The Pink Triangle: From Persecution to Pride

The Pink Triangle: From Persecution to Pride

By Hallie Burchinal

The pink triangle is a symbol that cuts deep—etched into the memory of queer history as both a marker of pain and a badge of strength in the face of adversity. Today, you’ll find it on protest signs, in pride parades, tattooed on bodies, and printed on t-shirts, and in our case, the central focus of our logo - a remembrance of our past AND hope for our future. But its presence in LGBTQ+ spaces carries with it a story that should never be forgotten.

A Dark Beginning

The pink triangle’s origins trace back to one of the darkest chapters in modern history: Nazi Germany. Under Hitler’s regime, gay men were among those targeted and imprisoned in concentration camps. As part of the dehumanizing classification system, prisoners were forced to wear colored badges identifying the reason for their internment. Gay men wore pink inverted triangles.

This symbol wasn’t just used to identify—it was used to isolate. Those marked with the pink triangle were often subjected to the worst abuse, seen as "subhuman" even within the brutal hierarchies of the camps. Many perished. The triangle was meant to shame and destroy.

Reclaiming the Symbol

In the 1970s and 1980s, queer activists began to reclaim the pink triangle—not as a reminder of defeat, but as a symbol of strength, remembrance, and resistance. Most notably, during the AIDS crisis, the group ACT UP used the triangle—now flipped upright—as part of their bold and unignorable slogan:
“SILENCE = DEATH.”

This was a radical reclamation. By taking a tool of past oppression and turning it into a symbol of life-saving activism, the LGBTQ+ community transformed the triangle from a mark of exclusion into a banner of solidarity.

The Pink Triangle Today

Now, the pink triangle lives on in many LGBTQ+ spaces—each time carrying a layer of historical weight. Here's how it’s seen and used today:

• Activist Spaces: It continues to be used by queer rights groups protesting against discrimination, transphobia, and state violence.

• Art and Memorials: Public installations, like the Pink Triangle Park in San Francisco, serve as reminders of LGBTQ+ persecution and resilience.

• Pride Events: Many wear it to honor the lives lost and to acknowledge the ongoing struggle for queer liberation worldwide.

• Fashion and Tattoos: Individuals wear it not only as a nod to history, but also as a deeply personal statement of identity and defiance.

• Intersectional Advocacy: In trans, nonbinary, and BIPOC queer spaces, the pink triangle often appears alongside other symbols, such as the rainbow flag or trans pride flag, showing how interconnected these struggles are.

Why It Still Matters

Symbols evolve, but they never lose their roots. The pink triangle reminds us that our pride is not just about celebration—it’s also about resistance, remembrance, and the continued fight for justice.

So when you see that sharp triangle rising skyward in pink, know this: it’s not just design—it’s history, it’s protest, it’s survival - it’s all of us standing united together, celebrating the beauty and strength of our community.