The canonical hanky code
Lee Ayrton
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.
Jack Campin - bogus address
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"?
============== j-c ====== @ ====== purr . demon . co . uk ==============
Jack Campin: 11 Third St, Newtongrange EH22 4PU, Scotland | tel 0131 660 4760
<http://www.purr.demon.co.uk/jack/> for CD-ROMs and free | fax 0870 0554 975
stuff: Scottish music, food intolerance, & Mac logic fonts | mob 07800 739 557
Gary G. Taylor
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
Gary G. Taylor
> In the early 1970s
Whoops, make that 1980s.
TOliver
"Gary G. Taylor" <knot...@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.
TM "Do rags before do rags" Oliver
Jennifer Smith
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.
Jenni
Alfred Green
> 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.
Lon
Only by the transexual named Violet.
Bob Church
Blue orange green brown slate, that's how I got my start.
Bob Church
Le Trôle
news:ed4hg7$jgp$1...@allhats.xcski.com...
> On 2006-08-28 20:24:33 -0400, Alfred Green <nu...@cox.net> said:
>
> > > The original
> >> colors I recall seeing were black, gray, red, blue [any shade, not
> >> necessarily Navy], yellow, brown, orange, and green (indicating
hustler).
> >>
> >>
> >
> > I remember it as being:
> > Black, Brown, Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Magenta, Grey, White.
> >
> > But there was some resistance to that.
Bad Boys Rape Our Young Girls But Violet Gives Willingly
Alfred Green
>> Black, Brown, Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Magenta, Grey, White.
>>
>> But there was some resistance to that.
>
>
> Only by the transexual named Violet.
>
Okay, bit of a mind-fade on that one. How about splitting the
difference and calling it purple?
Don Freeman
"Alfred Green" <nu...@cox.net> wrote in message
news:Q8nJg.18380$RD.8841@fed1read08...
And everyone knew her as Rosie.
Lon
? .. our young girls but [the artist formerly known as] prince gives
willingly?
Alfred Green
No, that conjures up some unpleasant images. How about Penelope?
Yep, Penelope will work just fine.