original Lipstick Lesbian flag excluding trans lesbians and butches (Note: I consider the Lipstick Lesbian flag and Pink lesbian flag different flags), I think people forget the Lipstick Lesbian flag itself also has accusations of plagiarism.
**Queer History 101 is now in session**.
This flag shown above is known as the Cougar flag. This flag was created around 2008 by a gay man named Fausto Fernos. He created the flag to bring light to sexism and ageism in the community (especially women's communities). It was inspired by the Bear Brotherhood flag.
The Lipstick flag was created in 2010. And you can very much see the similarities between the Lipstick Lesbian flag and Cougar Flag. This is because the creator of the Lipstick flag stole the design of the Cougar flag and didn't give credit. I do not know if it was intentional, but knowing the Lipstick flag's creator's yikes history, I'm willing to make the bet.
So basically, the Lipstick Lesbian flag itself is the one that is a stolen design, and not the MLM flags.
**This has been Queer History 101 with Shadow**
Myth 2: The creator of the gay man flag is a transmed.
Fact: A transmed actually reposted the flag and claimed it as their own, which caused folks to believe they were the creator.
Take a good look at the date.
Now look at the date of the original post shown below (and just before anyone else does it, r/uselessredcircle. I'm too exhausted to screenshot the date so I'm just posting the screenshot again)
The creator of the flag has also expressed discomfort about transmeds using it (or, rather, reposting it for that matter lol) as well.
Myth 3: The flag is bad because it has no meanings.
Fact: While it's true the first flag didn't have meanings originally, that doesn't automatically mean the flag is bad. There are millions of pride flags out there that don't have meanings. Suppose we should stop using those flags now?
Myth 4: The creators are racist.
This one is also incredibly false.
Fact: Another user made a very poorly worded comment and was mistaken to be the creator.
The creator of the second ocean flag has already made a statement on this one (Here).
Additionally, as of late I've seen another rumor going around that the creators created a flag that was antiblack *and* fetishistic. That is also false. Nobody knows who created that flag.
Last myth: The creators support Bi/Pan Lesbians.
(SIDENOTE: Before anyone comes at me, I am a bi lesbian myself. I am simply pointing this out. And do take a look at my Mspec Lesbian exclusionism analysis for info on why excluding mspec lesbians is bad).
Fact: While one of the creators did make some bi lesbian flags (as a request by the way), idk if that means support. The other creator, however, has already stated that he is staying away from the discourse surrounding them. Not partaking in discourse is NOT a stance on something.
Additional notes:
-Not using a flag/label is NOT a stance on something, and saying otherwise makes you look late a gatekeeper. /nbh
-That being said, using a specific flag does NOT make anyone a bad person. Yes, even if someone chooses to reclaim the pink flag! (Speaking of, I highly encourage reclaiming it, since it's very pretty!)
-Flag discourse overall is just stupid. Go do something more productive if you can. /nf /nbh
Additional info/sources (Warning: Posts may contain reclaimed slurs. There may also be exclusionist rhetoric in some. However, I am still linking them as I still consider them helpful).
Fausto's statement regarding the cougar flag being stolen.
Gayflagblog's FAQ (Archived version)
A twitter thread with more info. (Archived version)
Spreadsheet of the allegations against the creators (Note: This one is formatted a little weird, so proceed with caution).
A carrd debunking some of the myths around the current Ocean flag. (Do note the creator behind this one *is* anti-mspec lesbian. I am still linking it since it has a lot of information).
A carrd featuring other MLM flags.
The site I used for the hue-shifts.