With many flag proposals being rejected by Unicode, the new Apple feature allows the public to create their own emoji’s via AI and bypass the restrains Unicode previously enforced.
This is especially significant as this is just before major dates in the LGBTQIA+ calendar with IDAHOBIT (International Day against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia) on the 17 May, Agender Pride day 19 May, Pansexual and Panromantic Visibility Day 24 May, LGBTQ Domestic Violence Awareness Day28 May and then Pride Month in June! Having these Emoji’s will now allow LGBTQIA+ communities show there colours to the world.
New LGBTQIA+ emojis created following the launch of Apple AI Genmoji in a world-first
Despite 268 flags being currently available in emoji form, Unicode rejected over 31 flag emoji proposals before announcing in 2022Unicode that they will not be making anymore flag emojis.
This includes the first Bisexual, Asexual, Lesbian, Intersex, Pansexual and Non-Binary flag emojis, made in response to Unicode, the international consortium in charge of developing the emoji keyboard, rejecting the proposed Bisexual flag in 2020 and the Asexual flag in 2021.
To combat this, First Nations-led illustration agency Solid Lines has unveiled how anyone can create flags via the newly launched Apple AI Genmoji feature.
Genmoji is Apple's new generative AI feature that creates custom emojis based on written prompts. And, while the feature doesn’t allow you to create flags, Solid Lines has discovered the simple prompt to create the range of LGBTQIA+ flags and is calling on each community to make their own to bypass the rejected Unicode emoji request.
HOW MAKE YOUR OWN LGBTIQA+ EMOJI
To create the flag, users will need to have their iPhone updated to IOS 18.2, open keyboard, select the Emoji icon and add the prompt:
Bisexual flag emoji
“A wavy pink and navy rectangle with a purple stripe in the middle”
Asexual flag emoji
“A wavy black and purple rectangle with a grey and white stripe in the middle”
Lesbian flag emoji
“A wavy red and purple rectangle with an orange, white and pink stripe in the middle”
Intersex flag emoji
“A wavy yellow rectangle with a purple outline circle in the middle”
Pansexual flag emoji
“A wavy pink, yellow and blue rectangle”
Non-Binary flag emoji
“A wavy yellow and black rectangle with white and purple stripe”
From there, users will need to swipe to select the correct flag and the emoji will load automatically to be used and shared.
If Genmoji isn’t appearing on your keyboard, go to your settings and make sure “Apple Intelligence & Siri” is turned on.
Closing the gap on digital representation
This follows Solid Lines' push to close the gap when it comes to digital representation. One of these flags represented 60,000 years of Australian Aboriginal history, pride and visibility was missing. And while advocates have progressed digital representation to celebrate the First Nations people with the launch of ‘Indigemoji’, downloadable Indigenous stickers on Android and Apple, Unicode still didn’t recognise the flag despite the wave in public response.
This marks the creation of the world's-first Indigenous flag emoji, made in response to Unicode, the international consortium in charge of developing the emoji keyboard, rejecting the Aboriginal flag emoji proposal in 2019 and again in 2024.
Commenting on the creation of the flag on the new AI feature, Western Arrarnta, Luritja and Kokatha man, creative artist and Solid Lines co-founder, Emrhan Tjapanangka Sultan says:
“The meaning of the Aboriginal flag is an expression of who we are and how we are connected to Country and it's an important milestone to be able to create this for the community. We now have an emoji that represents us and validates Aboriginal culture in digital spaces - ensuring representation on a global platform.”
“For Solid Lines, it’s not only symbolic value but drives awareness of Aboriginal history and our contributions. And, while we would have appreciated an official Unicode flag, it does not deter from the fact the public can get behind this and create their own to celebrate First Nations people.”
Following the creation of the world's-first Indigenous flag emoji, Solid Lines have continued to help tackle systemic exclusion in digital spaces by giving visibility to underrepresented people, to date creating and generating more than 64 other flag emojis to date.
About Solid Lines
Solid Lines is an independent creative agency, currently supported by The Jacky Winter Group. We exist to represent and nurture First Nations illustrators producing art upon unceded Ancestral lands. Solid Lines is proud to spearhead a process that has been scarcely seen in Australia. We are a First Nations led illustration agency, fiercely committed to cultural acknowledgement and safety.
Guidelines for Genmoji
To bypass the Unicode rejection, the flag was developed via Apple’s new Genmoji feature.
Apple has implemented safeguards to prevent the generation of explicit or offensive content, maintaining a family-friendly environment. See guidelines here.
Creating Emoji Flags for all
We believe everyone has the right to digital representation. As a continuation of this mission, we created an Instagram account @last_nations_emojis dedicated to creating Apple Genmoji prompts for other First Nations’ and other community flags not currently represented in the emoji keyboard.
