The Hanky Code is a traditional form of signaling to others what your sexual preferences and interests are. Gay men used this code to communicate with each other in the noisy and distracting environment of gay bars. Although not as widely used these days, it is still a worthwhile resource and is, among those who know, a great conversation starter. Basically years ago, you could not go into a gay bar and try to pick someone up or you'd be gay bashed or worse. So men began wearing a hanky in their back pocket to signify their interests and the left or right placement would signify their desire to Top or Bottom for that activity. Right side traditionally being for the bottom and the left side being for the Top.

COLOR

WORN ON RIGHT

heavy SM top

BLACK

heavy SM bottom

bondage top

GREY

fit to be tied!

wants head

LT BLUE

cocksucker

69er

ROBIN'S EGG BLUE

anything but 69ing

cop

MEDIUM BLUE

copsucker

fucker

NAVY BLUE

fuckee

pilot/flight attendant

AIR FORCE BLUE

likes flyboys

sailor

LT BLUE/WHITE STRIPE

lookin' for salty seamen

cock & ball torturer

TEAL BLUE

cock & ball torturee

fist fucker

RED

fist fuckee

cuts

MAROON

bleeds

2-handed fister

DARK RED

2-handed fistee

dildo fucker

LIGHT PINK

dildo fuckee

tit torturer

DARK PINK

tit torturee

into navel worshippers

MAUVE

has a navel fetish

suck my pits

MAGENTA

armpit freak

piercer

PURPLE

pierced

likes drag queens

LAVENDER

drag queen

pisser/WS

YELLOW

piss freak

spits

PALE YELLOW

drool crazy

hung 8" or more

MUSTARD

wants a big one

two looking for one

GOLD

one looking for two

anything anytime

ORANGE

nothing now (cruising)

two tons o' fun

APRICOT

chubby chaser

suck my toes

CORAL

shrimper

a cowboy

RUST

his horse

spanker

FUCHSIA

spankee

hustler (for rent)

KELLY GREEN

john (looking to buy)

daddy

HUNTER GREEN

orphan boy looking for daddy

military top

OLIVE DRAB

military bottom

dines off tricks (food)

LIME GREEN

dinner plate

rimmer

BEIGE

rimmee

scat top

BROWN

scat bottom

uncut

BROWN LACE

likes uncut

cut

BROWN SATIN

likes cut

latex fetish top

CHARCOAL

latex fetish bottom

actually owns a suit

GREY FLANNEL

likes men in suits

beat my meat

WHITE

I'll do us both

cums in scumbags

CREAM

sucks it out

safe sex top

BLACK/WHITE CHECK

safe sex bottom

shaver

RED/WHITE STRIPE

shavee

furry bear

RED/BLACK STRIPE

likes bears

likes white bottoms

WHITE LACE

likes white tops

likes black bottoms

BLACK/WHITE STRIPE

likes black tops

likes Latino bottoms

BROWN/WHITE STRIPE

likes Latino tops

likes Asian bottoms

YELLOW/WHITE STRIPE

likes Asian tops

likes white suckers

LT BLUE/WHITE DOTS

likes to suck whites

likes black suckers

LT BLUE/BLACK DOTS

likes to suck blacks

likes Latino suckers

LT BLUE/BROWN DOTS

likes to suck Latinos

likes Asian suckers

LT BLUE/YELLOW DOTS

likes to suck Asians

park sex top

RED/WHITE GINGHAM

park sex bottom

headmaster

BROWN CORDUROY

student

wears boxer shorts

PAISLEY

likes boxer shorts

bestiality top

FUR

bestiality bottom

likes muscle boy bottoms

GOLD LAME

likes muscle boy tops

starfucker

SILVER LAME

celebrity

has/takes videos

BLACK VELVET

will perform for the camera

voyeur (likes to watch)

WHITE VELVET

will put on a show

has tattoos

LEOPARD

likes tattoos

smokes cigars

TAN

likes cigars

cuddler

TEDDY BEAR

cuddlee

chicken

KEWPIE DOLL

chicken hawk

wears a dirty jock

DIRTY JOCKSTRAP

sucks it clean

tearoom top (pours)

DOILY

tearoom bottom (drinks)

outdoor sex top

MOSQUITO NETTING

outdoor sex bottom

has drugs

ZIPLOC BAG

looking for drugs

bartender

COCKTAIL NAPKIN

bar groupie

stinks

KLEENEX

sniffs

looking for a ride

KEYS IN FRONT

has a car

needs a place to stay

KEYS IN BACK

has a home

likes to nibble

HOUND'S-TOOTH

will be bitten

skinhead top

UNION JACK

skinhead bottom

new in town

CALICO

tourists welcome

bathhouse top

TERRYCLOTH

bathhouse bottom

hosting an orgy

WHITE/MULTICOLOR DOTS

looking for an orgy