Tattoos are more than just colorful designs. They are a thousands-year age-old tradition that is a part of many cultures. People get tattoos to memorialize loved ones, express creativity, celebrate accomplishments, and, publicize connections to others, and show community solidarity.
If you are a part of the LGBTQIA+ community, you may decide to find a tattoo that expresses your identity and is relevant to you on a personal level. This guide will help you navigate the process and give you a few ideas too!
How to Find a Tattoo Artist Who will work on your Gay Tattoo
Unfortunately, homophobia is still very rampant and while a person shouldn’t let their hate allow them to give you anything less than the best quality service they can it’s hard to trust people. Especially with something like a tattoo, which is essentially a permanent mark on your body. Any person, regardless of their sexual orientation or identity should be able to get a tattoo without worry about the artist attempting to mutilate them through ink. Here are a few precautions you can take when looking for an artist who will work with you on your gay tattoo.
Research Tattoo Artists in Your Area
There are a few steps related to this part, however it is important to make sure you do this first. When wanting to find a reputable tattoo artist you need to;
- Gather a list of all tattoo artists in the area.
- Determine who actually is licensed and who is not, a tattoo artist who does not have a license is not going to be following basic practices for hygiene and safety and this could be a health risk.
- Take a look at their portfolio, any reputable tattoo artist will have a portfolio that showcases their abilities as an artist. This is even better when these portfolios contain progress works that start with the base drawing and move forward to the final art of the tattoos on the persons skin. You can also see if they have done any work on LGBTQIA+ tattoos which can make the process of choosing an artist much easier.
- For every artist read the reviews that clients have left, it is unrealistic to find any artist who does tattoos that has all completely perfect reviews. However, if they have a good ratio of good to bad reviews they are probably a safe bet.
- Be willing to travel. Yes, there are absolutely amazing artists in many places, but the best generally head to larger cities like Chicago, simply because that’s where they can earn the most money.
- Look for signs the tattoo shop is queer-affirming. Tattoo culture is varied. So many shops out there are welcoming and supportive. A few are decidedly not. There are subcultures that are known for toxic behavior, racism, and homophobia. Does the tattoo shop you’re considering participate in local pride events? Are there queer artists working there? Do you see things on their website or social media pages that indicate an LGBTQIA+ client would be welcome?
- Be prepared to spend money. This is an investment that you will be wearing on your body for the rest of your life. Cheap tattoos rarely turn out well. Comparison shop so you know what to expect, and don’t forget to include a tip in your calculations.
Ask for Recommendations
Even if someone might seem to be perfect to work on your tattoos this doesn’t mean much without the insight of others. If you have friends in the gay community who have tattoos, ask them about their experiences when it comes to tattoos. Who they recommend, and who you should stay away from.
Expand your Search
If you are unable to find someone you feel safe receiving tattoos from as someone who is gay then your best bet is to expand your search and look in other areas for a reputable tattoo artist. Some people will travel across multiple states and at times they will even travel across country borders just to find a tattoo artist that they can trust.
Aftercare
What you do with your tattoo the week after you get it will impact how it looks for the rest of your life. In most cases you will be given a form to sign and other paperwork. This includes aftercare instructions. If you want to be able to take pride in your tattoo forever, follow these to the letter. Ignore “advice” that you hear from others.
Placement on the Body
Where should you place your tattoo? That’s a key decision! Placement is affects aesthetics. You may want your new tattoo to be in a space that is discreet or where it is in clear view of everybody. Placement can even add to the meaning of the tattoo you choose. For example, a butt tattoo is cheeky in many ways.
On the other hand, some tattoos are most meaningful to the one who gets them. One common choice is behind the ears. That’s a great place for a small tattoo that gives you pride without broadcasting to people who are not very close to you.
Symbols and Their Meanings
“As soon as I saw tattoos as a way to tell your story, I thought, ‘Oh my gosh, I totally get it.’ So I got my first tattoo a couple of years ago, and it’s the word ‘hope’ on my left arm. It has a couple of dots at the end for each of my kids.” – Kristian Bush
The lgbtq community has a variety of symbols that are used to silently convey sexuality, gender identity, and more to each other. Each of these holds the inspiration for many tattoo ideas, which is why is is important to understand the exact meaning behind each of these as well as what they may convey to others in the community. Before you get your skin inked it is important to understand the meaning behind some of the most common and uncommon imagery in the gay community.
Biohazard Sign
This is often chosen to silently indicate that a person in the gay community has a positive HIV Status to the rest of the community. People who embrace this take pride in their ability to face a tough diagnosis straight on while living a full life. Other images that can indicate this are aids ribbons and plus signs.
Pink Triangle
Due to its history and connection with the holocaust, the Pink Triangle still causes a lot of controversy in the gay community. However this symbol is one of two that are most recognized internationally, the other one being the rainbow flag and due to its incredibly simple and easy to hide design it is still a popular choice for gay men who wish to have a tattoo that can silently convey their sexuality to other gay men without the risk of outing themselves.
Interlocking Gender Signs
The interlocking gender signs is one of the most popular gay tattoo ideas because it is a way to openly show the pride you have in who you are and who you love. There are many ways to design these tattoos and each one generally hold a similar meaning. Whether they are 2 interlocked male signs, 2 interlocked female signs. Some in the community will even get interlocked symbols to represent their gender identity with the colors of their respective flags colored in as a matching tattoo with their partner.
Nautical Star
Although this is not nearly as popular as it once was, in the 1940’s and 50’s the Nautical star was a symbol chosen by lesbian women as a sign of silent solidarity for each other. On the body the placement of the star would almost always be on the wrist, on a spot that would most likely be covered by a watch or bracelet.
The Rainbow
The most common symbol in the world for gay pride other than the pink triangle, many members of the lgbtq community as well as allies of the community actively choose to have something in the colors of the rainbow tattooed onto their body. The rainbow is one of the most popular ideas for a tattoo because it can be interpreted in so many different ways. Many works of art are revolved around the rainbow and many of the most popular and striking tattoos that are popular with gay people utilize the rainbow in order to convey without fear that they are part of the community.
Each color of the rainbow holds a specific meaning.
- Red symbolizes life
- Orange symbolizes healing
- Yellow symbolizes sunlight
- Green symbolizes nature
- Blue symbolizes harmony
- Purple symbolizes spirit
Life, healing, sunlight, nature, harmony, and spirit. All of these invoke a sense of belonging for many gay people, which makes the rainbow an incredibly popular tattoo choice – especially in June.
Double Female
A symbol that contains two interlocking female symbols. This avatar is a very popular tattoo choice for lesbians who want to convey their sexuality to other lesbians
Double Male
A symbol that contains two interlocking male symbols. This is a very popular tattoo choice for gay men who want to convey their sexuality to other gay men.
Green Carnation
Although not a very popular tattoo choice the history behind the green carnation is an interesting one. It was a symbol used in the 1890’s as a silent way for gay men to convey their sexuality to each other. Men in the Victorian era would pin a green carnation to their clothing in order to signal to other people who were gay what their sexuality was. Although the meaning has been lost to time a tattoo of a green carnation can be an interesting way to talk to a guy who actually knows the history behind it.
The Labrys
This symbol depicts a double headed axe that was commonly used by female warriors in Greek and Roman Mythology. It was adopted as a symbol of empowerment by lesbian feminists in the 1970’s. There is even a lesbian flag that incorporates the labrys.
Ideas for Tattoos that Are Popular with Gay People
Rainbows
As one of the most common symbols of gay pride and gay support in the world, rainbows are often used in tattoos as a way to create intricate pieces of art on the skin. The rainbow is a common idea that is so open to interpretation that each rainbow can be vastly different regardless of the same base.
Has the rainbow become “corporatized” or unoriginal? Some people may see it that way. To them, it is another sign that Pride has been co-opted. To others, it is a sign of commitment to their sexuality, their identity, and their community.
Minimalistic Rainbow
Whether you choose to do 3 small arches in black or you choose to take inspiration from the way rainbows used to be drawn and do 3 small arches in the colors red, yellow, and blue. Some people choose to incorporate the colors of a rainbow into a design that means something to them. A minimal rainbow tattoo is a simple piece of art that makes an incredibly bold statement.
Freedom Tattoos
There are many things that are often used to convey freedom when put onto the body. Paper airplanes, butterflies, birds, all of these things convey the idea of freedom.
Gender Signs
Whether you wish to convey who you prefer to have sex with or what your gender identity is, gender signs are a very popular tattoo choice for queer people.
Frog and Toad are Friends
This popular series of children’s books are now a very popular metaphor for a gay relationship or friendship. Frog and Toad are very different from each other and yet they compliment one another so well. Tattoos inspired by these characters are very popular choices for queer couples as they bring a sense of fun and whimsy to their everyday lives.
Umbrella
Whether you are gay, lesbian, trans, queer, or anything else under the umbrella of the lgbtq community this particular tattoo design can showcase that you are indeed a member of the community, without showcasing exactly where you fit into it. This is a great tattoo if you want to show pride colors without getting a rainbow tattoo.
Outline of a Drag Hair Style
Drag is all about being big, loud, campy, and of course beautifully dramatic. Whether you watch drag shows in order to support your friends, or you take part in them like the queen you deserve to feel like. An outline of a drag hair style may not be the most conventional tattoo choice, however it is one that will get noticed by others.
If you are thinking along these lines, you might also consider a full silhouette. Then again, maybe showing your pride in drag culture with a highly stylized image is the way to go.
Phoenix
A phoenix symbolizes rebirth, an ability to rise from the ashes of tragedy. That’s something that is meaningful for a lot of people in the queer community. It allows them to show pride in what they have overcome. This is a popular tattoo for women who have come out after leaving hetero relationships.
A phoenix can be done in so many different styles. You might choose a design that is detailed and colorful or one that is monochromatic. You can also combine the phoenix with a sun for a particularly expressive piece.
Semicolon
This particular tattoo has a lot of sad history to it, however it is a conversation that needs to be had. The semicolon is symbolic of something that should be continued but was ended abruptly due to unfortunate circumstances.
People who get the semicolon tattooed on their body, whether it is on its own or added to an image are silently offering their solidarity and support to those who have lost or at risk of losing a loved one to suicide, addiction, mental health crisis, and other issues that plague the gay community.
Unsure of a Tattoo?
This is a big commitment. You want to be very sure of your decision. It’s easy to get “tattoo on the brain” and want to rush out right away to get something done that night. Slow down. Give it a week or two. Talk it over with your best friend, or husband/wife if you are married. No, this isn’t about getting permission. It’s about bouncing ideas off of someone can getting their insights.
You might also get a temporary tattoo that you can wear for a period of time. See how people comment on it, and notice how you feel about it over a few days.
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