FAQs
1. Why oppose the "Progress" flag? Here's why:
- In 2019, the “Progress” flag “designer” appropriated Gilbert Baker’s 1978 rainbow flag and the light blue, pink, and white stripes from the 1999 Trans Pride Flag created by Monica Helms (without even a call to her), and the black and brown stripes from the 2017 More Colors More Pride Flag designed by Amber Hikes in partnership with Philadelphia’s Office of LGBT Affairs (again without asking for permission) and then pro- ceeded to LICENSE THE DESIGN FOR PROFIT.
- To the best of anyone’s knowledge, none of the creators of the now more than 90+ Pride Flags are imposing a fee to reproduce their designs. This proud tradition goes back to 1979, when LGBTQ rights lawyer Matt Coles helped Gilbert Baker (the co-creator of the rainbow flag) prevent the San Francisco pride organization from copyrighting or licensing the rainbow flag.
- In contrast, the “Progress” pride flag license is not a free-use, public domain license. It requires that anyone reproducing the flag or its design commercially (meaning virtually any manufacturer) get permission and pay a fee to its creator. Each time anyone buys a “Progress” pride flag or pin, or sticker, etc., money is going into the pocket of its creator.
- The “Progress” flag “designer” is quite open about this, saying on their website, “We want you to be able to use the design in your work, but we also want to make sure that it is used properly, that it still supports the message of the flag, and supports the creator of the work.” The designer even charges a tiered fee based on the size the entity requesting permission to duplicate it.
- Appropriating the creative work of others without consent is wrong; doing that for profit makes it even worse; and having a non-trans, white designer of the “Progress” flag wrap that up in platitudes about racial and trans justice and visibility and in opposition to “rainbow profiteering” makes it nauseating.
2. What's the big deal if the "Progress" flag "designer" makes a few bucks off his creation?
- If the “designer” had asked consent from the creators of the Trans pride flag and the More Colors More Pride flags, itlikely that consent would have been given, provided anyone could reproduce the image without being charged a fee. However, as described earlier, that is not the case – a fee is being charged.
- This isn’t a “few bucks” It is likely hundreds of thousands of dollars.
- To the best of our knowledge, every U.S. flag manufacturer (other than Flags for Good) is paying the “Progress” flag “designer” a fee to reproduce it. Think of all the “Progress” flags you saw at pride this year and you get the picture. The “designer” will not disclose the amounts being made. In fact, he has refused to answer any questions from the media about the money he is making.
- The “Progress” flag “designer” has also apparently entered into marketing agreements with Absolut, McDonalds, MISTR, US Bank, and others to use the image. (No major corporation would use any image without doing legal research.) These types of agreements usually involve significant amounts of money. Again, the “designer” will not disclose the amounts being made.
3. Isn't the "designer" of the "Progress" flag donating some of its profits to the LGBT community? So they say, BUT:
- None of the profits coming from licensing fees (see above) are being donated and that is where the big money is.
- In December 2022, the “designer’s” site said 25% of the profits from sales made from its site were being donated and that amount totaled $21,921. In January, he said that 10% of the profits are being donated and that totals $23,000. These numbers are pathetic and the math simply does not work (he’s saying that he is grossing less than $22,000 a year – come on!). More insultingly, this glosses over the fact that that the big, big dollars are coming from its licensing fees. Where are those dollars going? They won’t say.
- We are starting our work by exposing the ugly facts behind the “Progress” flag. While we understand the desire to show support for trans and LGBTQ+ people of color as these communities are under attack across the nation, there are many other ways to do that other than using the “Progress” flag. Until its creator makes the amends discussed below, it must be shunned.
4. We asked the "Progress" flag "designer" if we could sell their flags to raise money for our non-profit. The "designer" gave us permission and didn't charge a fee. Why is it not OK to display these flags?
- The problem is that you are promoting the “Progress” flag in spite of its awful origins and continuing profiteering. Your promotion of this flag encourages others to buy it, further enriching its “designer.”
5. Isn't it important - especially now - to raise the visibility and inclusion of trans and Black/brown queer people?
- Absolutely, but given “Progress” flag’s awful origins and continuing profiteering, it is not the way to do that. It is a much more bold and courageous statement to fly the trans pride flag or the More Colors More Pride flag or the Black pride flag. The creators of these flags donated their work to the community and none is making a dime off their creations.
6. What about the “Progress” flag with the symbol for intersex people?
- The flag, designed in 2021 by intersex columnist Valentino Vecchietti, adds to the “Progress” flag the purple circle and yellow background of the 2013 intersex flag designed by Morgan Carpenter. Elevating the visibility of intersex people within the LGBTQI+ community is a noble goal. Unfortunately, using the “Progress” flag is not the right way to do that because of all the problems with the “Progress” flag spelled out on this site. In other works, the foundation of the “Progress” flag is rotten to the core and nothing should be built upon it.
