The Hanky Code

The Hanky Code is a traditional form of signalling 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.

Worn on LEFT:	COLOR	Worn on RIGHT:
heavy SM top	BLACK	heavy SM bottom
bondage top	GREY	bondage bottom
wants head	LIGHT 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 seamen
cock & ball torturer	TEAL BLUE	cock & ball torturee
fist fucker	RED	fist fuckee
2-handed fister	DARK RED	2-handed fistee
cuts	MAROON	bleeds
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	piercee
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	FUSCHIA	spankee
hustler (for rent)	KELLY GREEN	john (looking to buy)
daddy	HUNTER GREEN	orphan boy
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
safe sex top	BLACK/WHITE CHECK	safe sex bottom
shaver	RED/WHITE STRIPE	shavee
furry bear	RED/BLACK STRIPE	likes bears
has/takes videos	BLACK VELVET	will perform for the camera
voyeur (likes to watch)	WHITE VELVET	will put on a show
headmaster	BROWN CORDUROY	student
wears boxer shorts	PAISLEY	likes boxer shorts
likes muscleboy bottoms	GOLD LAME'	likes muscleboy tops
starfucker	SILVER LAME'	celebrity
has tattoos	LEOPARD	likes tattoos
smokes cigars	TAN	likes cigars
bathhouse top	TERRYCLOTH	bathhouse bottom
likes to nibble	HOUNDSTOOTH	will be bitten
wears a dirty jock	DIRTY JOCKSTRAP	sucks it clean
stinks	KLEENEX	sniffs
bartender	COCKTAIL NAPKIN	bar groupie
outdoor sex top	MOSQUITO NETTING	outdoor sex bottom
has drugs	ZIPLOC BAG	looking for drugs
has a home	KEYS IN FRONT	has a car
needs a place to stay	KEYS IN BACK	looking for a ride
tearoom top (pours)	DOILY	tearoom bottom (drinks)
cuddler	TEDDY BEAR	cuddlee
skinhead top	UNION JACK	skinhead bottom
new in town	CALICO	tourists welcome
chicken	KEWPIE DOLL	chicken hawk
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
park sex top	RED/WHITE GINGHAM	park sex bottom
hosting an orgy	WHITE/MULTICOLOR DOTS	looking for an orgy