# Lambda code

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lambda-code/245406>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [May 16, 2004, 8:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lambda-code/245406 "2004-05-16T08:00:57Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Mathochist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c89c15/32.png) [@Mathochist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mathochist)\
**Post date:** [May 16, 2004, 8:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lambda-code/245406/1 "2004-05-16T08:00:57Z")

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For a while now I’ve been aware of the use of lambda as code for homosexually-oriented businesses and organizations, as in the book stores in the D.C. area [Lambda Rising](http://www.lambdarising.com/), the gay-rights organization [Lambda Legal](http://www.lambdalegal.org/), and of course [Lambda Chi Alpha](http://www.lambdachi.org/) ( 😃 ). The question is: why lambda?

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**Author:** ![x-ray\_vision](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/x-ray_vision/32/351_2.png) [@x-ray\_vision](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/x-ray_vision)\
**Post date:** [May 16, 2004, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lambda-code/245406/2 "2004-05-16T14:28:37Z")

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[Symbols of the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender Movements](http://www.lambda.org/symbols.htm)