The handkerchief code (also known as the hanky code, the bandana code, and flagging) is a way for gay men to recognize each other on the streets, bar, clubs, movies, and parks. It uses location and colors of the hankies to indicate the sexual interests of the potential sex partners.
Gay men wear different colored hankies in their back pockets to represent their favorite fetish or fetishes. It also represents whether they are more top or bottom. If you wear one of the following hankies in your left pocket you are normally considered a top. If you wear the hanky in your right pocket you are more bottom. Some people wear the hanky around their neck representing they are versatile (top and bottom).
COLOR |
LEFT |
RIGHT |
Dark Blue | Anal sex top | Anal sex bottom |
Light Blue | Wants oral sex | Gives oral sex |
Black | Heavy S&M top | Heavy S&M bottom |
Red | Fist fucker | Fist fuckee |
Yellow | Piss top | Piss bottom |
Brown | Scat top | Scat bottom |
Gray | Bondage top | Bondage bottom |
Orange | Anythings goes top | Anythings goes bottom |
White | Masturbate me | Masturbates other |
Purple | Piercer | Wants to be pierced |
Green | Hustler, selling | Hustler, buying |
Olive Drab | Uniform/military top | Uniform/military bottom |
Hunter Green | Daddy | Daddy’s boy |
It used to be a very simple code with just your basic colors like black (SM), red (fisting), yellow (piss), gray (bondage), brown (scat), etc. Somehow this list has begun taking on the entire rainbow of colors. So don’t take it too seriously if you see some esoteric color.
COLOR |
LEFT |
RIGHT |
B&W Check | Safe Sex (top) | Safe Sex (bottom) |
Robin’s Egg Blue | 69’er | 69’er |
Medium Blue | Cop | Cop sucker |
Teal Blue | Genital torturer | Wants genital torture |
Light Pink | Dildo giver | Dildo receiver |
Dark Pink | Tit torturer | Tit torturee |
Dark Red | 2-handed fister | 2-handed fistee |
Mauve | Wants navel worshippers | Navel worshipper |
Magenta | Wants armpit worshippers | Armpit worshipper |
Lavender | Wants drag queen | Does drag |
Pale Yellow | Spitter | Spit on me |
Mustard | Has 8″ + | Wants 8″ + |
Gold | 2 looking for 1 | Looking for 2 or more |
Apricot | Chubby | Chubby chaser |
Coral | Foot top | Foot licker |
Rust | Cowboy | Wants cowboy |
Fuschia | Spanker | Spank me |
Hunter Green | Daddy | Daddy’s boy |
Lime Green | Food top | Smear me with food |
Beige | Rimmee | Rimmer |
Brown Lace | Uncut | Wants uncut |
Brown Satin | Cut | Wants cut |
Charcoal | Rubber top | Rubber bottom |
Gray Flannel | Suit | Suit chaser |
Cream | Sleaze top | Sleaze bottom |
Red & White Stripe | Shaver | Shave me |
Black & White Stripe | Wants black bottom | Wants black top |
Brown & White Stripe | Wants Latino bottom | Wants Latino top |
Yellow & White Stripe | Wants Oriental bottom | Wants Oriental top |
White Lace | Wants white bottom | Wants white top |
Paisley | Wears boxers | Wants boxer shorts |
Gold Lame | Wants muscleboy | Wants muscle top |
Leopard | Has tattoos | Likes tattoos |
Tan | Cigar top | Likes cigar tops |
Teddy Bear | Cuddler | Cuddlee |
Dirty Jockstrap | Wears one | Wants one |
Chamois | Biker | Wants biker |
Cocktail Napkin | Bartender | Barfly |
Mosquito Netting | Outdoor top | Outdoor bottom |
This long elaborate lists, like others found on the web, are more imaginative and the many color codes in them are less often used in practice, although most of the colors in longer lists are offered as bandanas for sale at almost all LGBT leather stores along with free color code cards listing their meanings.