The gay attraction to hankies

Over the past two decades, the gay community in Ireland has become more and more outspoken. More than 12,000 people showed up for this year’s Dublin Pride Parade, according to organisers. This is by far the largest ever turnout since the city’s first Pride festival in 1983. Add that amount to the millions that showed up at Pride festivals across the world this year, and it’s clear that Gay Pride has become a pretty powerful movement.

But before Pride, what was there? How did the gay community express themselves pre-1983? Well, it seems the answer is simple. Hankies.

In the early 1970s, a New York writer suggested that gay men invest in some sort of uniform identification to allow them to communicate without attracting attention. Something subtler than a rainbow flag draped casually about the shoulders. Something colourful, but stylish. And in a flash of genius, the Gay Hanky Code was born.

The code requires that a coloured hanky be worn in either the right or left back pocket. Be careful what colour you choose, though - each colour carries a specific meaning.

Don’t put your lavender hanky anywhere near your back left pocket unless you’re hoping to go home with a drag queen. Looking for a good time with a pilot? Get yourself a light blue hanky, pronto. If you’re tattooed and looking for a date, watch out for leopard print hankies. The list goes on, and it only gets raunchier.

While the code did grow in popularity throughout the 70s, it never really took off outside the US. With a list of over 40 hanky colours and meanings, the code became difficult to decipher. In a dark club, it was hard to tell the difference between navy, sky blue, teal and duck egg blue. And in a situation like that, mistakes could be costly.

Though it wasn’t the most foolproof system, the Hanky Code did help to foster solidarity within the gay community. It might not have been the most covert form of expression, but it was a sign that a gay culture did exist, even if it wasn’t yet acknowledged by most.