Handkerchief code
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The handkerchief code (also known as the hanky code, the bandana code, and flagging)
Origin
The wearing of colored bandanas around the neck as a practical accessory was common in the mid- and late-nineteenth century among
In the 1970s, the modern hanky code developed as a semiotic system of sexual advertising popular among the gay leather community of the United States[3] and cruising scene more broadly.
The origin of the modern hanky code is disputed. The modern hanky code is often reported to have started in
Around 1980, Bob Damron's Address Book published a yearly chart for the meaning of each colored handkerchief.[2]
Examples
There is no single authoritative standard for the code, but there is broad agreement on the definition of certain colors. This table is drawn from Larry Townsend's The Leatherman's Handbook II (the 1983 second edition; the 1972 first edition did not include this list) and is generally considered authoritative. Implicit in this list is the concept of left/right polarity, left as usual indicating the top, dominant, or active partner; right the bottom, submissive, or passive partner. Townsend noted that discussion with a prospective partner is still important because people may wear a given color "only because the idea of the hankie turns them on" or "may not even know what it means".[9]
Color | Meaning |
---|---|
Black | S&M |
Dark Blue | Anal sex |
Light Blue | Oral sex |
Brown | Scat |
Green | Hustler/prostitution |
Grey | Bondage |
Orange | Anything goes |
Purple | Piercing |
Red | Fisting |
Yellow | Pissing |
Longer, more elaborate lists may be found online, but many of the color variations in them are less often used in practice.
Present day
The hanky code has recently undergone a revival and while the use of handkerchiefs may not be as prevalent, the hanky colors are a common consideration in the choice of leather and fetish gear color.[10]
Social media may have lessened the use of hankies in cruising areas by digitizing the process. By using online platforms, men who have sex with men (MSM) can eliminate harassment and violence that they may face in public.[11] Social networking services for MSM allow them to easily identify sexual interests without the need for physical apparel.[11]
In popular culture
- In the film Cruising (1980), Detective Steve Burns (Al Pacino) goes into a store and has the handkerchief code explained to him by a hanky salesman (Powers Boothe).
- In the pornographic fisting film Erotic Hands (1980) by Bijou Video, a red handkerchief fills the screen for the opening credits.[12]
- In the early 1980s, Judas Priest frontman Rob Halford made the handkerchief code part of his stage costume.[13] In the music video for "Heading Out to the Highway", Halford can be seen wearing a red handkerchief in his left pocket.
- The hanky code is depicted and explained in the music video for "House of Air" (2017) by Brendan Maclean.[14]
See also
References
- ISBN 978-1-61098-046-3.
- ^ a b Kacala, Alexander (April 25, 2019). "The Handkerchief Code, According to 'Bob Damron's Address Book' in 1980". The Saint Foundation. The Saint. Retrieved March 30, 2021.
- .
- ISBN 0-8118-1187-5.
- ^ Hsieh, Carina (2020-07-02). "What Is the Hanky Code?". Cosmopolitan. Retrieved 2021-01-03.
- ^ "Fifty Shades of Gay – The Hanky Code". Ambush Magazine. 2019-04-23. Retrieved 2021-01-03.
- ISBN 0-917986-03-2. Archived from the originalon 2019-10-18. Retrieved 2017-06-23.
In San Francisco, the signs began appearing around 1971. The Trading Post, a department store specializing in erotic merchandise, began promoting handkerchiefs in the store and printing cards with their meanings. The red and blue handkerchiefs and their significance were already in existence, and meanings were assigned to other colors as well.
- ISBN 978-0-9989098-0-6.
- ISBN 0-89237-010-6.
- ^ Networks, Hornet (2022-02-11). "We're Loving the Push to Revive the Hanky Code for a New Queer Population". Hornet. Retrieved 2022-02-18.
- ^ S2CID 198629523.
- ^ "Erotic Hands". AEBN. Retrieved 2024-01-17.
- ISBN 978-1-4722-6928-7.
- ^ Reynolds, Daniel (2017-02-08). "Is This Raunchy Music Video Art or Explicit Content?". The Advocate. Retrieved 2024-01-15.
Further reading
- ISBN 978-1-89585-705-4.