Leather Pride Flag

The leather pride flag represents the leather subculture along with the broader kink and BDSM communities. It was designed by Tony DeBlase, an activist and writer, and first unveiled on May 28, 1989, at the International Mr. Leather contest in Chicago. The flag has nine horizontal stripes, alternating black and blue with a white stripe across the center, and a red heart in the upper left corner. DeBlase deliberately left the exact meaning open, inviting people to bring their own interpretations, so widely shared readings of the black, blue, white, and red are community interpretations rather than an official code. It appeared in a Portland pride parade within weeks and spread worldwide, marking a move toward more public leather visibility.