POLITICS

How a local turn-of-phrase turned into a call for peace across ideologies

Penny Smith was admired in Cottonwood. So when someone besmirched her in a city council meeting, residents sought to lower the temperature.

Celina Jiménez (she/her) Oct 1, 2024

How a local turn-of-phrase turned into a call for peace across ideologies — Cottonwood from above. (Adobe)

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This story is done in partnership with The Arizona Agenda, a journalist-owned political insider newsletter written for political outsiders.

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We have been seen. But it's time we are heard.

We're not a typical news site. We started LOOKOUT Publications in 2022 because we saw that there needed to be a new way to tell stories about LGBTQ+ people, beyond simply Pride parades and drag shows (though we love that those exist).

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LOOKOUT delivers fearless journalism and community events with the unified purpose to improve and expand LGBTQ+ representation on the local news stage, while strengthening and engaging LGBTQ+ communities (and their allies) in the queer experience.

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We bring together communities by activating them, and making sure that queer news is—to use newspaper terminology—"above the fold."

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Welcome to Rainbows Fest! And thank you for taking one of our bouquets!

Why did we give out flowers? Because it's part of our history.

For more than a millennia, queer people would use flowers to flag to others that they were part of the LGBTQ+ family. Different cultures used different flowers, but some have become so universal that they are recognized as part of the community's "flower code."

Below is an explanation of the flowers included in your bouquet, and what they represent.

Lavender

A color for all of us.

Before the 19th century, purple dye was rare, if not an impossible color to find in fashion. But when an 18-year-old student at the Royal College of Chemistry in London was trying to make a new version of quinine, he accidentally made a purple dye.

Soon after, the use of the synthetic dye became a way for people to wear color without spending beyond their means.

Within a few years, light purple lavender became linked to homosexuality, as the color was described as a mixture between blue and pink—the colors often aligned with male and female genders.

Also, a group of people called Aesthetes preferred the color opposed to the rugged, drab colors of the industrial age. Newspapers eschewed Aesthetes as "effeminate," and later the color became coded for people accused of being homosexual. Abraham Lincoln's biographer Carl Sandburg, for example, said a friendship between the president and another male had a “streak of lavender." It soon became a slur to call a gay man a "dash"—meaning a dash of lavender.

Lavender Menace at Second Congress to Unite Women, NYC, May 1970 (New York Public Library Archives)

In the 1960's, the color was co-opted during the Stonewall riots in New York City, and lesbians used the color in their protests. When the President of the National Organization for Women Betty Friedan said lesbians in the order were a "lavender menace," lesbians stormed the stage at the 1970 national women's convention and forced the audience to discuss the role of lesbianism in the feminist movement while wearing shirts with the same label.

Violets

The femme queen's choice.

Part of the reason lavender became so synonymous with LGBTQ+ people was, in part, due to the color purple having more than 1,000 years to establish itself as the color for lesbians.

In the 7th century, the poet Sappho often used purple violets in her stories and rhymes. In the following poem, she writes about women wearing crowns of flowers, specifically violets and roses, while making love in a field:

Many crowns of violets,
roses and crocuses
…together you set before more
and many scented wreaths
made from blossoms
around your soft throat…
…with pure, sweet oil
…you anointed me,
and on a soft, gentle bed…
you quenched your desire…
…no holy site…
we left uncovered,
no grove…

The imagery of violets lasted for centuries to the point where purple—just like lavender—became synonymous with queer people and their experiences. Oscar Wilde, for example, wrote about his "purple nights" with other men.

British writer Renee Vivien famously wrote poetry related to her lover and drew inspiration from Sappho, so much that she became known as the "Muse of Violets," and her grave site is often adorned with violet flowers.

Pansy

A celebration of drag.

In the 1920's, drag queens became regular performers in underground bars and clubs across cities such as Chicago, New York, San Francisco and Los Angeles. At the time, they were called "pansy performers."

The performances date back to 1869, when the first known drag balls were held in Harlem, New York.

Pansy performers helped shape the culture of bohemian life in the cities and, specifically, inside established gay bars such as New York's The Slide, which Joseph Pulitzer (yes, that Pulitzer) published in his paper how it was "morally the lowest in New York, Paris, London or Berlin."

The queen of the pansy crazy was Jean Malin, who brought flamboyance to his performances as a drag queen, and later ditched the dresses and instead performed in high-camp and obviously gay attire.

Painting of "pansy" performer Karyl Norman, titled The Creole Fashion Plate (1923)

The rise and popularity of underground pansy performers soon turned into pansy clubs—dedicated drag venues that often got raided by police or infiltrated by the mob.

With the attention pansy performers were getting, Edward P Mulrooney, the former police commissioner for the New York police Department, ordered police officers outside every pansy club. They were told to turn away female impersonators at the door.

The end of prohibition ended the pansy craze of the 1930's, though, as speakeasy's were forced to close. And the start of World War II began the national wave of criminalizing homosexuality, and the Nazi's killing and imprisonment of trans people and gay men soon drove pansy performers back underground.

Rose

From gay Asian men, to trans rights.

The use of the rose as a gay symbol between men is attributed to the Greek story of King Laius's affairs with boys under rose trees.

But in 1963, the rose became a more established code for queer people in Japan, when Japanese writer Yukio Mishima and photographer Eikoh Hosoe collaborated to make what is considered one of the more important photography books of the 20th century called Barakei: Killed by Roses (or in other translations, an Ordeal of Roses).

The portraits by Hosoe show Mishima bound in rope, naked among foliage, or dressed in ornate headdresses. The book inspired the first gay men's publication in Japan called Barazoku (the Rose Tribe), which lead to gay men in Japan referring to themselves as "bara."

A photograph taken by Eikoh Hosoe of Yukio Mishima smelling a rose in the book Barakei.

In 1969, the film "Funeral Parade of Roses" was released during the Japanese New Wave cinematic movement. The film took place among Tokyo's underground gay and transgender nightlife venues, and is credited with inspiring Stanley Kubrick's film "A Clockwork Orange."

Today, roses are often used among transgender communities in protest, with the call of, "Give us our roses while we're still here."

Green carnation

An Oscar Wilde tradition.

Oscar Wilde, the author who was put on trial for indecency after an affair with another man was made public, popularized wearing a green carnation as a symbol of gay identity. In 1892, during the performances of his play "Lady Windermere's Fan," he asked friends to wear them on their lapels to show solidarity.

Wearing the green carnation on a specific side of the body was how gay men flagged they were among family. Worn on the left side, as Wilde did, meant you were a man looking for another man for companionship or sex.

The 1894 satirical novel The Green Carnation written by Robert Hichens was loosely based on Oscar Wilde and his circle of friends. The book poked fun of Wilde and the lifestyle of gay men in 19th century Europe. (The novel was taken out of circulation during Oscar Wilde's trial a year later.)

Cover of "The Green Carnation," written by Robert Hichens and based on Oscar Wilde.

When it was suggested that Wilde wrote the book about himself, he said that he had no part in it, only the flower: "I invented that magnificent flower. But with the middle-class and mediocre book that usurps its strangely beautiful name I have, I need hardly say, nothing whatsoever to do. The flower is a work of art. The book is not."

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That's why we are an LGBTQ+ outlet made up of queer news professionals and their allies.

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From housing, to drug use, to medical needs, to business – we want to make sure your voice and expertise is heard. If you're interested in adding yourself to our diversity database, submit your info below and we'll be in contact with you.

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LOOKOUT follows the guidance of the Trans Journalists Association and the National Lesbian and Gay Journalists Association style guides. Both of those guides can be found here and here, respectively.

Below are select style references for our audience to understand and know:

biological sex

The phrase biological sex is common in scientific writing as a synonym for birth sex, natal sex, or assigned sex at birth. Outside of medical literature, assigned sex at birth is preferable over biological sex if used in this way.

cisgender

Refers to people whose gender identity aligns with their sex assigned at birth.

drag queen, female impersonator

Drag is the practice of dressing and acting in styles typically associated with another gender, usually exaggeratedly so and for entertainment value. Drag queens portray women and drag kings portray men. Drag performer is the gender-neutral term. Drag and impersonation are more strongly determined by the nature of the costume and performance than by the performer’s gender identity or sex. Drag is not synonymous with but is sometimes considered a type of male or female impersonation, in which performances may be spoofs of a specific person or character or may be more subdued than a drag performance. Not synonymous with transgender, though some drag performers may identify as such, or with cross-dresser.

gender ideology

A charged term commonly deployed by anti-trans commentators and activists that implies trans people, merely by being trans, are participating in a political activity or have a political agenda. Refer instead to trans identity or simply being transgender.

groomer, grooming

Refers to the practice of building trust and eroding boundaries to facilitate the sexual abuse of a child or vulnerable adult. Avoid using these terms, even in quotes, to portray LGBTQ+ people broadly as predators or as “recruiting” people, particularly children. If it is necessary to quote someone using this term, be clear about whether they are using it as a rhetorical device or if actual child abuse is alleged or proven; if the latter, add necessary details. See misleading associations below.

false balance

Including opposing views in a story even when doing so is unnecessary or insensitive or would perpetuate falsehoods, or assuming there are only two sides to a story. Sometimes called bothsidesism. Just as journalists should not default to giving a platform to doubters of the scientifically established concept of climate change, they shouldn’t automatically give opponents of LGBTQ+ rights a voice unless it furthers the understanding of the issue or story. For instance, a story about legislation related to LGBTQ+ people could quote supporters, opponents and possibly the indifferent. A story about an LGBTQ+ awards ceremony, a hate crime or a person’s coming out usually does not require opposing comment.

lifestyle

An inaccurate term sometimes used to describe the lives of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people. Sexual orientation may be part of a broader lifestyle but is not one in and of itself, just as there is no “straight” lifestyle.

misleading associations

Terms including bestiality, experimental, grooming, mutilation, pedophilia and sodomy are frequently false or defamatory when used in stories about LGBTQ+ issues.

transgender

Generally, transgender describes people whose gender identity and/or expression does not align with their sex assigned at birth. Journalists covering transgender people must ensure they correctly understand and communicate the parameters of the communities about which they are reporting. In news coverage, identify people as transgender only when relevant to the subject matter and only if they are widely known or describe themselves as such. Otherwise, describe trans men as men and trans women as women. People can be transgender regardless of age, but journalists should take the usual legal and ethical precautions when reporting on children.

For all other style, we follow Associated Press style guidance. For questions on why we describe things in certain ways, or the language we use, feel free to email us at editor@lookoutphx.org

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Featured

POLITICS

State rep with ties to hate groups files similar anti-LGBTQ+ bill that was vetoed last year.

Tori Gantz (she/they) Jan 16, 2025

EDUCATION

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News

LOOKOUT Marks Two Years of Impactful Local Queer Journalism

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This story was published in partnership with The Appeal.

The Appeal

This story is done in partnership with The Arizona Agenda, a journalist-owned political insider newsletter written for political outsiders.

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Partnership

This story was published in partnership with KJZZ, a public radio station in Phoenix.

KJZZ

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This story was produced in partnership with LGBTQ Nation as part of their exclusive election news center, Equality for All. Sign up for their newsletter here.

LGBTQ Nation

This story was produced in collaboration with Arizona Luminaria, a nonprofit newsroom dedicated to local, community-centered journalism.

Arizona Luminaria

PARTNERSHIP

This article was published with The Phoenix New Times, an independent alt-weekly and digital media outlet serving the Valley since 1970.

The Phoenix New Times

Every week, LOOKOUT puts together the most important news that you need to know both locally, and nationwide.

Independent. Fierce. Queer.

No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.

Read past newsletters here

This story is one in a series from our Public Health Accountability Fellowship program, partially funded by Vitalyst Health Foundation.

Partnership

This story is published in partnership with the Queer News Network, a collaboration among 11 LGBTQ+ newsrooms to cover down ballot elections across 10 states. Read more about us here.

We have been seen. But it's time we are heard.

Instead, we wanted to create an outlet that had accountability news as its main mission, not an afterthought.

We bring together communities by activating them, and making sure that queer news is—to use newspaper terminology—"above the fold."

Don't worry, this isn't a paywall. You can read the full story for free.

SUBSCRIBE FOR FREE

Already have an account? Sign in

Partnership

This story was published in partnership with The Appeal.

The Appeal

Welcome to Rainbows Fest! And thank you for taking one of our bouquets!

Why did we give out flowers? Because it's part of our history.

Below is an explanation of the flowers included in your bouquet, and what they represent.

Lavender

A color for all of us.

Soon after, the use of the synthetic dye became a way for people to wear color without spending beyond their means.

Within a few years, light purple lavender became linked to homosexuality, as the color was described as a mixture between blue and pink—the colors often aligned with male and female genders.

Lavender Menace at Second Congress to Unite Women, NYC, May 1970 (New York Public Library Archives)

Violets

The femme queen's choice.

Part of the reason lavender became so synonymous with LGBTQ+ people was, in part, due to the color purple having more than 1,000 years to establish itself as the color for lesbians.

Pansy

A celebration of drag.

The performances date back to 1869, when the first known drag balls were held in Harlem, New York.

The queen of the pansy crazy was Jean Malin, who brought flamboyance to his performances as a drag queen, and later ditched the dresses and instead performed in high-camp and obviously gay attire.

Painting of "pansy" performer Karyl Norman, titled The Creole Fashion Plate (1923)

The rise and popularity of underground pansy performers soon turned into pansy clubs—dedicated drag venues that often got raided by police or infiltrated by the mob.

Rose

From gay Asian men, to trans rights.

The use of the rose as a gay symbol between men is attributed to the Greek story of King Laius's affairs with boys under rose trees.

A photograph taken by Eikoh Hosoe of Yukio Mishima smelling a rose in the book Barakei.

Today, roses are often used among transgender communities in protest, with the call of, "Give us our roses while we're still here."

Green carnation

An Oscar Wilde tradition.

Cover of "The Green Carnation," written by Robert Hichens and based on Oscar Wilde.

This story is done in partnership with The Arizona Agenda, a journalist-owned political insider newsletter written for political outsiders.

The Arizona Agenda

Partnership

Arizona Mirror

Don't worry, this isn't a paywall. You can read the full story for free.

SUBSCRIBE FOR FREE

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OPEN POSITIONS

Work with Arizona's only LGBTQ+ news outlet dedicated to impactful journalism for the queer community.

Part-Time Politics Newsletter Reporter (Temporary contract)

We're looking into LGBTQ+ discrimination

Do you know of organizations in Arizona that discriminate against the LGBTQ+ community? We want to know about it.

Send us a tip

It used to be that reporters should treat each story as an anthropologist, just there to observe. But without context and lived experience, a lot of stories miss the mark.

That's why we are an LGBTQ+ outlet made up of queer news professionals and their allies.

All your information will be kept in this database, which can be accessed by the public starting in 2024.

Email us

Donate to LOOKOUT

Ethics and Corrections

For corrections on any of our stories, please email: editor@lookoutphx.org

ETHICS

PREAMBLE:

OUR CORE PRINCIPLES

The duty of journalism is to the truth.
To that end, LOOKOUT expects all of our journalists to defend the principles of freedom in the honest collection and publication of news, and of the right of fair comment and criticism.
LOOKOUT follows where the truth leads, and does so using fair and transparent methods to obtain information, images, documents and data.
The notion of urgency or immediacy in the dissemination of information shall not take precedence over the verification of facts, sources and/or the offer of a reply.
LOOKOUT will make honest and transparent efforts to rectify any errors in reporting, including publishing corrections within stories. For corrections or issues with stories on the LOOKOUT website, magazine, or newsletters, please contact editor@lookoutphx.org
LOOKOUT respects the privacy of sources, especially within the queer community. When we use anonymous sources, journalists are required to verify the individual claims through rigorous due diligence.
LOOKOUT believes that one of the many roles of journalism is to counter bigotry and prejudice, and will avoid dissemination of information that contributes to hatred or prejudice against people based on geography, social or ethnic origin, race, gender, sexual orientation, language, religion, disability, political and other opinions.
LOOKOUT staff or freelancers found to be in violation of serious professional misconduct, including plagiarism, distortion of facts, or slander, libel, defamation or unfounded accusations are eligible for dismissal.
LOOKOUT and abides by 501(c)(3) guidance in messaging and disclosure of funding sources.
As a nonpartisan newsroom, LOOKOUT will never make endorsements of political candidates or groups.

Conflict of Interest Policy

Duty to LOOKOUT.

Gifts.

Conflicts of Interest.

(a) any real or apparent conflict of interest between a donor or the subject of an LOOKOUT publication or report and a LOOKOUT Representative;

(b) a LOOKOUT Representative’s ownership of an equity interest in a person or entity that is or will be the subject of an LOOKOUT publication or report; and

(c) failure to disclose to LOOKOUT all relationships between the subject of any LOOKOUT publication or report and any LOOKOUT Representative or close relatives of the LOOKOUT Representative.

Conflict Procedure:

(h) All interested directors must abstain from voting and, if necessary, leave the room when the vote is taken.

Personal Loans.

LOOKOUT may not loan to, or guarantee the personal obligations of, any LOOKOUT Representative.

Transparency

We are committed to transparency in every aspect of funding our organization.

Accepting financial support does not mean we endorse donors or their products, services or opinions.

Our news judgments are made independently – not based on or influenced by donors or any revenue source. We do not give supporters the rights to assign, review or edit content.

LOOKOUT STYLE GUIDANCE:

Below are select style references for our audience to understand and know:

biological sex

cisgender

Refers to people whose gender identity aligns with their sex assigned at birth.

drag queen, female impersonator

gender ideology

groomer, grooming

false balance

lifestyle

misleading associations

Terms including bestiality, experimental, grooming, mutilation, pedophilia and sodomy are frequently false or defamatory when used in stories about LGBTQ+ issues.

transgender

For all other style, we follow Associated Press style guidance. For questions on why we describe things in certain ways, or the language we use, feel free to email us at editor@lookoutphx.org