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The hanky code (click on any square above for a "definition" or see the whole chart below) originated in the early 1970s primarily to distinguish specific sexual interests when the original SM (or at least DS)-orientated leather scene was enlarging—and clothing alone didn't reveal a man's sexual interests.
....The first published hanky code was done by Ron Ernst who drew one up in collaboration with Alan Selby (the original Mr S—who passed away in May, 2004) for their San Francisco store Leather N Things; this code was published in the Bay Area Reporter in 1972.
.....There are a few well-established colors that are widely accepted. In particular, red, yellow, gray, light blue, dark blue, and black are the most widely recognized and still likely to be encountered.
.....A man wears the appropriate color in the back pocket of his jeans, choosing the side according to a left-right convention—left means Top and right means sub. If this isn't possible because of the clothing worn, you can tie the hanky round one of your upper arms. If you don't want to commit yourself to a role, you can always wear the hanky 'round your neck.
.....Some colors are so widely known that their names are used in personal ads or even in probing chatter at bars as codewords for the action desired—particularly for red, yellow, dark blue, and brown. For example, someone might write or say, "I'm yellow right," rather than, "I'd really love to go into the john together and have you pee in my left ear."
.....Below are some of the more common and traditional flag colors/objects and their meanings. (The little " • " on either side indicates I do that!)
.....Now—quick— in the darkness of the dim bar light... is that a dark red flag or dark blue? Do you really care? Be all you can be—go for it!
| COMMON HCOMMON HANKY CODESANKY CODES |
|
Top (active)
Worn On Left |
Color, Pattern,
or Item |
sub (passive)
Worn On Right |
|
| Fisting Top • |
 |
Fisting sub • |
| Water Sports Top • |
 |
Water Sports sub • |
| Bondage Top • |
 |
Bondage sub • |
| Wants Oral Sex • |
 |
Gives Oral Sex • |
| Fucker • |
 |
Fuckee • |
| Heavy SM Top • |
 |
Heavy SM sub |
|
| LESS COMMON HANKY CODES |
|
| Dildo Top • |
 |
Dildo sub • |
| Rimming Top • |
 |
Rimming sub • |
| Scat Top |
 |
Scat sub |
| Enema Top • |
 |
Enema sub • |
| Spanker • |
 |
Spanking sub |
| Genital Torturer • |
 |
Genital Torturee • |
| Anything Top • |
 |
Anything sub |
| Military/Uniform Top • |
 |
Military/Uniform sub • |
| Shaving Top • |
 |
Shavee • |
|
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