The idea that gay men have an elaborate hanky code to indicate preferences has been referenced from time to time in AFU. In a bizarre fit of serendipity I happened upon this, The Canonical Hanky Code:
> The idea that gay men have an elaborate hanky code to indicate > preferences has been referenced from time to time in AFU. In a bizarre > fit of serendipity I happened upon this, The Canonical Hanky Code: > <URL:http://www.pendorwright.com/faqs/hankies.html> > Text only but, really, not at all work-safe.
I first saw that list in a gay publication something like 20 years ago, it hasn't changed much. I've only seen a few being used, but then I don't have that much contact with the gay scene these days.
I don't see how you could avoid making some rather serious mistakes under typical club lighting. And maybe there ought to be a black and white striped one to mean "I'm colourblind, you'll have to ask"?
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On Sun, 20 Aug 2006 17:28:46 -0400, Lee Ayrton wrote:
> The idea that gay men have an elaborate hanky code to indicate preferences > has been referenced from time to time in AFU. In a bizarre fit of > serendipity I happened upon this, The Canonical Hanky Code:
There are a few such pages on the 'Net, easily found by googling.
I'm a long-time practicing member of the gay leather community. In my experience, the code began as an in-group thing among people into kinky/"leather" sex, with only a few colors, and came into use by the early 1960s although its origins probably go farther back. The original colors I recall seeing were black, gray, red, blue [any shade, not necessarily Navy], yellow, brown, orange, and green (indicating hustler).
In the early 1970s it appears that some entrepreneur(s) noticed that many stores catering to gay people carried (and still carry) a selection of hankies and decided to capitalize upon that by circulating flyers resembling the list in the referenced URL. Anyone familiar with then- current usage knew (and knows) that the vast majority of the colors were entirely made up and remain so.
When the lists first came out, non-kinky people--particularly the twinky set--immediately seized upon the colors as a fashion statement, and for a while one could see queenyboys in the leather bars flying a veritable rainbow from both sides. That fad soon passed, to the great relief of serious leather people.
The basic colors I cited above, plus occasional variants which come and go (black/white check for safe sex appears to have caught on), are still used by the serious players and are a quite reliable guide. One should note, however, that they generally indicate general interest and desire rather than exclusive preference, particularly when it comes to which side they are worn on.
-- Gary G. Taylor * Pomona, CA * 34.074°N 117.754°W gary [] donavan [] org * http://www [] donavan [] org "The two most abundant substance in the Universe are hydrogen and stupidity." --Frank Zappa, R.A. Heinlein and many others
On Tue, 22 Aug 2006 07:20:20 +0000, Gary G. Taylor wrote: > In the early 1970s
Whoops, make that 1980s.
-- Gary G. Taylor * Pomona, CA * 34.074°N 117.754°W gary [] donavan [] org * http://www [] donavan [] org "The two most abundant substance in the Universe are hydrogen and stupidity." --Frank Zappa, R.A. Heinlein and many others
"Gary G. Taylor" <knotg...@knotdonavan.org> wrote ...
> On Tue, 22 Aug 2006 07:20:20 +0000, Gary G. Taylor wrote:
>> In the early 1970s
> Whoops, make that 1980s.
In legend at least, "Green on Thursday" certainly dates from the 50s.
As for bandanna handkerchiefs, those of us who spent much tiome outddors in the South/Southwest pretty routinely carried'em, big enough for duty as sweatbands, but red and blue were the available or choice colors. I see more and more folks carrying them now, and various orientyal suppliers sell all shades including various "day-glo" hues.
> The idea that gay men have an elaborate hanky code to indicate > preferences has been referenced from time to time in AFU. In a bizarre > fit of serendipity I happened upon this, The Canonical Hanky Code:
It should be noted that the hanky code is by no means a definitive guide. The major problem with it is that the _idea_ has travelled overseas, but the color correlations differ in parts.
On 2006-08-28 20:24:33 -0400, Alfred Green <n...@cox.net> said:
> > The original >> colors I recall seeing were black, gray, red, blue [any shade, not >> necessarily Navy], yellow, brown, orange, and green (indicating hustler).
> I remember it as being: > Black, Brown, Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Magenta, Grey, White.
> But there was some resistance to that.
Blue orange green brown slate, that's how I got my start.
> On 2006-08-28 20:24:33 -0400, Alfred Green <n...@cox.net> said:
> > > The original > >> colors I recall seeing were black, gray, red, blue [any shade, not > >> necessarily Navy], yellow, brown, orange, and green (indicating hustler).
> > I remember it as being: > > Black, Brown, Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Magenta, Grey, White.
> > But there was some resistance to that.
Bad Boys Rape Our Young Girls But Violet Gives Willingly
