We asked the BuzzFeed Community to show us their LGBT-inspired tattoos. Here are some of the stories behind their beautiful ink:
1. "This was about the time that I first learnt about HIV and a few years later unfortunately started to lose older friends to this horrible disease."
“Keith Haring has been an influence on me for a long time, since I first studied art at school and had the opportunity to see the Pop Art exhibition which toured Australia in 1984. This was about the time that I first learnt about HIV and a few years later unfortunately started to lose older friends to this horrible disease. I saw the work that Keith Haring was doing for the cause and the way he promoted a positive view and a need for all to take responsibility. I am lucky enough to have several original pieces of his work in my flat but wanted to share his work on a daily basis so decided on having the panel of tattoos done. They each have a meaning to me; the three eyes are my sisters watching over me; the tall figure holding the baby, I see as the the circle of life; the dolphin, my love of the sea; the squiggly blue figure is for the break down that I lived through; the light bulb is my thoughts andideas." — Submitted by Kerry Lawrence via Facebook
2. "I got this last Saturday, May 23rd 2015, the day Gay Marriage was voted in by the people of Ireland." — Kenom
3. "Matching and always wearing our pride on our sleeves." — Paiger12
4. " I wanted something more than just an equality symbol or some rainbow crap."
5. "I wanted something gay but not so gay I had to tell my parents." — ajd426d6521d
6. "Simple but sweet. I decided to get an equality tattoo with two differently warped lines to remind myself that even though we aren’t all perfect…we are all equal!" — Stevosmyth11
7. "I know a lot of macho guys get large script or old english letters on their biceps, so I decided to go with small sans serif type."
8. "My wife and I have matching tats, translation is 'Forever Hers.'" — Gwen Broyles via Facebook
9. " This particular ones means to embrace a new life."
10. "I am very proud of mine, as it celebrates my Marine Corps service and my eighteen year relationship with my husband." — John via Facebook
11. "I painted this and had it inked on me." — catkry
12. "This is who I am, what I am." — Lowxy
13. "These people didn't even know me yet they judged me by just assumptions. Instead of hiding who I was or trying to fit in with the "norm", I took a stance with proudly expressing who I was."
"I have three LGBT themed tattoos that I wear proudly on my skin. I originally lived in a very LGBT friendly city and moved to a smaller close minded town. When I first moved out to this small town it was quite the culture shock and I encountered really negative comments from rude locals about my gender and sexual orientation. I am a butch lesbian and not ashamed of who I am at all. These people didn't even know me yet they judged me by just assumptions. Instead of hiding who I was or trying to fit in with the "norm", I took a stance with proudly expressing who I was.
My first LGBT tattoo was the HRC equal sign (Humane Rights Campaign) and it soon followed with the pink triangle (a symbol once used to shame homosexuals in Nazi concentration camps which is now used for lgbt pride). Later on I had my last tattoo done which quotes, 'Hope will never be silent' by Harvey Milk." — Cujo Herz
14. "Although the I have a giant love-hate relationship with Glee, I found a kindred spirit in Kurt."
15. "We really just need to come together and be loving and supportive to one another no matter our differences."
16. "The stick figure idea came to me, when I saw a drawing of stick figures holding hands."
Do you have a pride-inspired tattoo? Tell us about it in the comments below!
