Last modified: 2022-10-14 by rob raeside
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This flag seems to be recently introduced and have rather controversial
origins:
The flag of England with the LGBT rainbow flag in canton can
currently be seen only on two photos [1, 2] from the demonstrations of English
Defence League (EDL), a far-right movement which organizes protests against
Islamic extremism, claiming the intention to gather everyone who might be
endangered by it, regardless of the ethnicity, religion or sexual orientation
[3]. Considering that no other use of this flag was recorded so far, it is quite
possible that the flag was indeed created by the LGBT division of the EDL,
although such a simple design might have easily appeared earlier. Whether this
is the case or not, the actual use of the flag by the EDL might actually make it
too controversial for most of the English LGBT population, because this
movement, despite its promoting of inclusion and tolerance, does have many
followers with recorded racist and generally intolerant behavior, some of them
having known connections with other far-rightist, even neo-Nazi groups [3].
About the flag itself, the aspect ratio and cross width seem to follow the
official description of the flag of England and the rainbow flag occupies the
whole canton. The shade of red rainbow stripe seems to be the same as that of
the cross.
Sources:
[1] International Civil Liberties Alliance
website:
http://www.libertiesalliance.org
[2] International Civil Liberties Alliance website:
http://www.libertiesalliance.org/2010/10/26/i'm-a-far-right-israel-loving-gay-flag-waving-nazi
[3] Wikipedia page about the English Defence League:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/English_Defence_League
Tomislav
Todorovic, 11 September 2011