Let’s Get Into Some Queer History!

The Pink Triangle

Often as LGBTQIA+ people, we have taken symbols and words that were once used with hatred and reclaimed them as symbols of resistance and hope. One of the most powerful examples of this is the pink triangle.

First used in Nazi Germany, pink triangles marked homosexual prisoners (and anyone who differed from gender norms). In practice, this was applied almost exclusively to German men imprisoned under §175 of the German criminal code. Paragraph §175 was introduced when the German Empire was founded in 1871, making "unnatural sexual offenses" between men punishable by up to six months in prison. It did not criminalize or even recognize female homosexuality, although women were also prosecuted, albeit not to the same extent as men.

Under the Nazis, persecution intensified. A mere kiss or a lustful glance was enough to land gay men in prison. Unlike the persecution of Jews and the Roma, the Nazis did not intend to exterminate homosexuals but to “reeducate” them. However, the death rate among homosexuals was high, especially compared to other groups imprisoned for reeducation. Fifty-five percent of homosexual prisoners died in the camps, as opposed to 40% of political prisoners and 34.7% of Jehovah’s Witnesses.

Between 5,000 and 15,000 gay men died in the camps, although this figure might have been much higher since homosexuals, unlike Jews and Roma, could more easily conceal their otherness. Even so, they were often given the worst labor assignments and were rejected by fellow prisoners, who viewed them as deviants.

After World War II, the pink triangle reemerged as a symbol of queer resistance. It was notably used during the AIDS movement by groups like ACT UP, who turned it upright (pointing up instead of down) as a sign of action and solidarity. The pink triangle has since been used in several graphic design projects, protest posters, and art installations to honor queer lives and fight against injustice.

Information found in these sources:
www.auschwitz.org 1
www.auschwitz.org 2
www.dw.com

The Lavender Scare

Lavender is one of the queerest colors—not because it’s just the better version of violet (no bias there I swear), but for what it represents. Lavender became a symbol of queer identity, survival, and resistance, largely because of a brutal era in American history called the Lavender Scare. This scare happened right after the Holocaust, a time when queer people were already deeply traumatized—especially gay men, who had been forced to wear pink triangles and were sent to concentration camps by the Nazis. Some survivors were even imprisoned again after the war, just for being gay.

Instead of finding safety after WWII, queer people in the U.S. were hit with a new wave of oppression. Starting in the 1950s, during the Cold War, the U.S. government claimed that LGBTQ+ people were national security risks. This excuse was used to fire them from federal jobs, blacklist them, and destroy their reputations. This was known as the Lavender Scare. And it’s a tactic we’re seeing again today—in 2025, the Trump administration is actively working to roll back DEI protections and create a culture of fear and erasure around queerness, just like they did back then.

Senator Joseph McCarthy, who’s best known for hunting down supposed communists, helped spark this panic. But the real danger for queer people came with his right-hand man: Roy Cohn. Cohn was a powerful, closeted gay man who actively led the charge in outing and purging other queer people from government jobs—while hiding his own identity. He used fear, secrecy, and shame as weapons, and thousands of lives were ruined because of it. President Eisenhower also signed an executive order that made it official government policy to ban LGBTQ+ people from federal employment.

The FBI, military, and other agencies all participated in this witch hunt. People were surveilled, interrogated, forced to out their friends, and left without jobs, futures, or support—all just for being queer.

So when you see lavender used in queer art, flags, or clothing, remember: it’s more than a pretty color. It’s a reminder of how hard queer people have had to fight to exist, and how far we’ve come from being hunted by the very systems that were supposed to protect us.

So when you see lavender used in queer art, flags, or clothing, remember: it’s more than a pretty color. It’s a reminder of how hard queer people have had to fight to exist, and how far we’ve come from being hunted by the very systems that were supposed to protect us.

And despite everything, we’re still here—louder, prouder, and more connected than ever. The strength of our community has always come from standing together, and it’s that same power that helps us keep fighting for a world where everyone can live freely and safely, no matter who they are.

Information found in these sources:
www.pbs.org/video/lavender-scare
TIME YouTube
National Archives

The Symbolism Behind Safety Pins

So, instead of just researching and remembering for this one, I went around asking close crowds what symbols they have personally witnessed, experienced, or otherwise observed. One of those groups was our staff team, of course!

Camilo, our executive director, shared something he observed shortly after Trump was elected in 2016. In response to the overwhelming display of racism, sexism, and bigotry that followed the election, people began pinning safety pins to their clothing. It was a quiet, visible way to say: “I’m a safe person. I stand against hate. You’re not alone.”

Interestingly, the symbol didn’t start in the U.S.—it originated in the UK after the Brexit vote in 2016. People wore safety pins to show solidarity with immigrants and minorities who felt unsafe due to the rise in xenophobic and racist incidents following the referendum.

Then, following Trump’s re-election in 2024, the safety pin saw a resurgence. For many, it became a small but powerful sign that the wearer will stand up for those who feel endangered because of their gender, sexuality, race, disability, religion, or any other identity under attack.

While it's a simple object, the safety pin has become a subtle yet recognizable symbol of allyship. It reminds us that even the smallest gestures—when rooted in care—can speak volumes.

Information found in these sources:
PBS, BBC, Distractify

Blåhaj: The IKEA Trans Shark Icon

Now let’s get into some of the fun and unexpected symbols! I stumbled on this one myself, and when I brought it up to our Theatre Connect participants, more than half of them finished my sentence the moment I said, “Do you all know that IKEA shark, Blå—” Not only did they know exactly what I was talking about, but they also knew all about why Blåhaj is considered a trans icon, along with the lore behind it. So naturally, I had to do a little digging—and here’s what I found.

Everyone knows IKEA, and some might even know about their rainbow Pride bags—but fewer realize they also sell plushies, including a beloved shark named Blåhaj (pronounced "Blow-high").

I asked 12 of our participants if they knew what Blåhaj was, and not only did 7 recognize it, but they could also dive deep into the lore of how Blåhaj became a trans icon.

Blåhaj has been sold at IKEA since at least 2014, but around 2018, the plush shark made waves online when a Tumblr user (later spreading to 4chan) began posting Blåhaj in funny, absurd scenarios. Both Tumblr and 4chan already had a significant queer user base, and when the subreddit r/Blåhaj was created, its popularity exploded. Sales skyrocketed, stores around the world ran out of stock, and Blåhaj quickly became an internet celebrity. As the shark gained traction, fan art flooded social media, cementing its place in queer meme culture.

If you don’t see how this intersects with the LGBTQIA+ community, I don’t know how else to help you, hunty.

Eventually, even IKEA acknowledged the trend. In response to Blåhaj’s growing queer fandom, the company released an official advertisement featuring the plush shark with the slogan: “Love is for all.”

Today, Blåhaj is a comfort object, a symbol of resilience, and a beloved friend to anyone queer or trans.

Learn more by looking through these sources:
Some Random YouTuber named Ghostpop
Lots of Reddit Threads
More Gay Ikea Items

Frogs, and the Chemicals That Make Them Gay

To end things on a lighter (and sillier) note, let’s talk about frogs. After going through some of the heavier and more historical queer symbols like the pink triangle, the Lavender Scare, safety pins, and even IKEA’s Blåhaj shark, it felt right to end with something silly.

About a decade ago, a far-right commentator, Alex Jones, made headlines by claiming that the government was putting chemicals in the water that “turn the frickin’ frogs gay.”

The chemical he was talking about is Atrazine—a herbicide used mostly on corn crops to kill weeds. Atrazine can end up in drinking water through agricultural runoff, and about 33 million Americans have been exposed to it through tap water. Studies have found that Atrazine might be a carcinogen and is also an endocrine disruptor, meaning it messes with hormones. In frogs, it caused some males to develop both male and female reproductive organs. So, no, the frogs weren’t literally “turning gay,” but Atrazine was causing weird disruptions in their biology.

After the Infowars clip went viral, the internet ran with it and turned it into a meme. It became something iconic, funny, and just weird enough to stick. The queer community, as usual, took it and made it into something our own—because why not? Gay frogs forever.

(If you're curious to learn more, check out the video Gay Frogs: A Deep Dive.)

For this last one I was grasping at straws, so I don’t really have anything except the video above and several memes from a decade ago. lol.

Cai Husband (they/them/theirs)
Program Coordinator

cai@theatreconnect.org

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