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 | 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 | AIRFORCE 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 | 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 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 |
| milker | HOLSTEIN | milkee |
| comes 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 |
| bestialist top | FUR | bestialist bottom |
| likes muscleboy bottoms | GOLD LAME | likes muscleboy 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 |
| has a home | KEYS IN FRONT | has a car |
| needs a place to stay | KEYS IN BACK | looking for a ride |
| likes to nibble | HOUNDSTOOTH | 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 |
- Color
- Worn on left / worn on right
- BLACK
- heavy SM top / heavy SM bottom
- GREY
- bondage top / fit to be tied!
- LT BLUE
- wants head / cocksucker
- ROBIN'S EGG BLUE
- 69er / anything but 69ing
- MEDIUM BLUE
- cop / copsucker
- NAVY BLUE
- fucker / fuckee
- AIRFORCE BLUE
- pilot/flight attendant / likes flyboys
- LT BLUE/WHITE STRIPE
- sailor / lookin' for salty seamen
- TEAL BLUE
- cock & ball torturer / cock & ball torturee
- RED
- fist fucker / fist fuckee
- MAROON
- cuts / bleeds
- DARK RED
- 2-handed fister / 2-handed fistee
- LIGHT PINK
- dildo fucker / dildo fuckee
- DARK PINK
- tit torturer / tit torturee
- MAUVE
- into navel worshippers / has a navel fetish
- MAGENTA
- suck my pits / armpit freak
- PURPLE
- piercer / piercee
- LAVENDER
- likes drag queens / drag queen
- YELLOW
- pisser/WS / piss freak
- PALE YELLOW
- spits / drool crazy
- MUSTARD
- hung 8" or more / wants a big one
- GOLD
- two looking for one / one looking for two
- ORANGE
- anything anytime / nothing now (cruising)
- APRICOT
- two tons o' fun / chubby chaser
- CORAL
- suck my toes / shrimper
- RUST
- a cowboy / his horse
- FUSCHIA
- spanker / spankee
- KELLY GREEN
- hustler (for rent) / john (looking to buy)
- HUNTER GREEN
- daddy / orphan boy looking for daddy
- OLIVE DRAB
- military top / military bottom
- LIME GREEN
- dines off tricks (food) / dinner plate
- BEIGE
- rimmer / rimmee
- BROWN
- scat top / scat bottom
- BROWN LACE
- uncut / likes uncut
- BROWN SATIN
- cut / likes cut
- CHARCOAL
- latex fetish top / latex fetish bottom
- GREY FLANNEL
- actually owns a suit / likes men in suits
- WHITE
- beat my meat / I'll do us both
- HOLSTEIN
- milker / milkee
- CREAM
- comes in scumbags / sucks it out
- BLACK/WHITE CHECK
- safe sex top / safe sex bottom
- RED/WHITE STRIPE
- shaver / shavee
- RED/BLACK STRIPE
- furry bear / likes bears
- WHITE LACE
- likes white bottoms / likes white tops
- BLACK/WHITE STRIPE
- likes black bottoms / likes black tops
- BROWN/WHITE STRIPE
- likes latino bottoms / likes latino tops
- YELLOW/WHITE STRIPE
- likes asian bottoms / likes asian tops
- LT BLUE/WHITE DOTS
- likes white suckers / likes to suck whites
- LT BLUE/BLACK DOTS
- likes black suckers / likes to suck blacks
- LT BLUE/BROWN DOTS
- likes latino suckers / likes to suck latinos
- LT BLUE/YELLOW DOTS
- likes asian suckers / likes to suck asians
- RED/WHITE GINGHAM
- park sex top / park sex bottom
- BROWN CORDUROY
- headmaster / student
- PAISLEY
- wears boxer shorts / likes boxer shorts
- FUR
- bestialist top / bestialist bottom
- GOLD LAME
- likes muscleboy bottoms / likes muscleboy tops
- SILVER LAME
- starfucker / celebrity
- BLACK VELVET
- has/takes videos / will perform for the camera
- WHITE VELVET
- voyeur (likes to watch) / will put on a show
- LEOPARD
- has tattoos / likes tattoos
- TAN
- smokes cigars / likes cigars
- TEDDY BEAR
- cuddler / cuddlee
- KEWPIE DOLL
- chicken / chicken hawk
- DIRTY JOCKSTRAP
- wears a dirty jock / sucks it clean
- DOILY
- tearoom top (pours) / tearoom bottom (drinks)
- MOSQUITO NETTING
- outdoor sex top / outdoor sex bottom
- ZIPLOC BAG
- has drugs / looking for drugs
- COCKTAIL NAPKIN
- bartender / bar groupie
- KLEENEX
- stinks / sniffs
- KEYS IN FRONT
- has a home / has a car
- KEYS IN BACK
- needs a place to stay / looking for a ride
- HOUNDSTOOTH
- likes to nibble / will be bitten
- UNION JACK
- skinhead top / skinhead bottom
- CALICO
- new in town / tourists welcome
- TERRYCLOTH
- bathhouse top / bathhouse bottom
- WHITE/MULTICOLOR DOTS
- hosting an orgy / looking for an orgy
Last Update: June 8, 1997
Created: October 14, 1994 by Elf M. Sternberg