Achillean Blue Rose Flag (CatColors, 2020)

Overview

To provide a flag and label for MLM/NBLM individuals who do not wish to use the term 'achillean' or its associated green carnation symbolism.

Twitter user CatColors created the blue rose flag and term as alternatives to achillean for those who prefer not to use that label. The flag replaces the green carnation (associated with Oscar Wilde and the achillean flag tradition) with a blue rose emblem. The stripe design also departs from the achillean flag's light-blue-and-white scheme, instead using five stripes representing distinct subcommunities within the MLM umbrella.

Identity & Context

Represented Identity

Men loving men (MLM) and nonbinary people loving men (NBLM)

Subcommunity

men-loving-men umbrella

The 'blue rose' term and flag were created as alternatives for those within the MLM community who prefer not to use the word 'achillean.' The achillean label, coined by Tumblr user asculan in June 2016, references the mythological figure Achilles and his relationship with Patroclus. Some community members have expressed discomfort with the term for various reasons, leading to alternative labels such as 'blue rose,' 'wildean,' 'chaeronean,' and 'apollian.'

Creators

The Creator

Attribution notes

Designed by Twitter user CatColors and posted on July 1, 2020. CatColors also created the term 'blue rose' as an alternative label for achillean/MLM individuals who do not wish to use the word 'achillean.'

Origin

Specific Place

Twitter (@CatColors)

Place Type

online community

Digital Origin

true

Digital origin; no verified physical location.

Created and posted on Twitter by user CatColors. The flag was designed as part of a broader effort to provide alternative terminology and symbols for the men-loving-men community.

Dates & Chronology

Year Created

2020

Exact date

July 1, 2020

First public use

July 1, 2020

Period in Use

2020-present

The flag and blue rose label circulate in online MLM communities, particularly on Twitter and LGBTQIA+ identity wikis.

The blue rose flag is one of several alternative MLM flags that emerged in the early 2020s as the community discussed which labels and symbols best represented the diversity of men-loving-men experience.

Lineage

Indirect influences

Achillean Flag, Rainbow Pride Flag

Related flags

Achillean Pride Flag (2016 Redesign), Gay Men's Pride Flag (Seven-Stripe), Gay Men's Pride Flag (Five-Stripe)

Created as an alternative to the achillean flag tradition. Replaces the green carnation with a blue rose and uses a different stripe scheme. Related to the achillean flag through shared community but intentionally divergent in both terminology and visual design.

Colors & Symbolism

The five stripes each represent a different subcommunity within the men-loving-men umbrella. The blue rose emblem serves as an alternative to the green carnation, providing a symbol for those who do not identify with the 'achillean' label.

Approximated values from circulating images.

This flag has no official digital palette. Color values shown are approximate.

Blue rose

An alternative symbol for the men-loving-men community, replacing the green carnation associated with the achillean tradition. The blue rose serves as the emblem for those who prefer the 'blue rose' label over 'achillean.'

Stripe meanings are documented on LGBTQIA+ wiki sources. The blue rose symbol is specific to the CatColors design and the 'blue rose' terminology framework.

Exact hex values have not been independently cataloged in color reference sources for this specific variant. Values are approximated from circulating images. The flag uses a gradient of blue-to-purple tones with a central white/grey stripe.

Design

Aspect Ratio

3:2

Orientation

horizontal

Stripe Count

5

Layout

horizontal stripes with symbol

Stripes (Top → Bottom)

light blue, sky blue, white/grey, light violet, light purple

Center Symbol

blue rose

Five horizontal stripes with a blue rose emblem centered on the flag.

Five horizontal stripes, from top to bottom: light blue, sky blue, white or grey, light violet, and light purple. A blue rose emblem is centered on the flag.

Usage & Adoption

First Users

Twitter MLM community

Online Usage

Twitter, LGBTQIA+ identity wikis

Current Status

active

Circulates in online MLM communities, particularly among those who prefer the 'blue rose' label over 'achillean.'

Image Archive

Variant flag

Discourse & Debates

• The 'blue rose' label and flag exist within a broader community discussion about which terms and symbols best represent men-loving-men identity. Some prefer 'achillean' for its mythological resonance; others find alternative terms more inclusive or personally meaningful.

Common confusions

• May be confused with other MLM flag variants. The blue rose emblem distinguishes it from the green carnation achillean flag.

The term 'blue rose' was coined by CatColors alongside this flag as an alternative to 'achillean' for MLM/NBLM individuals.

Footnotes & Citations

Image Sources

• The Achillean Blue Rose Flag by Twitter user CatColors, posted July 1, 2020. Created as an alternative for those who prefer not to use the term achillean. Light blue represents gay men, sky blue represents bisexual and pansexual men, white/gray represents gender-nonconforming and nonbinary MLM/NBLM, light violet represents a-spec MLM, and light purple represents all-pronoun, neopronoun, and xenogender MLM. · Credit: CatColors (Twitter) · Original 2020 design