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					<h1 id="firstHeading" class="firstHeading mw-first-heading"><span class="mw-page-title-main">Handkerchief code</span></h1>
							
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				<li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-ar mw-list-item"><a href="https://ar.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D8%B4%D9%8A%D9%81%D8%B1%D8%A9_%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D9%86%D8%AF%D9%8A%D9%84" title="شيفرة المنديل – Arabic" lang="ar" hreflang="ar" data-title="شيفرة المنديل" data-language-autonym="العربية" data-language-local-name="Arabic" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>العربية</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-ast mw-list-item"><a href="https://ast.wikipedia.org/wiki/C%C3%B3digu_de_pa%C3%B1uelos" title="Códigu de pañuelos – Asturian" lang="ast" hreflang="ast" data-title="Códigu de pañuelos" data-language-autonym="Asturianu" data-language-local-name="Asturian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Asturianu</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-ca mw-list-item"><a href="https://ca.wikipedia.org/wiki/Codi_de_mocadors" title="Codi de mocadors – Catalan" lang="ca" hreflang="ca" data-title="Codi de mocadors" data-language-autonym="Català" data-language-local-name="Catalan" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Català</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-cs mw-list-item"><a href="https://cs.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hanky_code" title="Hanky code – Czech" lang="cs" hreflang="cs" data-title="Hanky code" data-language-autonym="Čeština" data-language-local-name="Czech" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Čeština</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-da mw-list-item"><a href="https://da.wikipedia.org/wiki/T%C3%B8rkl%C3%A6dekode" title="Tørklædekode – Danish" lang="da" hreflang="da" data-title="Tørklædekode" data-language-autonym="Dansk" data-language-local-name="Danish" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Dansk</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-de mw-list-item"><a href="https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hanky_Code" title="Hanky Code – German" lang="de" hreflang="de" data-title="Hanky Code" data-language-autonym="Deutsch" data-language-local-name="German" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Deutsch</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-el mw-list-item"><a href="https://el.wikipedia.org/wiki/%CE%9A%CF%8E%CE%B4%CE%B9%CE%BA%CE%B1%CF%82_%CF%84%CE%BF%CF%85_%CE%BC%CE%B1%CE%BD%CF%84%CE%B9%CE%BB%CE%B9%CE%BF%CF%8D" title="Κώδικας του μαντιλιού – Greek" lang="el" hreflang="el" data-title="Κώδικας του μαντιλιού" data-language-autonym="Ελληνικά" data-language-local-name="Greek" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Ελληνικά</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-es mw-list-item"><a href="https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/C%C3%B3digo_de_pa%C3%B1uelos" title="Código de pañuelos – Spanish" lang="es" hreflang="es" data-title="Código de pañuelos" data-language-autonym="Español" data-language-local-name="Spanish" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Español</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-fa mw-list-item"><a href="https://fa.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D8%AF%D8%B3%D8%AA%D9%85%D8%A7%D9%84_%D8%B1%D9%85%D8%B2%D8%AF%D8%A7%D8%B1" title="دستمال رمزدار – Persian" lang="fa" hreflang="fa" data-title="دستمال رمزدار" data-language-autonym="فارسی" data-language-local-name="Persian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>فارسی</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-fr mw-list-item"><a href="https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Code_foulard" title="Code foulard – French" lang="fr" hreflang="fr" data-title="Code foulard" data-language-autonym="Français" data-language-local-name="French" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Français</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-ko mw-list-item"><a href="https://ko.wikipedia.org/wiki/%ED%96%89%EC%BB%A4%EC%B9%98%ED%94%84_%EC%BD%94%EB%93%9C" title="행커치프 코드 – Korean" lang="ko" hreflang="ko" data-title="행커치프 코드" data-language-autonym="한국어" data-language-local-name="Korean" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>한국어</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-it mw-list-item"><a href="https://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Codice_Hanky" title="Codice Hanky – Italian" lang="it" hreflang="it" data-title="Codice Hanky" data-language-autonym="Italiano" data-language-local-name="Italian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Italiano</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-he mw-list-item"><a href="https://he.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D7%A7%D7%95%D7%93_%D7%94%D7%9E%D7%98%D7%A4%D7%97%D7%AA" title="קוד המטפחת – Hebrew" lang="he" hreflang="he" data-title="קוד המטפחת" data-language-autonym="עברית" data-language-local-name="Hebrew" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>עברית</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-nl mw-list-item"><a href="https://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hanky_code" title="Hanky code – Dutch" lang="nl" hreflang="nl" data-title="Hanky code" data-language-autonym="Nederlands" data-language-local-name="Dutch" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Nederlands</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-ru mw-list-item"><a href="https://ru.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%A5%D0%B0%D0%BD%D0%BA%D0%B8-%D0%BA%D0%BE%D0%B4" title="Ханки-код – Russian" lang="ru" hreflang="ru" data-title="Ханки-код" data-language-autonym="Русский" data-language-local-name="Russian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Русский</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-uk mw-list-item"><a href="https://uk.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%A5%D0%B0%D0%BD%D0%BA%D1%96-%D0%BA%D0%BE%D0%B4" title="Ханкі-код – Ukrainian" lang="uk" hreflang="uk" data-title="Ханкі-код" data-language-autonym="Українська" data-language-local-name="Ukrainian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Українська</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-zh mw-list-item"><a href="https://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E6%89%8B%E5%B8%95%E5%87%86%E5%88%99" title="手帕准则 – Chinese" lang="zh" hreflang="zh" data-title="手帕准则" data-language-autonym="中文" data-language-local-name="Chinese" 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						<div id="siteSub" class="noprint">From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia</div>
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					<div id="mw-content-text" class="mw-body-content"><div class="mw-content-ltr mw-parser-output" lang="en" dir="ltr"><div class="shortdescription nomobile noexcerpt noprint searchaux" style="display:none">Use of color-coded bandanas in gay and BDSM communities</div>
<figure class="mw-default-size" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:Hankycode.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c7/Hankycode.jpg/220px-Hankycode.jpg" decoding="async" width="220" height="186" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c7/Hankycode.jpg/330px-Hankycode.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c7/Hankycode.jpg/440px-Hankycode.jpg 2x" data-file-width="909" data-file-height="767" /></a><figcaption>An assortment of handkerchiefs displayed in the back pockets of a man's jeans</figcaption></figure>
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<a href="/wiki/LGBTQ_symbols" title="LGBTQ symbols">Symbols</a></th></tr><tr><td class="sidebar-content">
<ul><li><a href="/wiki/Pink_triangle" title="Pink triangle">Pink triangle</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Labrys#Lesbian_symbol" title="Labrys">Labrys</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/LGBT_symbols#Lambda" class="mw-redirect" title="LGBT symbols">Lambda</a></li>
<li><a class="mw-selflink selflink">Handkerchief code</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Queer_manicure" title="Queer manicure">Queer manicure</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Gaysper" title="Gaysper">Gaysper</a></li></ul></td>
</tr><tr><th class="sidebar-heading" style="background: #ccccff;">
<a href="/wiki/Pride_flag" title="Pride flag">Pride flags</a></th></tr><tr><td class="sidebar-content">
<ul><li><a href="/wiki/Rainbow_flag_(LGBTQ)" title="Rainbow flag (LGBTQ)">Rainbow</a>
<ul><li><a href="/wiki/Rainbow_crossing" title="Rainbow crossing">Rainbow crossing</a></li></ul></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Lesbian_flags" title="Lesbian flags">Lesbian</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Gay_men%27s_flags" title="Gay men&#39;s flags">Gay</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Bisexual_flag" title="Bisexual flag">Bisexual</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Transgender_flag" title="Transgender flag">Transgender</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Pansexual_flag" title="Pansexual flag">Pansexual</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Intersex_flag" title="Intersex flag">Intersex</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Aromantic_flag" title="Aromantic flag">Aromantic</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Asexual_flag" title="Asexual flag">Asexual</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Non-binary_flag" title="Non-binary flag">Non-binary</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Bear_flag_(gay_culture)" title="Bear flag (gay culture)">Bear</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Leather_pride_flag" title="Leather pride flag">Leather</a></li></ul></td>
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<p>The <b>handkerchief code</b> (also known as the <b>hanky</b>/<b>hankie code</b>, the <b>bandana</b>/<b>bandanna code</b>, and <b>flagging</b>)<sup id="cite_ref-Andrews2010_1-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Andrews2010-1"><span class="cite-bracket">&#91;</span>1<span class="cite-bracket">&#93;</span></a></sup> is a system of <a href="/wiki/Color_coding" class="mw-redirect" title="Color coding">color-coded</a> cloth <a href="/wiki/Handkerchief" title="Handkerchief">handkerchief</a> or <a href="/wiki/Kerchief" title="Kerchief">bandanas</a> for non-verbally communicating one's interests in sexual activities and <a href="/wiki/Sexual_fetishism" title="Sexual fetishism">fetishes</a>. The color of the handkerchief identifies a particular activity, and the pocket it is worn in (left or right) identifies the wearer's preferred role in that activity. Wearing a handkerchief on the left side of the body typically indicates one is a "top" (considered <i>active</i> in the act/fetish indicated by the color of the handkerchief) while wearing it on the right side of the body would indicate one is a "bottom" (considered <i>passive</i> in it). For example, a dark blue handkerchief indicates an interest in <a href="/wiki/Anal_sex" title="Anal sex">anal sex</a>, and wearing it in the left pocket indicates a preference for being the penetrating partner. The code was first used in the 1970s in the <a href="/wiki/United_States" title="United States">United States</a>, <a href="/wiki/Canada" title="Canada">Canada</a>, <a href="/wiki/Australia" title="Australia">Australia</a>, and <a href="/wiki/Europe" title="Europe">Europe</a>, by gay and bisexual men seeking <a href="/wiki/Casual_sex" title="Casual sex">casual sex</a> or <a href="/wiki/BDSM" title="BDSM">BDSM</a> practitioners. Over time the colors and types of apparel in use have greatly proliferated.
</p>
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<div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Origin">Origin</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Handkerchief_code&amp;action=edit&amp;section=1" title="Edit section: Origin"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div>
<figure class="mw-default-size" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:Handkerchief_code.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img alt="Two men wearing colored in the back pockets of their clothes" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f8/Handkerchief_code.jpg/220px-Handkerchief_code.jpg" decoding="async" width="220" height="318" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f8/Handkerchief_code.jpg/330px-Handkerchief_code.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f8/Handkerchief_code.jpg/440px-Handkerchief_code.jpg 2x" data-file-width="443" data-file-height="640" /></a><figcaption>Two men using the hanky code</figcaption></figure>
<p>The wearing of colored bandanas around the neck as a practical accessory was common in the mid- and late-nineteenth century among <a href="/wiki/Cowboy" title="Cowboy">cowboys</a>, <a href="/wiki/Railroad_engineer" class="mw-redirect" title="Railroad engineer">steam railroad engineers</a>, and <a href="/wiki/Miner" title="Miner">miners</a> in the <a href="/wiki/Western_United_States" title="Western United States">Western United States</a>. It is thought that the wearing of bandanas by <a href="/wiki/Gay_men" title="Gay men">gay men</a> originated in <a href="/wiki/San_Francisco" title="San Francisco">San Francisco</a> after the <a href="/wiki/California_Gold_Rush" class="mw-redirect" title="California Gold Rush">Gold Rush</a>, when, because of a shortage of women, men dancing with each other in <a href="/wiki/Square_dance" title="Square dance">square dances</a> developed a code wherein the man wearing the blue bandana took the male part in the square dance, and the man wearing the red bandana took the female part (these bandanas were usually worn around the arm or hanging from the belt or in the back pocket of one's <a href="/wiki/Jeans" title="Jeans">jeans</a>).<sup id="cite_ref-:0_2-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-:0-2"><span class="cite-bracket">&#91;</span>2<span class="cite-bracket">&#93;</span></a></sup>
</p><p>In the 1970s, the modern hanky code developed as a <a href="/wiki/Semiotics" title="Semiotics">semiotic</a> system of sexual advertising popular among the gay <a href="/wiki/Leather_subculture" title="Leather subculture">leather community</a> of the United States<sup id="cite_ref-3" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-3"><span class="cite-bracket">&#91;</span>3<span class="cite-bracket">&#93;</span></a></sup> and <a href="/wiki/Cruising_for_sex" title="Cruising for sex">cruising scene</a> more broadly. Businesses across the country used the hanky code in advertisements to gay clientele.<sup id="cite_ref-4" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-4"><span class="cite-bracket">&#91;</span>4<span class="cite-bracket">&#93;</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-5" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-5"><span class="cite-bracket">&#91;</span>5<span class="cite-bracket">&#93;</span></a></sup>
</p><p>The origin of the modern hanky code is disputed. The modern hanky code is often reported to have started in <a href="/wiki/New_York_City" title="New York City">New York City</a> around 1970, when a journalist for the <i><a href="/wiki/Village_Voice" class="mw-redirect" title="Village Voice">Village Voice</a></i> jested that instead of simply wearing a set of keys on one side or the other (then a common code to indicate whether someone was a "top" or a "bottom"), it would be more efficient to subtly announce their particular sexual focus by wearing different colored handkerchiefs.<sup id="cite_ref-6" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-6"><span class="cite-bracket">&#91;</span>6<span class="cite-bracket">&#93;</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-7" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-7"><span class="cite-bracket">&#91;</span>7<span class="cite-bracket">&#93;</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-8" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-8"><span class="cite-bracket">&#91;</span>8<span class="cite-bracket">&#93;</span></a></sup> However, other sources attribute the expansion of the original red–blue system into today's code to marketing efforts around 1971 by The Trading Post, a San Francisco <a href="/wiki/Department_store" title="Department store">department store</a> for erotic merchandise, promoting handkerchiefs by printing cards listing the meanings of various colors.<sup id="cite_ref-gay-semiotics_9-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-gay-semiotics-9"><span class="cite-bracket">&#91;</span>9<span class="cite-bracket">&#93;</span></a></sup> Meanwhile, <a href="/wiki/Alan_Selby" title="Alan Selby">Alan Selby</a>, founder of Mr. S Leather in San Francisco, claimed that he created the first hanky code with his business partners at Leather 'n' Things in 1972, when their bandana supplier inadvertently doubled their order and the expanded code would help them sell the extra colors they had received.<sup id="cite_ref-selby_10-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-selby-10"><span class="cite-bracket">&#91;</span>10<span class="cite-bracket">&#93;</span></a></sup>
</p><p>Around 1980, <i>Bob Damron's Address Book</i> published a yearly chart for the meaning of each colored handkerchief.<sup id="cite_ref-:0_2-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-:0-2"><span class="cite-bracket">&#91;</span>2<span class="cite-bracket">&#93;</span></a></sup>
</p>
<figure class="mw-default-size" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:Color_Codes.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5c/Color_Codes.jpg/220px-Color_Codes.jpg" decoding="async" width="220" height="220" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5c/Color_Codes.jpg/330px-Color_Codes.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5c/Color_Codes.jpg/440px-Color_Codes.jpg 2x" data-file-width="1000" data-file-height="1000" /></a><figcaption>Color Codes from <i>Bob Damron's Address Book</i> (1980)</figcaption></figure>
<div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Examples">Examples</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Handkerchief_code&amp;action=edit&amp;section=2" title="Edit section: Examples"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div>
<p>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 <a href="/wiki/Larry_Townsend" title="Larry Townsend">Larry Townsend</a>'s <i>The Leatherman's Handbook II</i> (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".<sup id="cite_ref-11" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-11"><span class="cite-bracket">&#91;</span>11<span class="cite-bracket">&#93;</span></a></sup>
</p>
<table class="wikitable">
<tbody><tr>
<th>Color
</th>
<th>Meaning
</th></tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align:left"><style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r981673959">.mw-parser-output .legend{page-break-inside:avoid;break-inside:avoid-column}.mw-parser-output .legend-color{display:inline-block;min-width:1.25em;height:1.25em;line-height:1.25;margin:1px 0;text-align:center;border:1px solid black;background-color:transparent;color:black}.mw-parser-output .legend-text{}</style><span class="legend-color mw-no-invert" style="background-color:black; color:white;">&#160;</span> Black</td>
<td><a href="/wiki/Sadomasochism" title="Sadomasochism">S&amp;M</a>
</td></tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align:left"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r981673959" /><span class="legend-color mw-no-invert" style="background-color:darkblue; color:white;">&#160;</span> Dark Blue</td>
<td><a href="/wiki/Anal_sex" title="Anal sex">Anal sex</a>
</td></tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align:left"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r981673959" /><span class="legend-color mw-no-invert" style="background-color:lightblue; color:black;">&#160;</span> Light Blue</td>
<td><a href="/wiki/Oral_sex" title="Oral sex">Oral sex</a>
</td></tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align:left"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r981673959" /><span class="legend-color mw-no-invert" style="background-color:brown; color:white;">&#160;</span> Brown</td>
<td><a href="/wiki/Coprophilia" title="Coprophilia">Scat</a>
</td></tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align:left"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r981673959" /><span class="legend-color mw-no-invert" style="background-color:green; color:white;">&#160;</span> Green</td>
<td><a href="/wiki/Male_prostitution" title="Male prostitution">Hustler</a>/<a href="/wiki/Prostitution" title="Prostitution">prostitution</a>
</td></tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align:left"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r981673959" /><span class="legend-color mw-no-invert" style="background-color:grey; color:black;">&#160;</span> Grey</td>
<td><a href="/wiki/Bondage_(BDSM)" title="Bondage (BDSM)">Bondage</a>
</td></tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align:left"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r981673959" /><span class="legend-color mw-no-invert" style="background-color:orange; color:black;">&#160;</span> Orange</td>
<td>Anything goes
</td></tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align:left"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r981673959" /><span class="legend-color mw-no-invert" style="background-color:purple; color:white;">&#160;</span> Purple</td>
<td><a href="/wiki/Play_piercing" title="Play piercing">Piercing</a>
</td></tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align:left"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r981673959" /><span class="legend-color mw-no-invert" style="background-color:red; color:black;">&#160;</span> Red</td>
<td><a href="/wiki/Fisting" title="Fisting">Fisting</a>
</td></tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align:left"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r981673959" /><span class="legend-color mw-no-invert" style="background-color:yellow; color:black;">&#160;</span> Yellow</td>
<td><a href="/wiki/Urolagnia" title="Urolagnia">Pissing</a>
</td></tr></tbody></table>
<p>Longer, more elaborate lists may be found online, but many of the color variations in them are less often used in practice.
</p>
<div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Present_day">Present day</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Handkerchief_code&amp;action=edit&amp;section=3" title="Edit section: Present day"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div>
<p>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 <a href="/wiki/Fetish_fashion" title="Fetish fashion">fetish gear</a> color.<sup id="cite_ref-12" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-12"><span class="cite-bracket">&#91;</span>12<span class="cite-bracket">&#93;</span></a></sup>
</p>
<figure class="mw-default-size" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:Red-Hanky-Handkerchief-Code.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/7a/Red-Hanky-Handkerchief-Code.jpg/220px-Red-Hanky-Handkerchief-Code.jpg" decoding="async" width="220" height="165" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/7a/Red-Hanky-Handkerchief-Code.jpg/330px-Red-Hanky-Handkerchief-Code.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/7a/Red-Hanky-Handkerchief-Code.jpg/440px-Red-Hanky-Handkerchief-Code.jpg 2x" data-file-width="4032" data-file-height="3024" /></a><figcaption>A red hanky signifies interest in fisting</figcaption></figure>
<p>According to the <a href="/wiki/Schwules_Museum" title="Schwules Museum">Schwules Museum</a>, the creation of the <a href="/wiki/Leather_pride_flag" title="Leather pride flag">leather pride flag</a> in 1989 marked "a turning point in the history of the mostly gay leather and BDSM movements: moving away from secret signs and symbols (hanky cloths, for example) to more obvious and public visibility, both in the gay scene and society in general."<sup id="cite_ref-13" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-13"><span class="cite-bracket">&#91;</span>13<span class="cite-bracket">&#93;</span></a></sup>
</p><p>Social media may have lessened the use of hankies in cruising areas by digitizing the process. By using online platforms, <a href="/wiki/Men_who_have_sex_with_men" title="Men who have sex with men">men who have sex with men</a> (MSM) can eliminate harassment and violence that they may face in public.<sup id="cite_ref-:1_14-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-:1-14"><span class="cite-bracket">&#91;</span>14<span class="cite-bracket">&#93;</span></a></sup> <a href="/wiki/Category:LGBTQ_online_dating_services" title="Category:LGBTQ online dating services">Social networking services for MSM</a> allow them to easily identify sexual interests without the need for physical apparel.<sup id="cite_ref-:1_14-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-:1-14"><span class="cite-bracket">&#91;</span>14<span class="cite-bracket">&#93;</span></a></sup>
</p>
<div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="In_popular_culture">In popular culture</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Handkerchief_code&amp;action=edit&amp;section=4" title="Edit section: In popular culture"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div>
<ul><li>In the film <i><a href="/wiki/Cruising_(film)" title="Cruising (film)">Cruising</a></i> (1980), Detective Steve Burns (<a href="/wiki/Al_Pacino" title="Al Pacino">Al Pacino</a>) goes into a store and has the handkerchief code explained to him by a hanky salesman (<a href="/wiki/Powers_Boothe" title="Powers Boothe">Powers Boothe</a>).</li>
<li>In the <a href="/wiki/Gay_pornography" title="Gay pornography">pornographic fisting film</a> <i>Erotic Hands</i> (1980) by <a href="/wiki/Bijou_Theater_(Chicago)#Bijou_Video" title="Bijou Theater (Chicago)">Bijou Video</a>, a red handkerchief fills the screen for the opening credits.<sup id="cite_ref-15" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-15"><span class="cite-bracket">&#91;</span>15<span class="cite-bracket">&#93;</span></a></sup></li>
<li>In the early 1980s, <a href="/wiki/Judas_Priest" title="Judas Priest">Judas Priest</a> frontman <a href="/wiki/Rob_Halford" title="Rob Halford">Rob Halford</a> made the handkerchief code part of his stage costume.<sup id="cite_ref-16" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-16"><span class="cite-bracket">&#91;</span>16<span class="cite-bracket">&#93;</span></a></sup> In the music video for "<a href="/wiki/Heading_Out_to_the_Highway" title="Heading Out to the Highway">Heading Out to the Highway</a>", Halford can be seen wearing a red handkerchief in his left pocket.</li>
<li>The hanky code is depicted and explained in the music video for "<a href="/wiki/Brendan_Maclean#House_of_Air" title="Brendan Maclean">House of Air</a>" (2017) by <a href="/wiki/Brendan_Maclean" title="Brendan Maclean">Brendan Maclean</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-17" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-17"><span class="cite-bracket">&#91;</span>17<span class="cite-bracket">&#93;</span></a></sup></li></ul>
<div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="See_also">See also</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Handkerchief_code&amp;action=edit&amp;section=5" title="Edit section: See also"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div>
<ul><li><a href="/wiki/Homosocialization" title="Homosocialization">Homosocialization</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Gel_bracelet#Urban_legend_of_sex_bracelets" title="Gel bracelet">Urban legend of sex bracelets</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Queer_manicure" title="Queer manicure">Queer manicure</a></li></ul>
<div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="References">References</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Handkerchief_code&amp;action=edit&amp;section=6" title="Edit section: References"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div>
<style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1239543626">.mw-parser-output .reflist{margin-bottom:0.5em;list-style-type:decimal}@media screen{.mw-parser-output .reflist{font-size:90%}}.mw-parser-output .reflist .references{font-size:100%;margin-bottom:0;list-style-type:inherit}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns-2{column-width:30em}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns-3{column-width:25em}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns{margin-top:0.3em}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns ol{margin-top:0}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns li{page-break-inside:avoid;break-inside:avoid-column}.mw-parser-output .reflist-upper-alpha{list-style-type:upper-alpha}.mw-parser-output .reflist-upper-roman{list-style-type:upper-roman}.mw-parser-output .reflist-lower-alpha{list-style-type:lower-alpha}.mw-parser-output .reflist-lower-greek{list-style-type:lower-greek}.mw-parser-output .reflist-lower-roman{list-style-type:lower-roman}</style><div class="reflist">
<div class="mw-references-wrap mw-references-columns"><ol class="references">
<li id="cite_note-Andrews2010-1"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-Andrews2010_1-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1238218222">.mw-parser-output cite.citation{font-style:inherit;word-wrap:break-word}.mw-parser-output .citation q{quotes:"\"""\"""'""'"}.mw-parser-output .citation:target{background-color:rgba(0,127,255,0.133)}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-free.id-lock-free a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/65/Lock-green.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-limited.id-lock-limited a,.mw-parser-output .id-lock-registration.id-lock-registration a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d6/Lock-gray-alt-2.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-subscription.id-lock-subscription a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/aa/Lock-red-alt-2.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .cs1-ws-icon a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4c/Wikisource-logo.svg")right 0.1em center/12px no-repeat}body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-free a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-limited a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-registration a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-subscription a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .cs1-ws-icon a{background-size:contain;padding:0 1em 0 0}.mw-parser-output .cs1-code{color:inherit;background:inherit;border:none;padding:inherit}.mw-parser-output .cs1-hidden-error{display:none;color:var(--color-error,#d33)}.mw-parser-output .cs1-visible-error{color:var(--color-error,#d33)}.mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{display:none;color:#085;margin-left:0.3em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-left{padding-left:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-right{padding-right:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .citation .mw-selflink{font-weight:inherit}@media screen{.mw-parser-output .cs1-format{font-size:95%}html.skin-theme-clientpref-night .mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{color:#18911f}}@media screen and (prefers-color-scheme:dark){html.skin-theme-clientpref-os .mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{color:#18911f}}</style><cite id="CITEREFAndrews2010" class="citation book cs1">Andrews, Vincent (2010). <i>The Leatherboy Handbook</i>. The Nazca Plains Corp. <a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a>&#160;<a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-1-61098-046-3" title="Special:BookSources/978-1-61098-046-3"><bdi>978-1-61098-046-3</bdi></a>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&amp;rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&amp;rft.genre=book&amp;rft.btitle=The+Leatherboy+Handbook&amp;rft.pub=The+Nazca+Plains+Corp.&amp;rft.date=2010&amp;rft.isbn=978-1-61098-046-3&amp;rft.aulast=Andrews&amp;rft.aufirst=Vincent&amp;rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AHandkerchief+code" class="Z3988"></span></span>
</li>
<li id="cite_note-:0-2"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-:0_2-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-:0_2-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222" /><cite id="CITEREFKacala2019" class="citation web cs1">Kacala, Alexander (April 25, 2019). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.thesaintfoundation.org/community/hanky-code-bob-damrons-address-book">"The Handkerchief Code, According to 'Bob Damron's Address Book' in 1980"</a>. <i>The Saint Foundation</i>. The Saint<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">March 30,</span> 2021</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&amp;rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&amp;rft.genre=unknown&amp;rft.jtitle=The+Saint+Foundation&amp;rft.atitle=The+Handkerchief+Code%2C+According+to+%27Bob+Damron%27s+Address+Book%27+in+1980&amp;rft.date=2019-04-25&amp;rft.aulast=Kacala&amp;rft.aufirst=Alexander&amp;rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thesaintfoundation.org%2Fcommunity%2Fhanky-code-bob-damrons-address-book&amp;rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AHandkerchief+code" class="Z3988"></span></span>
</li>
<li id="cite_note-3"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-3">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222" /><cite id="CITEREFReillySaethre2013" class="citation journal cs1">Reilly, Andrew; Saethre, Eirik J. (2013-10-01). "The hankie code revisited: From function to fashion". <i>Critical Studies in Men's Fashion</i>. <b>1</b>: <span class="nowrap">69–</span>78. <a href="/wiki/Doi_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="Doi (identifier)">doi</a>:<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://doi.org/10.1386%2Fcsmf.1.1.69_1">10.1386/csmf.1.1.69_1</a>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&amp;rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&amp;rft.genre=article&amp;rft.jtitle=Critical+Studies+in+Men%27s+Fashion&amp;rft.atitle=The+hankie+code+revisited%3A+From+function+to+fashion&amp;rft.volume=1&amp;rft.pages=%3Cspan+class%3D%22nowrap%22%3E69-%3C%2Fspan%3E78&amp;rft.date=2013-10-01&amp;rft_id=info%3Adoi%2F10.1386%2Fcsmf.1.1.69_1&amp;rft.aulast=Reilly&amp;rft.aufirst=Andrew&amp;rft.au=Saethre%2C+Eirik+J.&amp;rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AHandkerchief+code" class="Z3988"></span></span>
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<li id="cite_note-4"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-4">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222" /><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://doi.org/10.25549/one-c4-47112">"More than just a theatre! Big Top (UC12330163)"</a>. <i>USC Libraries</i>. 2021. <a href="/wiki/Doi_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="Doi (identifier)">doi</a>:<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://doi.org/10.25549%2Fone-c4-47112">10.25549/one-c4-47112</a><span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">2024-07-08</span></span> &#8211; via <a href="/wiki/ONE_National_Gay_%26_Lesbian_Archives" title="ONE National Gay &amp; Lesbian Archives">ONE National Gay &amp; Lesbian Archives</a>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&amp;rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&amp;rft.genre=unknown&amp;rft.jtitle=USC+Libraries&amp;rft.atitle=More+than+just+a+theatre%21+Big+Top+%28UC12330163%29&amp;rft.date=2021&amp;rft_id=info%3Adoi%2F10.25549%2Fone-c4-47112&amp;rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fdoi.org%2F10.25549%2Fone-c4-47112&amp;rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AHandkerchief+code" class="Z3988"></span></span>
</li>
<li id="cite_note-5"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-5">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222" /><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://doi.org/10.25549/one-c4-44052">"Bandana night, every Tuesday&#160;: Larry's, 5414 Melrose Los Angeles (UC12351950)"</a>. <i>USC Libraries</i>. 2021. <a href="/wiki/Doi_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="Doi (identifier)">doi</a>:<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://doi.org/10.25549%2Fone-c4-44052">10.25549/one-c4-44052</a> &#8211; via <a href="/wiki/ONE_National_Gay_%26_Lesbian_Archives" title="ONE National Gay &amp; Lesbian Archives">ONE National Gay &amp; Lesbian Archives</a>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&amp;rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&amp;rft.genre=unknown&amp;rft.jtitle=USC+Libraries&amp;rft.atitle=Bandana+night%2C+every+Tuesday+%3A+Larry%27s%2C+5414+Melrose+Los+Angeles+%28UC12351950%29&amp;rft.date=2021&amp;rft_id=info%3Adoi%2F10.25549%2Fone-c4-44052&amp;rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fdoi.org%2F10.25549%2Fone-c4-44052&amp;rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AHandkerchief+code" class="Z3988"></span></span>
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<li id="cite_note-6"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-6">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222" /><cite id="CITEREFStrykerVan_Buskirk1996" class="citation book cs1"><a href="/wiki/Susan_Stryker" title="Susan Stryker">Stryker, Susan</a>; Van Buskirk, Jim (1996). <i>Gay by the Bay: A History of Queer Culture in the San Francisco Bay Area</i>. San Francisco: <a href="/wiki/Chronicle_Books" title="Chronicle Books">Chronicle Books</a>. p.&#160;18. <a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a>&#160;<a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-8118-1187-5" title="Special:BookSources/0-8118-1187-5"><bdi>0-8118-1187-5</bdi></a>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&amp;rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&amp;rft.genre=book&amp;rft.btitle=Gay+by+the+Bay%3A+A+History+of+Queer+Culture+in+the+San+Francisco+Bay+Area&amp;rft.place=San+Francisco&amp;rft.pages=18&amp;rft.pub=Chronicle+Books&amp;rft.date=1996&amp;rft.isbn=0-8118-1187-5&amp;rft.aulast=Stryker&amp;rft.aufirst=Susan&amp;rft.au=Van+Buskirk%2C+Jim&amp;rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AHandkerchief+code" class="Z3988"></span></span>
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<li id="cite_note-7"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-7">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222" /><cite id="CITEREFHsieh2020" class="citation web cs1">Hsieh, Carina (2020-07-02). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.cosmopolitan.com/sex-love/a33078811/what-is-hanky-code-how-to-use/">"What Is the Hanky Code?"</a>. <i>Cosmopolitan</i><span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">2021-01-03</span></span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&amp;rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&amp;rft.genre=unknown&amp;rft.jtitle=Cosmopolitan&amp;rft.atitle=What+Is+the+Hanky+Code%3F&amp;rft.date=2020-07-02&amp;rft.aulast=Hsieh&amp;rft.aufirst=Carina&amp;rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cosmopolitan.com%2Fsex-love%2Fa33078811%2Fwhat-is-hanky-code-how-to-use%2F&amp;rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AHandkerchief+code" class="Z3988"></span></span>
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<li id="cite_note-8"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-8">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222" /><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.ambushmag.com/fifty-shades-of-gay-the-hanky-code/">"Fifty Shades of Gay – The Hanky Code"</a>. <i>Ambush Magazine</i>. 2019-04-23<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">2021-01-03</span></span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&amp;rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&amp;rft.genre=unknown&amp;rft.jtitle=Ambush+Magazine&amp;rft.atitle=Fifty+Shades+of+Gay+%E2%80%93+The+Hanky+Code&amp;rft.date=2019-04-23&amp;rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ambushmag.com%2Ffifty-shades-of-gay-the-hanky-code%2F&amp;rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AHandkerchief+code" class="Z3988"></span></span>
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<li id="cite_note-gay-semiotics-9"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-gay-semiotics_9-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222" /><cite id="CITEREFFischer1977" class="citation book cs1">Fischer, Hal (1977). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191018053832/http://www.queerculturalcenter.org/Pages/HalPages/GaySempg2.html"><i>Gay Semiotics ♂</i></a>. San Francisco: NFS Press. <a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a>&#160;<a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-917986-03-2" title="Special:BookSources/0-917986-03-2"><bdi>0-917986-03-2</bdi></a>. Archived from <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.queerculturalcenter.org/Pages/HalPages/GaySempg2.html">the original</a> on 2019-10-18<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">2017-06-23</span></span>. <q>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.</q></cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&amp;rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&amp;rft.genre=book&amp;rft.btitle=Gay+Semiotics+%E2%99%82&amp;rft.place=San+Francisco&amp;rft.pub=NFS+Press&amp;rft.date=1977&amp;rft.isbn=0-917986-03-2&amp;rft.aulast=Fischer&amp;rft.aufirst=Hal&amp;rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.queerculturalcenter.org%2FPages%2FHalPages%2FGaySempg2.html&amp;rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AHandkerchief+code" class="Z3988"></span></span>
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<li id="cite_note-selby-10"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-selby_10-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222" /><cite id="CITEREFJones2017" class="citation book cs1">Jones, Jordy (2017). <i>The Mayor of Folsom Street, The Auto/Biography of "Daddy Alan" Selby aka Mr. S</i>. Fair Page Media LLC. pp.&#160;<span class="nowrap">61–</span>62. <a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a>&#160;<a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-9989098-0-6" title="Special:BookSources/978-0-9989098-0-6"><bdi>978-0-9989098-0-6</bdi></a>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&amp;rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&amp;rft.genre=book&amp;rft.btitle=The+Mayor+of+Folsom+Street%2C+The+Auto%2FBiography+of+%22Daddy+Alan%22+Selby+aka+Mr.+S&amp;rft.pages=%3Cspan+class%3D%22nowrap%22%3E61-%3C%2Fspan%3E62&amp;rft.pub=Fair+Page+Media+LLC&amp;rft.date=2017&amp;rft.isbn=978-0-9989098-0-6&amp;rft.aulast=Jones&amp;rft.aufirst=Jordy&amp;rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AHandkerchief+code" class="Z3988"></span></span>
</li>
<li id="cite_note-11"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-11">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222" /><cite id="CITEREFTownsend1983" class="citation book cs1">Townsend, Larry (1983). <i>The Leatherman's Handbook II</i>. New York: Modernismo Publications. p.&#160;26. <a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a>&#160;<a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-89237-010-6" title="Special:BookSources/0-89237-010-6"><bdi>0-89237-010-6</bdi></a>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&amp;rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&amp;rft.genre=book&amp;rft.btitle=The+Leatherman%27s+Handbook+II&amp;rft.place=New+York&amp;rft.pages=26&amp;rft.pub=Modernismo+Publications&amp;rft.date=1983&amp;rft.isbn=0-89237-010-6&amp;rft.aulast=Townsend&amp;rft.aufirst=Larry&amp;rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AHandkerchief+code" class="Z3988"></span></span>
</li>
<li id="cite_note-12"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-12">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222" /><cite id="CITEREFNetworks2022" class="citation news cs1">Networks, Hornet (2022-02-11). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://hornet.com/stories/new-hanky-code/">"We're Loving the Push to Revive the Hanky Code for a New Queer Population"</a>. <i>Hornet</i><span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">2022-02-18</span></span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&amp;rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&amp;rft.genre=article&amp;rft.jtitle=Hornet&amp;rft.atitle=We%27re+Loving+the+Push+to+Revive+the+Hanky+Code+for+a+New+Queer+Population&amp;rft.date=2022-02-11&amp;rft.aulast=Networks&amp;rft.aufirst=Hornet&amp;rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fhornet.com%2Fstories%2Fnew-hanky-code%2F&amp;rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AHandkerchief+code" class="Z3988"></span></span>
</li>
<li id="cite_note-13"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-13">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222" /><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.schwulesmuseum.de/bibliothek-archiv/object-of-the-month-may-leather-pride-flag/?lang=en">"Object of the Month May: Leather Pride Flag"</a>. <i><a href="/wiki/Schwules_Museum" title="Schwules Museum">Schwules Museum</a></i><span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">2024-06-10</span></span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&amp;rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&amp;rft.genre=unknown&amp;rft.jtitle=Schwules+Museum&amp;rft.atitle=Object+of+the+Month+May%3A+Leather+Pride+Flag&amp;rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.schwulesmuseum.de%2Fbibliothek-archiv%2Fobject-of-the-month-may-leather-pride-flag%2F%3Flang%3Den&amp;rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AHandkerchief+code" class="Z3988"></span></span>
</li>
<li id="cite_note-:1-14"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-:1_14-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-:1_14-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222" /><cite id="CITEREFFiliceRaffoulMeyerNeiterman2019" class="citation journal cs1">Filice, Eric; Raffoul, Amanda; Meyer, Samantha B.; Neiterman, Elena (2019-07-05). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://doi.org/10.1007%2Fs11199-019-01063-7">"The Impact of Social Media on Body Image Perceptions and Bodily Practices among Gay, Bisexual, and Other Men Who Have Sex with Men: A Critical Review of the Literature and Extension of Theory"</a>. <i>Sex Roles</i>. <b>82</b> (<span class="nowrap">7–</span>8): <span class="nowrap">387–</span>410. <a href="/wiki/Doi_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="Doi (identifier)">doi</a>:<span class="id-lock-free" title="Freely accessible"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://doi.org/10.1007%2Fs11199-019-01063-7">10.1007/s11199-019-01063-7</a></span>. <a href="/wiki/ISSN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISSN (identifier)">ISSN</a>&#160;<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://search.worldcat.org/issn/1573-2762">1573-2762</a>. <a href="/wiki/S2CID_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="S2CID (identifier)">S2CID</a>&#160;<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://api.semanticscholar.org/CorpusID:198629523">198629523</a>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&amp;rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&amp;rft.genre=article&amp;rft.jtitle=Sex+Roles&amp;rft.atitle=The+Impact+of+Social+Media+on+Body+Image+Perceptions+and+Bodily+Practices+among+Gay%2C+Bisexual%2C+and+Other+Men+Who+Have+Sex+with+Men%3A+A+Critical+Review+of+the+Literature+and+Extension+of+Theory&amp;rft.volume=82&amp;rft.issue=%3Cspan+class%3D%22nowrap%22%3E7%E2%80%93%3C%2Fspan%3E8&amp;rft.pages=%3Cspan+class%3D%22nowrap%22%3E387-%3C%2Fspan%3E410&amp;rft.date=2019-07-05&amp;rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fapi.semanticscholar.org%2FCorpusID%3A198629523%23id-name%3DS2CID&amp;rft.issn=1573-2762&amp;rft_id=info%3Adoi%2F10.1007%2Fs11199-019-01063-7&amp;rft.aulast=Filice&amp;rft.aufirst=Eric&amp;rft.au=Raffoul%2C+Amanda&amp;rft.au=Meyer%2C+Samantha+B.&amp;rft.au=Neiterman%2C+Elena&amp;rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fdoi.org%2F10.1007%252Fs11199-019-01063-7&amp;rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AHandkerchief+code" class="Z3988"></span></span>
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<li id="cite_note-15"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-15">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222" /><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://gay.aebn.com/gay/movies/125210/erotic-hands">"Erotic Hands"</a>. <i><a href="/wiki/AEBN" title="AEBN">AEBN</a></i><span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">2024-01-17</span></span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&amp;rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&amp;rft.genre=unknown&amp;rft.jtitle=AEBN&amp;rft.atitle=Erotic+Hands&amp;rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fgay.aebn.com%2Fgay%2Fmovies%2F125210%2Ferotic-hands&amp;rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AHandkerchief+code" class="Z3988"></span></span>
</li>
<li id="cite_note-16"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-16">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222" /><cite id="CITEREFHalford2020" class="citation book cs1">Halford, Rob (2020). <i>Confess</i>. Headline Publishing Group. p.&#160;163. <a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a>&#160;<a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-1-4722-6928-7" title="Special:BookSources/978-1-4722-6928-7"><bdi>978-1-4722-6928-7</bdi></a>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&amp;rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&amp;rft.genre=book&amp;rft.btitle=Confess&amp;rft.pages=163&amp;rft.pub=Headline+Publishing+Group&amp;rft.date=2020&amp;rft.isbn=978-1-4722-6928-7&amp;rft.aulast=Halford&amp;rft.aufirst=Rob&amp;rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AHandkerchief+code" class="Z3988"></span></span>
</li>
<li id="cite_note-17"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-17">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222" /><cite id="CITEREFReynolds2017" class="citation web cs1">Reynolds, Daniel (2017-02-08). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.advocate.com/music/2017/2/08/music-video-art-or-gay">"Is This Raunchy Music Video Art or Explicit Content?"</a>. <i><a href="/wiki/The_Advocate_(magazine)" title="The Advocate (magazine)">The Advocate</a></i><span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">2024-01-15</span></span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&amp;rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&amp;rft.genre=unknown&amp;rft.jtitle=The+Advocate&amp;rft.atitle=Is+This+Raunchy+Music+Video+Art+or+Explicit+Content%3F&amp;rft.date=2017-02-08&amp;rft.aulast=Reynolds&amp;rft.aufirst=Daniel&amp;rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.advocate.com%2Fmusic%2F2017%2F2%2F08%2Fmusic-video-art-or-gay&amp;rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AHandkerchief+code" class="Z3988"></span></span>
</li>
</ol></div></div>
<div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Further_reading">Further reading</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Handkerchief_code&amp;action=edit&amp;section=7" title="Edit section: Further reading"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div>
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<ul><li><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222" /><cite id="CITEREFJacques1993" class="citation book cs1"><a href="/wiki/Trevor_Jacques" title="Trevor Jacques">Jacques, Trevor H.</a> (1993). <i>On the Safe Edge: A Manual for SM Play</i>. Toronto: Whole SM Publishing. <a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a>&#160;<a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-1-89585-705-4" title="Special:BookSources/978-1-89585-705-4"><bdi>978-1-89585-705-4</bdi></a>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&amp;rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&amp;rft.genre=book&amp;rft.btitle=On+the+Safe+Edge%3A+A+Manual+for+SM+Play&amp;rft.place=Toronto&amp;rft.pub=Whole+SM+Publishing&amp;rft.date=1993&amp;rft.isbn=978-1-89585-705-4&amp;rft.aulast=Jacques&amp;rft.aufirst=Trevor+H.&amp;rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AHandkerchief+code" class="Z3988"></span></li></ul>
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<li><a href="/wiki/Bareback_(sex)" class="mw-redirect" title="Bareback (sex)">Bareback</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Banjee" title="Banjee">Banjee</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Bear_(gay_culture)" title="Bear (gay culture)">Bear</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Beard_(companion)" title="Beard (companion)">Beard</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Gay_beat" title="Gay beat">Beat</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Bi-curious" title="Bi-curious">Bi-curious</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Butch_and_femme" title="Butch and femme">Butch and femme</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Boi_(slang)" title="Boi (slang)">Boi</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Top,_bottom_and_versatile" class="mw-redirect" title="Top, bottom and versatile">Top, bottom and versatile</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Sex_reassignment_surgery" class="mw-redirect" title="Sex reassignment surgery">Bottom surgery</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Breeder_(slang)" title="Breeder (slang)">Breeder</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Bugchasing" title="Bugchasing">Bugchasing</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Dyke_(slang)" title="Dyke (slang)">Bulldagger</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Butch_(lesbian_slang)" title="Butch (lesbian slang)">Butch</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Castro_clone" title="Castro clone">Castro clone</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Chicken_(gay_slang)" title="Chicken (gay slang)">Chicken</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Chickenhawk_(gay_slang)" title="Chickenhawk (gay slang)">Chickenhawk</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Chub_(gay_slang)" title="Chub (gay slang)">Chub</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Fat_fetishism" title="Fat fetishism">Chubby chaser</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Cottaging" title="Cottaging">Cottaging</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Cruising_for_sex" title="Cruising for sex">Cruising</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Daddy_(gay_slang)" class="mw-redirect" title="Daddy (gay slang)">Daddy</a></li>
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<li><a href="/wiki/Drag_(entertainment)" title="Drag (entertainment)">Drag</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Dyke_(slang)" title="Dyke (slang)">Dyke</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/En_femme" class="mw-redirect" title="En femme">En femme</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/En_homme" class="mw-redirect" title="En homme">En homme</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Faggot_(slang)" class="mw-redirect" title="Faggot (slang)">Fag (Faggot)</a></li>
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<li><a class="mw-selflink selflink">Flagging (hanky code)</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Friend_of_Dorothy" title="Friend of Dorothy">Friend of Dorothy</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Fruit_(slang)" title="Fruit (slang)">Fruit</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Fruit_(slang)#Fruit_fly" title="Fruit (slang)">Fruit fly</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Gay-for-pay" title="Gay-for-pay">Gay-for-pay</a></li>
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<li><a href="/wiki/Gender_bender" title="Gender bender">Genderfuck</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Gold_star_(slang)" class="mw-redirect" title="Gold star (slang)">Gold star</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Glory_hole_(sexual_slang)" class="mw-redirect" title="Glory hole (sexual slang)">Glory hole</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Heteroflexibility" title="Heteroflexibility">Heteroflexibility</a></li>
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<li><a href="/wiki/Party_and_play" title="Party and play">Party and play</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Passing_(gender)" title="Passing (gender)">Passing</a></li>
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<li><a href="/wiki/Pre-op_(transsexual)" class="mw-redirect" title="Pre-op (transsexual)">Pre-op</a></li>
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