What does gay hanky code mean in gay culture?

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What is hanky code?

The meaning or references implied in wearing particular colored hankies in one's back pocket, and on which side.

Definition

Popularized in the 70's, when being Gay was just coming out, being more open, the code or hanky colors were used to make it easy to identify a person's personal tastes in sex.

The Codes were as varied as there are colors.

Rather than simply the placement of one's keys on their belt, the use of bandana's allowed for more options to be displayed, or preferences.

There is no agreed upon universal meaning for the various codes, though it is more used within BDSM circles today, than anywhere else.

However even there, with the Internet and the ability to talk online, the use of these 'secret codes' have waned in appeal. It should be noted too, that many of the codes were rarely fully known, hence why there is no real standard code.

Black generally was used for SM types. Grey for bondage, Yellow for watersports, Red for fisting, Green for those seeking sex for pay, or to pay and Navy for anal sex.

History

Early Cowboys and Train Workers used colored bandanas around the neck, mostly to wear over their mouths, to keep the elements out, such as smoke, dust, etc.

Use in the Gay Community in modern times is believed to have originated by the Village Voice newspaper in the 1970's.

It was an article in which it suggested that Gay Men seeking others buy various colored bandana's to be worn to signify their sexual preferences, to make it easier for other gay men to take note of, and hopefully react to.

A sort of semi secret code, similar to Polari, a rhyming language used by Gays in England.

History (Legend): It is thought that Gay Men wearing colored bandanas was first started in San Francisco after the Gold Rush, where the absence of women, or any large numbers of women, allowed men to partner with men at dances.

Those wearing Blue were believed to take the role of the man, in the dance, doing the leading, while those wearing red took the female role in the dance.

The Hanky's were worn in the back pocket, or off the belt or even around the arm.

About

Different colors, patterns, denote different meanings, and are dependent on which side they are worn on. Color Codes are also regional, in that a color code in one part of the country might have different connotations in other parts of the Country.

There is no agreed upon universal color code either, however the one's below are generally the main accepted, and are believed to be the original color codes. But there are many more variations. Depending if worn in left or right pocket indicates if you're a top (left) or bottom (right).

(Associated Acts): Color Practice Grey Bondage fan White Mutual masturbation Robin Egg Blue into mutual blow jobs (in some circles it can mean into light SM) Pink (Hot Pink) signifies preference for using dildos Black into heavy SM Charcoal into latex, pvc, rubber fetish Brown into Scat Coral foot fetish, generally the pinkies. Apricot a chubby chaser, or into chubby males. Fuchsia spanking Peach Bear or Cub seeking same, depending on side worn. Magenta An armpit fetish fan Noteworthy: There is a sexual connotation for all the colors under the rainbow. Considered one reason why GLBT adopted the Rainbow Flag, due to the diversity of the GLBT Community.

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