Apogender Pride Flag (2016, pastelmemer)

Overview

To provide a visible symbol for apogender identity, which had been named in 2014 but lacked a dedicated flag.

The term "apogender" was coined by Tumblr user queerspike on July 11, 2014, to describe the experience of feeling entirely removed from the concept of gender. The prefix "apo" comes from Greek, meaning "away from, separate, at the farthest point." The flag was created approximately two years later within the Tumblr pride-flag design community. ^[1][2]

Identity & Context

Represented Identity

apogender

Primarily circulated in online Tumblr communities.

Creators

Attribution notes

The flag was created by Tumblr user pastelmemer (also known as pastelroswell) on July 10, 2016. The term "apogender" was coined by Tumblr user queerspike on July 11, 2014; that account has since been deactivated. ^[1][2]

Origin

Place Type

online

Digital Origin

true

Digital origin only. No geographic location is associated with this flag's creation.

Originated on Tumblr (pastelmemer/pastelroswell blog). No geographic origin beyond the online platform is documented.

Dates & Chronology

Year Created

2016

Exact date

July 10, 2016

First public use

July 10, 2016

Period in Use

2016 to present

Adoption appears limited to online spaces, primarily the Tumblr pride-flag community and LGBTQIA+ wikis. ^[1]

Major revisions

1. 2016-07-10

   Flag created by pastelmemer/pastelroswell on Tumblr.

The term's coiner (queerspike) has deactivated their Tumblr account, making independent verification of the coinage date and original definition difficult. The LGBTQIA+ Wiki and pride-color-schemes Tumblr are the primary secondary sources. ^[1][2]

Lineage

Indirect influences

Agender Pride Flag, Rainbow Pride Flag

The green tones likely reference the agender flag's green stripe, connecting apogender to the broader agender spectrum while distinguishing it through different shades. This connection is interpretive and not explicitly documented by the creator.

Colors & Symbolism

The flag uses greens and black to represent a state of being entirely removed from gender. The color choices appear to reference the agender flag tradition while marking apogender as a distinct identity within that spectrum.

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

Color meanings were not officially documented by the creator. The interpretations listed here are speculative, drawn from pattern analysis of related gender-identity flags. The greens may reference the agender flag's green (#BAF584 or #B8F483), though the apogender flag uses noticeably different shades. Black commonly represents genderlessness in gender-identity flags. The prefix "apo" (Greek: "away from, separate, at the farthest point") suggests the flag's symbolism centers on maximal distance from the concept of gender.

No official hex values were published by the creator. The greens likely reference the agender flag's green (#BAF584 or #B8F483) but appear to be different, darker and lighter shades respectively. These values remain unverified.

Design

Aspect Ratio

3:5 · standard

Orientation

horizontal

Stripe Count

5

Layout

horizontal_stripes

Stripes (Top → Bottom)

Dark Green, Light Green, Black, Light Green, Dark Green

Symmetrical stripe pattern mirrored around the central black stripe.

Five horizontal bands of equal width in a symmetrical arrangement: dark green, light green, black, light green, dark green. No emblem or overlay. No official proportion has been documented.

A horizontal flag with five equal stripes arranged symmetrically: dark green at top and bottom, light green in the second and fourth positions, and black at center.

Usage & Adoption

First Users

Online Tumblr communities

Online Usage

Tumblr pride-flag community, LGBTQIA+ community wikis

Current Status

niche

No documentation of physical adoption at events or by organizations was identified. Usage appears confined to online communities and wiki documentation.

Discourse & Debates

• The distinction between apogender, agender, and apagender is not always clear to those outside these communities. Apogender describes feeling entirely removed from the concept of gender, agender describes lacking gender, and apagender describes being too apathetic to care about gender. These are overlapping but conceptually distinct experiences. ^[1]

Common misidentifications

• May be confused with the agender flag due to shared green tones, though the designs are visually distinct.

Common confusions

• Apogender is sometimes conflated with agender (lacking gender) or apagender (gender apathy). The distinctions are nuanced: apogender emphasizes complete removal from the concept of gender, not merely its absence or indifference toward it.

"Apogender" was coined by Tumblr user queerspike on July 11, 2014. The prefix "apo" is Greek for "away from, separate, at the farthest point." Apogender describes feeling entirely removed from the concept of gender, as distinct from agender (lacking gender) and apagender (apathy toward gender). ^[1]

Footnotes & Citations

Image Sources

Rendering

Original version (pastelmemer, 2016)