Trans folks are asking: Can the trans flag double as the American flag?

If you’re trans, it can feel difficult to feel great or even good about being an American. As citizens of a country that’s so deeply opposed to our having fundamental human rights, we might be forgiven for not feeling a soul connection to the stars and stripes forever, much like everyone else here who isn’t a cis straight white man.

However, some trans folks are rethinking their commitment to patriotism after an intriguing Twitter post started making the rounds on Reddit.

Stan for the flag🫡
byu/Eilidh35 inlgbt

The original post—a response to a post by the Wholesome Memes account from June last year—pointed out something quite interesting about the specifications of the American flag. And now, we’re wondering if we can use this to our advantage.

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I feel obligated to point out that the US flag code does not specify where the blue field is placed, how thick the stripes are, or what shade the colors of everything is, so this is a 100% code compliant American flag. pic.twitter.com/O0hCudqIbk

— Yang Wen-li (@Yang_WenIi) June 5, 2023

So is this true? Well, mostly. “Ah not quite,” one poster explained. “IIRC there can only be one blue field. You gotta connect the blue somehow.”

But that’s solved easily enough, as another poster soon pointed out. “Just have a tiny little stripe run down the side to connect them,” they wrote. “The only thin blue line I support,” another poster gleefully commented.

Others suggested that if the flag was cylindrical, the blue parts would connect, hence making it up to code.

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Another poster was quick to point out, however, that there are very strict specifications not only for the American flag’s look, but for the specific shades of red, white and blue that can be used.

“However, none of these specifications are mandatory and only apply to physical flags being made for federal agencies,” they explained.

Which means that we’re actually fine to go full tilt on the trans American flag whenever we feel like it. I’ve never felt so confident in saying that I worship the stars and stripes forever! As long as they’re, you know, the trans stars and stripes.