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recordofablerd · 1 year

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Introducing the Community Queer Pride Flag, made by a Queer for every Queer

So many of my best thoughts start with a tweet thread: the creation of this flag is no different, spawned from early morning wanderings on November, 22, 2022.

I can’t tell you why, exactly, I woke up thinking about wanting a new Queer flag: I can’t tell you what really urged me to stick with this project until its actual completion, as that’s something I struggle with due to my AuDHD.

What I can tell you is this: when I set out to create this flag, I wanted to create a Queer flag that wholly wasn’t the Pride flag, but a flag for Queer sexuality and identity specifically, and for all that it encompasses and embodies. I wanted a flag that reflects my experience with Queerness on four distinct levels: as a sexuality, as a gender expression, as a lived experience, and as a joyful way to be in the world.

Thus, the Community Queer Pride Flag, which I only named on the day of its debut.

The flag went through twelve different designs, ranging from a simple horizontal stripe pattern to more… abstract patterns that were far too confusing to the eye. Initially, I had five colors–orange, yellow, green, blue, and purple—but after running that past my roommates and a few others, I ultimately decided to eliminate the color green and keep a tangerine-ish orange, a sunflower-esque yellow, a vivid royal blue, and of course, lavender, for the final color scheme.

I also had to consider the actual stripes themselves: I had, as I said, twelve designs, and some of them were… too creative. What eventually was settled on were the two final designs: a vertical arrangement starting with lavender on the left and ending with tangerine on the right, and an angled arrangement with the stripes at an asymmetrical 45 degrees. The latter is a personal favorite amongst those who I showed the final designs to: and I have to admit, it’s my favorite as well, which is why I've chosen it as the formal flag. (I will be including the alternative version as well!)

After a week of pushing minute shifts in color values here and there, I’ve finally arrived at what I wanted when I first decided to actually make a pride flag: a Queer flag that centers community at its core, opening up Queerness to everyone from a different, but not necessarily new, angle, be they Queer and Bi, Queer and Cis, Queer and Asexual, or any of the beautiful, infinite expressions that are tangled up in being Queer.

Of course, I’m not the first person to have this idea: I’d be remiss if I didn’t give credit to Pastelmemer’s Queer Flag, which was created in 2015. It uses a beautiful array of colors, each imbued with meaning:

Pinks and Blues for same-gender attraction

Orange and Green for non-binary individuals

Black and White for asexuality, aromanticism, and agender individuals

(Flag created by Pastelmemer, circa 2015)

There’s also the lesser known Chevron queer flag by Tumblr user bizexuals, as well as a number of individuals, which uses two lavender-colored cheverons–for their historic coloration and for the non-straight lines–on an off-white background, chosen because white is the color the results from all the colors of the rainbow combining. It’s beautiful in its simplicity, and was made with sensory issues in mind.

(Flag created by Bizexuals, circa 2017)

Both were my models and inspiration as I decided to create a Queer pride flag centered on community over gender as a way to add to the already existing pantheon of Queer-specific flags. As an agender person–something new that I’m only just really exploring for myself alongside my own Queer exploration–it was important to me that whatever flag I created be wholly uncentered on gender, opening itself up to what Queerness can be when applied on mutiple levels that don’t necessarily elide gender, but also, doesn’t put it front and center.

What about the Queers who are wholly divorced from gender? What about Queers for whom gender has never been a factor in who they are? What about the Queers who will never fit in the binary or the non-binary spectrums? First and foremost, that’s who I wanted this flag to speak to, myself included. This flag wouldn’t be as meaningful, in my mind, had it centered on anything but an expression that was ungendered and communal. For most of my life, I’ve had gender foisted on me: it’s only been in the past eight months that I’ve recognized my beautiful lack of gender and started to celebrate that. That’s what I carried with me as I opened Canva and started mocking up designs.

That said, the Queer Community is for all, and it’s critical to me, as I prepare to send it out into the world, that this flag remains for all and is never gatekept by anyone. Part of community is opening our arms to all experiences: Queerness should not be bound by its limitations. Rather, the Community Queer fllag is a symbol of the infinite ways queerness can shape itself, across cultures, backgrounds, expressions, lived experiences, and so much more.

So… without further adieu, let me formally introduce the Community Queer Pride Flag and its colors:

Lavender (Hex code #D0C3F1) for its historic importance to queerness and for Spirit, Spirituality, and Healing

Blue (Hex code #3552C8) for Inspiration and Liberation

Yellow (Hex code #F6E678) for Joy and Optimism

Orange (Hex code #FF955F) for Energy and Community

Together, these colors, bordered by white (Hex Code #FDFDFD) and charcoal (Hex Code #21221F) make a flag bound by community and communal celebration of Queerness on all levels. When these colors combine, they are a representation of unchecked joy, unbound optimism, and healing.

They’re a symbol that we’re here, we’re Queer, and we ain’t going anywhere.

As promised, I'm also going to put the alternative version out there, which is also free for use with credit:

My hope for this flag is simple: if even just one person finds it and sees themself and their experiences reflected in it, then I’m happy. If one person finds it and creates something from it–pins, fiber art, shirts, OC fanart, a mug–then I’m still just as happy. Feel free to create what you'd like, to wear it, tattoo it, celebrate it, and uplift it: my goal with putting this out into the world isn’t ownership, though I do ask for people to link to this post and credit me, Cypress L. Catwell, for this flag.

All in all, I hope that the Community Queer Pride Flag finds its way into the pantheon of flags and continues to provide both shelter and community for those who need it. Use it, share it, love it: may it be a symbol of your own pride as you move through the world.

Truly wishing every Queer person in existence, who’s ever been and who’s to come, all the joy you so rightfully deserve. Keep on being you.

Signed, Cypress L. Catwell Creator of the Community Queer Pride Flag (2022)

#Queer Pride Flag #Community Queer Pride Flag #New Pride Flag #Pride Flag #Pride #Queer #LGBTQAI #Queer Joy #Queerness

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not-just-any-fangirl · 7 years

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I would love to hear more about your NaLu son, I adore when they have a son

hoooo boy nonny. Are you ready? cus I sure as FUCK am

Igneel Dragneel

aka, Elly

because Elly could not believe his parents actually named him fucking Igneel Dragneel

he understands it’s after his deceased grandpa dragon but ffs his name is ‘Igneel Dragon-Igneel’ wtf mom

Elly is the first born, and as such, has decided it is his job to protect his little baby sisters from the gross men of the world.

it is the world that needs protection from his baby sisters

they are literal fucking demons okay like imagine Natsu as a tween with Lucy’s cunning and intelligence

it is

bad

His hair has a pink tinge in the sun but mostly looks like a reddy blond. He usually keeps it short and with either one or both sides shaved. He has his father’s eyes and his mother’s nose

He has three ear piercings all in his left ear

His guild mark stamp is between his shoulder blades and is gold

Elly realizes he is gay when he is six and his best-friend-five-ever is talking about how cute Dreyar is and Elly wholeheartedly agrees. The two spend their recess planning the joint marriage to this poor boy, Azure Redfox in a pretty white dress and Elly in a pretty white suit and Dreyar in a black suit.

its basically that shitty ‘x has two hands’ meme but schoolyard love version

Elly can be very set in his ideas

see; his little sisters can do no wrong

like objectively he is aware that if something explodes within a ten mile radius it’s probably Luna, but he is always very confident there was a good reason for it

the reason was that a random dude stole her coffee from the basically-starbucks shop and she called a firey storm of righteous fury from the sky and blew him to shit

if he decides you’re a good person you could kill a man in front of him and he’d help you hide the body

alternatively, if he decides he doesn’t like you, you better buckle the FUCK in for one hell of a bumpy ride to change that idea

The boy has Natsu’s hatred of change and it drives his mother up the wall

He also has Lucy’s imagination and zero tolerance for bullshit attitude

Elly LOVES spicy food but he can also only take three bites before it gets to much and he needs to chug the milk gallon

Elly has a stuffed dragon he calls Mr. Scales and he will cut a bitch if they look at him the wrong way.

so what if a wing has had to be sown on five separate times and it’s faded and black glass eyes are so scratched they’re grey it is his friend and he has aged like fine wine

The easiest way to get Elly to do something is to tell him not to do it and give him no reason as to why not

If you explain to him he is likely to see the logic or at least respect you more for treating him like a fucking human but if you say ‘bcus I said so’ you can bet your ass he’s gonna climb to the top of the bell tower from the outside and fucking hit the lunch gong at 11:16 and fuck everyone’s internal clock up

This also manifests as a lot of spite and apathetic rage (how?? who knows) at homophobes

He’s usually lowkey bcus it was never made a big deal of in his family and you don’t see normal boys being extra straight and also while he gets crushes as easily as Lucy he cares for a real relationship about as much as Natsu

Mitsu: Hey, Gail was checking out your ass today

Elly: Oh that’s nice

Tatsu: Yesterday you literally said if you had a womb you’d carry his children

Elly: Yeah but have you seen Ulijha’s eyes today?? Take me now please you green haired knight of muscle

Mitsu and Tatsu in synchronization: why are you like this

However he will deck out in all leather assless chaps and pride flags if he thinks for a hot second you have a problem with gay people

Lucy helps him bcus she’s so proud of her little boy standing up to bigots and she doesn’ for a second doubt his ability to punch out a motherfucker if someone tried to make it physical

But he will do it in a way where the person is unsure if it’s just ironic timing or if Elly is being a Bitter Bitch and being passive aggressive

Elly gets irritated easily over minor things but that goes as quickly as it comes. Now if you really piss him off you won’t know until he snaps and then cuts you out of his life. Boy can hold a grudge.

He may have inherited many things from his parents but forgiveness to the point of being a flaw is not one of them.

There will be consequences if you’ve fucked up

Very, very, cold and painful consequences

MAGIC

Elly decides he wants to be a dragon slayer like his father, but fire always seemed so volatile to him and brash

he was always entranced with the winter and snow and Uncle Gray’s creation and manipulation of ice

Natsu is. Betrayed

how dare his own flesh and blood prefer to be like that Dick-sicle than his own father???

Lucy has to remind him that it was Natsu’s idea to make Gray the godfather of his children

Natsu asks how that has any relevance

Elly perfected his ‘do you see the shit I have to put up with?’ at a very early age due to his mother’s conversations with his father and mimicking her facial expressions

When Elly is twelve he asks if Gray can help train him alongside Natsu so he could practice both skills.

Elly takes to ice like Luna to fire. His rate of learning and mastering dragon slayer techniques skyrockets, and over the years he also manages to combine lighting and ice dragon slayer magic, and shadow and ice dragon slayer techniques.

Oh how the next generation builds on the work of their parents

Gray brings his son Tenkiame to the training session

Elly has known Tenten since he was born, but watching the nine month older boy train Awakens Things.

Elly works even harder to train and get stronger to impress Tenkiame. He may also be a tad bit competitive and legit just wants to surpass him, but it’s mainly trying to get his attention and impress him.

The first time he performs a successful Roar of the Ice Dragon he accidentally pins Tenkiame to the guild wall.

Tenkiame doesn’t stop complain-bragging about it to everyone for a week

Elly is a flustered and mortified mess.

As the years pass the crush fades but never fully goes away, but the boys grow to be inseparable.

Tenkiame makes the first move and kisses him and Elly runs away for a month as he tries to process his emotions and the major change in his world

He runs away to Natsu’s old cottage and Lucy rolls her eyes but leaves her dumb seventeen-year-old son alone

He comes back with his tail between his legs and has a long and painfully awkward conversation with Tenkiame bcus even tho he’s Lucy’s son he is also Natsu’s and the boy does not use words to explain his emotions well

Tenkiame, however, can translate dumb dragon and listens patiently.

Tenkiame has inherited his mother’s steadfast determination of ‘wait and the boy will come to you if you wear him down enough’

For most missions the group is Elly, Tenkiame, Azure and her fellow triplets; Aegen and Admirl.

yes the triplets are named after shades of blue starting with A

Levy is a fucking linguist nerd what are you expecting here

Elly also goes on family missions with his sisters and it usually costs the guild a shit ton and a ver sincerely written letter of apology to whatever own they half destroyed

those trips are his favourite

bcus the boy will Kill for his sisters and they are his closest friends

Their favourite thing to say is ‘you’re like family to me’, and the other responding in the flattest voice ‘we are family numb nuts’

Tatsu: Mitsu, when you show me such devotion I can’t help but feel as though you truly are my sister

Mitsu: We’re twins dipshit. We shared our mother’s womb.

Mitsu: Also it’s a donut please chill for minute of your life

Elly: Did someone ask a Dragneel to chill?

Mitsu and Tatsu: No one asked you go and be gross in your boyfriend’s lap

Elly :(

Luna, without any emotion: oh my, whatever could be so delightful as a chilled Dragneel child.

Elly: :D

Elly: You know, Lulu, if I were to have any siblings I feel in my soul that you would truly be my favourite sister

This got super long I’m sorry. It’s developed into a major shit post please take this before it get’s worse

#ft next gen #fairy tail #nalu #Anon #just any answers #just any hcs #Elly dragneel

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