--- description: Maine's lobster emoji has become an unlikely symbol to advocate for transgender representation, thanks to an activism group. title: Why the Lobster Emoji Is Being Used For Trans Representation image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt5e5bbe2fc720369c/6989379f929fadc1abbf14c9/lobster-emoji-trans-representation.jpg?branch=production&width=3840&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  * [Newsfeed](/tag/time-section-newsfeed/) ## Newsfeed Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close # Here's Why People Are Using the Lobster Emoji to Rally for Transgender Representation  by [Cady Lang](/author/cady-lang/)  ## Cady Lang Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Aug 13, 2018 5:38 PM CUT  Jamie Grill—Getty Images/Tetra images RF  by [Cady Lang](/author/cady-lang/)  ## Cady Lang Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Aug 13, 2018 5:38 PM CUT [Maine’s lobster emoji](http://time.com/4956993/maine-lobster-emoji/ "undefined") has emerged as an unlikely symbol for transgender representation, thanks to the trans activism group [Lobsters Against Transphobia.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pz-Rfn6JOLg "undefined") According to the [_Portland Press Herald_](https://www.pressherald.com/2018/08/13/trans-advocates-adopt-lobster-emoji-as-their-own/ "undefined"), the adoption of the lobster emoji as a trans symbol began after the group created an [online petition](https://www.change.org/p/unicode-unicode-google-and-facebook-why-is-there-still-no-trans-flag-emoji "undefined") last month asking Unicode to make a pink-and-blue flag, a universally acknowledged symbol in the transgender community, in emoji form. Until a pink-and-blue flag emoji is created, users are encouraged to use the lobster emoji, which was one of [157 emojis approved by Unicode this year.](http://time.com/5139480/redhead-emoji-2018/ "undefined") (Lobsters can display both male and female characteristics.) In the petition, the group wrote about their reason for advocating for representation. “Emojis are a way for the world to connect, and trans people shouldn’t be left out of the conversation,” they wrote. “Unicode granted the Lobster emoji proposal, which argued that people suffered ‘frustration and confusion’ at having to use a shrimp or crab emoji in instead of a lobster. Imagine if that was your gender. Surely we deserve the same rights you have afforded crustaceans?” ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/5365725/lobster-emoji-trans-representation/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/5365725/lobster-emoji-trans-representation/"},"headline":"Here's Why People Are Using the Lobster Emoji to Rally for Transgender Representation","datePublished":"2018-08-13T17:38:23.000Z","dateModified":"2026-04-13T07:54:18.241Z","description":"What you need to know about the campaign","url":"https://time.com/5365725/lobster-emoji-trans-representation/","keywords":["Newsfeed","viral"],"thumbnailUrl":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt5e5bbe2fc720369c/6989379f929fadc1abbf14c9/lobster-emoji-trans-representation.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Cady Lang","jobTitle":null,"url":"https://time.com/author/cady-lang/"}],"articleSection":"","image":[{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt5e5bbe2fc720369c/6989379f929fadc1abbf14c9/lobster-emoji-trans-representation.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","width":1200,"height":675,"headline":"USA, Massachusetts, Plymouth, Raw lobster","caption":"USA, Massachusetts, Plymouth, Raw lobster","creditText":"Jamie Grill—Getty Images/Tetra images RF","representativeOfPage":true}],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Time","url":"https://time.com/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://time.com/images/logo.png","width":528,"height":156},"foundingDate":"March 3, 1923","sameAs":["https://www.facebook.com/time","https://www.instagram.com/time/?hl=en","https://twitter.com/time","https://www.pinterest.com/timemagazine"]}},{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"item":{"@id":"/tag/time-section-newsfeed/","name":"Newsfeed"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"item":{"@id":"https://time.com/5365725/lobster-emoji-trans-representation/","name":"Here's Why People Are Using the Lobster Emoji to Rally for Transgender Representation"}}]}] ```