LGBT

The ‘Progress’ Pride Flag, was designed by Daniel Quasar in 2018. It is not free and in the public domain, but is copyrighted, and its designer makes money from its use.

Daniel Quasar registered the copyright to the design, which modifies the traditional rainbow Pride flag by adding a chevron with colors representing marginalized communities (transgender people and coloured people) as well as those living with or lost to HIV/AIDS.

Quasar licenses the design for commercial uses, so that businesses and organizations that want to reproduce or sell items featuring the Progress flag must typically pay licensing fees.

Quasar has used platforms like Patreon and crowdfunding to support the flag’s dissemination and maintain some control over how it is used. He also earns income through direct sales of official merchandise and licensing arrangements.

Individuals or organizations using the flag non-commercially, such as flying it at events, displaying it on parades or protest marches, are not usually required to pay, although in theory they might.

Critics of the flag say that it should be free to use. They point out that there already is a ‘T’ at the end of LGBT, so trans people are already included in the (uncopyrighted) rainbow flag. They also point out that the flag’s complexity makes it ugly. The rainbow flag has simple clean lines for the bright colours that embrace everything, whereas the ‘Progress’ flag is a mish-mash.

The rainbow flag was widely accepted as a positive symbol of inclusion, but the
‘Progress’ flag has been introduced as a money-making competitor.

Rainbow Capitalism.