HANKY | WORN ON LEFT | WORN ON RIGHT | |
WHITE | jerk me off | I’ll do us both | |
WHITE VELVET | voyeur | will put on a show | |
WHITE w/MULTICOLOR Dots | hosting an orgy | looking for an orgy | |
CREAM | cum fetish (mine) | cum fetish (yours) | |
BLACK/WHITE check | safe sex top | safe sex bottom | |
BLACK/WHITE stripes | kissing | kissing | |
BLACK | SM top | SM bottom | |
BLACK VELVET | has/takes videos | will perform for the camera | |
CHARCOAL | latex fetish | latex fetish | |
GREY, Dark | bondage – ties | fit to be tied | |
GREY, Light | stone – I’ll fuck you | stone – just fuck me | |
SILVER LAME | celebrity/titleholder | starfucker | |
OLIVE DRAB | military | civil “servant” | |
GREEN, Hunter | looking for orphan | looking for daddy | |
——— | GREEN (Hunter) W/ Green (Kelly) Stripe | sugardaddy | looking for sugardaddy |
GREEN, Kelly | hooker (for rent) | trick (looking to buy) | |
GREEN, Mint | looking for orphan | looking for mummy | |
GREEN, Light | dirty talk | dirty talk | |
GREEN, Lime | dines off tricks (wants food) | dinner plate (will buy dinner) | |
AQUA | watersex | watersex | |
BLUE, Teal | genital torturer | genital torturee | |
BLUE, Robin’s Egg | 69 | 69 | |
BLUE, Light | gives oral | wants oral | |
——— | BLUE, Light w/ light PINK stripe | sucks dildo | suck my dildo |
BLUE, Navy | fucking / TOP | fucking / BOTTOM | |
VELVET, NAVY | watches masturbation | will masturbate for audience | |
PURPLE | piercer | piercee | |
LAVENDER | X dresser / dragster | likes X dressers / drag | |
MAUVE | worship my navel | has a navel fetish | |
FUCHSIA | spanker | spank me | |
MAGENTA | suck my pits | armpit lover | |
MAROON | cuts | bleeds | |
——— | w/ MAROON stripe | into blood | into blood |
RED, Dark | 2-handed fister | 2-handed fistee | |
RED | fist fucker | fist fuckee | |
——— | RED/WHITE Stripes | shaver | shavee |
RED CROSS | HIV positive | HIV positive | |
PINK, Dark | tit torturer | tit torturee | |
PUCE | bruiser | bruise me | |
PINK, Light | dildo wielder | dildo fuckee | |
YELLOW, Pale | spits | spit on me | |
YELLOW, Bright | watersports – pisses | watersports – drinks/wears | |
MUSTARD | hung (carries) | size queen | |
GOLD | 2 looking for one | 1 looking for two | |
GOLD LAME | likes muscles | likes muscles | |
ORANGE | looking to lead | open to suggestion | |
CORAL | suck my toes | shrimper (sucks toes) | |
RUST | cowboy | cowboy’s horse | |
BEIGE | rimmer | rim me | |
TAN | cigarplay – Clinton | cigarplay – Lewinsky | |
BROWN | scat – gives | scat – receives | |
GREY FLANNEL | owns a suit | likes suits | |
BLUE/WHITE GINGHAM | milker | milkee | |
PURPLE FLANNEL | trans dude | trans dude | |
PURPLE GINGHAM | trans grrrl | trans grrrl | |
PURPLE SEQUINS | genderqueer | genderqueer | |
PINK, Light w sparkles | unicorn | unicorn fancier | |
RED/WHITE GINGHAM | parks | parks | |
LEOPARD | has tattoos | likes tattoos (art critic) | |
HOUNDSTOOTH | biter | bite me | |
ARGYLE | geek | likes geeks | |
TARTAN, Caledonian | fully clothed | fully naked | |
w/ Flower Pattern | romance –
pitching the woo
|
romance –
woo me
|
|
TIE-DYE | hippie | looking for hippies | |
WINE STAIN | drunk | drunk | |
BROWN CORDUROY | headmaster | student | |
TWEED | (prof) hot for student | hot for prof | |
FUR | beastplay – zoophile | beastplay – animal | |
CALICO | new in town | into tourists | |
BLANKET | seeking massage | masseuse | |
MOSQUITO NETTING | outdoors | outdoors | |
DOILY | tea party dom
(serve me)
|
tea party sub
(server)
|
|
Teddy Bear | cuddler | cuddlee | |
My Little Pony | rides ponies | pony | |
TOILET PAPER | public toilets
(seeks service) |
public toilets
(offers service) |
|
PLASTIC BAG | likes trashbaggery | likes trashbaggery | |
TAMPON | menstruating | likes menstrual blood | |
LEMON | gives enemas | give me an enema | |
CELERY | expects brunch | brunch included | |
TOOTHBRUSH | lover’s out,
my place ok |
your place only | |
NAPKIN w/ my mobile no. | dirty sms me | dirty sms me | |
USB cord | blogging about this afterwards | write me up (you can borrow my laptop) | |
ROPE | suspender | suspend me | |
ELECTRIC TAPE | electricutor
|
electrify me |
Not “Gay” Flagging: an index of our revisions to the traditional flagging code.
WORN AROUND THE WRIST: curious
WORN AROUND THE UPPER ARM: into it
WORN AROUND THE NECK: adept & versatile
- or, the position of a knot indicates that side: (L) top * (C) versatile * (R) bottom
WORN AROUND THE HEAD: extreme (usually around master or sub cap)
W/STRIPE: can be a single stripe, stripes, or trim.
- stripes take on the left/right association of the base colour. ie, light blue with maroon stripe: (L) gives head to bleeder * (R) wants head, is bleeding.
Orifice disambiguation: (Black as neutral/standard)
- in the butt flag = w/star
- in the vag flag = w/ triangle
- in the mouth or on the face flag = w/ circle or polkadots
At home I have a black bandana with sparkly rainbow hairs on it. Wondering what y’all reckon it means?
Or should I just wear it out and see what happens?
Not sure about yr black with rainbow hairs? it’s hard to imagine… Max said there are no ‘body hair flags’ but I think that could come close, if you can get flags with actual hair on them…
yeah it’s hard to explain online, it’s kinda black with sparkle glitter bits that make it hairy… erm… i’ll have to wear it around y’all sometime.
I tried googling ‘glitter hairy bandana’ just in case it was a super fashionable product from some time, but all i got was a pumpkin wearing a blue bandana around their ‘neck’, and a pirate keychain photo.
http://www.orientaltrading.com/ui/c/processRequest.do?requestURI=processProductsCatalog&sku=OTCG804&tabId=6&cm_re=zone2-_-tab2-_-link10
(this is not what my banadana looks like.)
gay master/sub.
you know, since reading this blog i’ve started to see flags everywhere [especially where someone isn’t actually flagging, hah].
so thanks for new perspectives, and i hope you all keep writing.
Love your work. Also how about flags for tribadism? Also frotage?
totally! Though I thought that frotage and tribadism were the same act? We have thought about that act but are stuck on what colour/print to assign to it, do you have any ideas?
For some reason I always thought frottage was with clothes on and tribbing was without, like dry humping versus actual genitals touching, I’m not sure where I got that from though so it could just be me… and yeah you’re right it’s hard to think of what to assign to it as there’s nothing really obvious to use, or a similar one to take from. Will keep thinking about it.
I’m thinking denim, mostly cause I’ve always thought dry humping involved clothing.
I noticed holstein (cow print) was missing. Some lesbians have a lactation/breast feeding fetish.
check it: https://flaggingopinicusrampant.wordpress.com/2011/01/11/want-milk/
So the post you’re referencing explains better what the holstein cow print is for representing. And you’re saying it has to do with squirting or a mans ejaculate?
I’m curious about what @Mae was referencing. More specifically suckling breasts, wet (w milk) or dry (not producing milk). I LOVE to have my breasts suckled. It would be great to know if there was a flag for *that*.
Do you have one for ‘untamed heart’? My good friend said that was me in her birthday book. I’d flag that.
Orange with flower pattern, left?
Do you think it will go with my eyes?
Ears! Oral Aural!
Why no flags for cunt eating?
opinicus rampant is a pan gender hanky code, where hankies signify actions without referencing body types (biological junk). ie light blue, left = “gives head”
how is the term “head” anything but cock or dildo specific?
Giving head or getting head is a euphemism for oral sex, not just fellatio. Head being in reference to your own head, being given, or your partners head, being gotten.
Because the ‘head’ is in reference to the giver, not the receiver of oral sex. The person recieving oral sex is not ‘giving head’, they are ‘getting head’, ‘head’ is not in reference to the head of a penis or a dildo.
I hear “giving head” used for cunnilingus pretty commonly but I guess “eating out” is probably more specific – I’ll change it to “gives oral sex” and “wants oral sex”?
hey your using my tumblr icon! you know thats actually a girl. 😀
Oh, you made it! Hot! Do you want me to credit it to you somehow?
And yeah, I am a girl.
Hi. Older leather man here.
Your light blue code is the wrong way around for men. It’s simpler if you look at top and bottom from the point of view of “who does what to whom OR who penetrates who”.
A person who performs cunnilingus is a cunnilingus top. But a person who performs fellatio is a fellatio bottom. So, as far as gay men are concerned, a light blue hanky in the right pocket means they’re looking to suck.
Trust me, men who are into fucking and having they’re cock sucked do NOT flag on both sides.
(Excuse the spelling mistake – of course, I meant “their” lol)
Hi Nick, thanks for reading! Yeah it’s a deliberate reversal of cock-centered hanky code traditions, explained here:
Please explain the lemon.
🙂
[…] tan colouring just screams, “versatile for cigarplay”, doesn’t […]
Can you clarify the trans*/genderqueer flags – is one side “is trans/genderqueer” and the other side “is looking for/is into” or are both sides flagging identity and then where they are a Top or a bottom?
Also changing Navy from “Anal” to “fucking” seems confusing. “Anal” is a specific kind of fucking while fucking can be many different things to different people. Could this be changed back to “Anal” and add other flags for other kinds of fucking (there is already dildos, is a flag needed for missionary hetero sex? I dunno, not my bag)
I have some other ideas for new flags. will add these to the Flags, we wrote page
Both sides of the trans* & genderqueer hankies flag identity and then top/bottom orientation. We aren’t into fetishisation of trans identities. If you click the hanky name, it links to the discussion: https://flaggingopinicusrampant.wordpress.com/2011/01/24/trans-flagging/
There was this discussion of navy blue but I don’t know where it’s gone – it was related to making hanky code pangender. You can’t flag “missionary hetero sex” because you can’t flag for gender. We didn’t want orifice disambiguation except on one’s own body. I can see your point though, seeking anal sex doesn’t imply anything about one’s gender whether flagging giving or receiving, it’s no different to rimming or scat in that regard, so maybe we should rethink that.
A while back, female ejaculation was listed as blue/white gingham and milking was listed as cow print (holstein). Now blue/white represents lactation and female specific ejaculation is removed. I am not sure why milk is associated with cum or ejaculation in the other article listed. The difference between the two fetishes seemed to be more clear before the changes. But that is just my opinion.
Another list where holstein is listed as milk http://user.xmission.com/~trevin/hanky.html
I am also confused by association of blue and white gingham with milk. I thought it chosen because blue is fucking and white is ejaculation. So the gingham print would the combination of the two activities. Most of the people I know associate the cows print with milk and lactation.. udders, breast, etc.
But I understand that the cow=female would be offensive. That part is really clear.
I think the gingham is a reference to what we think of as a traditional milk-maid’s outfit. The 2 main gingham colours are red/white (which looks more like a picnic blanket or tablecloth) and blue/white (white is reminiscent of Dorothy Gale’s dress).
Maybe it’s just me, but I suppose it would make more sense if B+W gingham were female ej. and cream was lactation. That would remove the cow reference but still have the milk association. But this is queer/pan flagging, so I suppose a body-specific activity such as lactation would be removed.
ha ha ha sorry, stupid question… is left MY left, or the viewer’s left??
not stupid at all! YOUR LEFT>
Traditionally, the hanky was situated in the back pocket. Therefore, when viewing someone’s flagging – ‘on the left’ was BOTH your left and their left.
Are paisleys considered to be their base color, or do they mean something special?
Paisleys are just the base colour because the standard hankies used for flagging are paisley. It doesn’t matter if the print is black or white or another colour.
I have a black hanky with white jolly rogers on it, which I’ve been using under the assumption that it would serve dual purpose S&M/handjobs (or else butt pirating)… but some of my friends disagree. I have heard the opinion that it should be for “shivering the timbers” but that leads to confusion about what, exactly shivering someone’s timbers entails. What are your thoughts?
[…] Hanky Code « flagging opinicus rampant fit to be tied GREY, Light bondage – ties […]
[…] This is an expanded hanky code chart, building upon the traditional meanings. (A screen reader friendly version of this chart is available here.) […]
Hmmm…guess I need to find both navy blue and light pink to flag on the right…or navy blue with a light pink stripe if I read that correctly.
Of course, it’ll only work if others know the code…
I wish this was more widely used/accepted in the lesbian/ftm world. I identify as lesbian, but am often wrongly pegged as a butch top because of my short hair, tattoos, and sense of style. In reality I am a versatile bottom who’s never really been able to enjoy being a bottom. I also am extremely into wanting to be topped by someone with a strap-on. Also, I female-ejaculate…so I’ve got 3 very different, specific things about me I would like to be made known if I’m at a gay bar/club.
What do you suggest? Navy layered with light pink on the right? Finding a navy blue with a light pink stripe to flag the right? What about the female-ejaculation? Also, where does one find all of the colors these days anyway, or does one just go to the fabric store?
[…] Here’s a great synopsis of the very vast hanky code from the awesome blog Flagging Opinicus Rampant. I also highly recommend a read of that blog’s about page for a more feminist read on the hanky code, and I am highlighting this quote from their about page for the good basic reminders of what flagging does and does not do: Basic Rules of Flagging Flagging is not consent. Flagging means being cool with being propositioned, being rejected, and having the capacity to reject. Flagging is pan gender (you can’t assume someone’s junk from a flag). There are no anti-flags. Flagging is slut pride. […]
[…] who might share your values and tastes before any of you even opened your mouths—it was like a hanky code of taste. Of course, this shorthand disappears the older we get and, of course, it’s a code […]
[…] Nail polish. I feel naked without it. So you can imagine my JOY when I read this post about femme flagging using the stuff, on the Queer Fat Femme blog. The whole “flagging” thing is meant to be a sexual code that lets your prospective partners know what you are into, and was traditionally practiced with strategically coloured hankies in your back pocket (e.g. fuchsia worn on the left means you’re more of a spanker than a spankee). There’s a pretty elaborate guide to the whole hanky code available here. […]
[…] but I’ve been poking around a few femme blogs of late and I keep coming across this idea of flagging with nail […]
What about a hanky code for someone looking for a long term monogamous relationship possibly ending in marriage or someone who likes to take it slow before jumping in the sac
That might be floral patern “pitching the woo”
I appreciate the delineation here. In my circle of friends and lovers, “woo” refers to energy/magic, IE, “After that ritual I could fee the woo in the room” or “Kyle does a lot of that pagan-y stuff, he has the woo”. Curious if there could be a flag for “sacred sex” or “sex magic”? Also for spiritual kink?
Flower pattern might work (romance fetish)?
I think that would be flower pattern, for courtship. Then if there is a flower of specific colors, that adds dual meaning. But if you are marriage and/or courtship minded, begin with flowers pattern and clarify with dialogue.
What does unicorn/unicorn fancier mean? What is meant by unicorn? Like… is it a joke, or is unicorn slang for something?
At least from my understanding, “unicorn” is a slang for “single/available bisexual woman who is interested in finding a het couple to fuck/play with”, which is why I thought it was odd on a list that was trying to uncouple the flags from gender.
A unicorn is anyone looking to be with all (both) folx in the relationship.
I see it in kinky queer relationships…a couple who brings someone in for both.
A unicorn is someone who likes to be in a relationship with an already established couple (or larger coupling).
I’ve seen queer age play families where the couple identified as Mommy and/or Daddy and the unicorn identified as a boi/gurrl.
@ George, That’s what everyone without a hanky is doing!
I’ve heard that baby blankets can be used to flag for Ageplay or ABDL. Why wasn’t that included?
What about virgin? And shaved/waxed bush vs full bush?
Nothing for pain… I coulda sworn there was a sadist/pain slut or pain pig hankie.
I guess there’s the black, but I was thinking there was one that was either for “beating” or for “extreme” pain…
Was thinking a skull bandanna would be appropriate for necrophilia until I realized the unlikelyhood of seeing a corpse walking around back pocket on show, maybe Zombiephilia, does that exist yet!?
first off, thanks for all your work & thoughts here, it’s been super helpful as a personal reference (and for the hanky project that I am working on: http://www.secretdoorprojects.org/updates/2013/02/07/practical-tools-for-shifting-reality-snapshots-statement/) …. and it’s great to have a hanky code on the internet that is non-body-part specific that I can refer people to who ask about flagging!
second — any thoughts or knowledge on what it means when a bandana is edged with lace? at the thrift store (here in Providence, RI, u.s.a.), I recently came across what was obviously some individual’s collection of hankies that had ended up there in a group: many of them the classic “paisley” bandanas with matching-color-lace hand-stitched around the edge. what would one use that to signify // what will I be signifying if I flag with them??? all the best to you!
My first thoughts are femme flagging and innocent Paisley lover haha
My hope it was an attempt to step away from the masculine bandana in the back pocket.
Flagging is so much fun!
Why did you decide to go with the top/bottom def’in for switch over the looking/not looking? Just curious, because i’m always pushing the opposite 😉
Dear y’all,
So I got a new one for you we are starting up here in Portland. Tiny polka dots is flagging femme for femme. Add it to the list! We want it to get around. Thanks!
Love it!!!
Hey, that’s a new orange definition! I still like it… but the one i was familiar with was anything/nothing right now and I really liked being able to flag that. Plus, what other colours lets you flag switch? booooooooooooo
Most switches I know wear the bandana around their neck or in the center of their pants; the idea being halfway between left and right.
Also, at least from my experience, flagging is more of a “what I’m looking for right at this moment”, so a switch could flag right if ze was interested in bottoming to something on Monday, and then flag left on Tuesday if that was zir preference that day. Although I understand that sometimes a switch is open to either topping or bottoming, whichever opportunity presents itself – and that’s when they usually wear it around their neck.
So for cuddling is that supposed to be an actual bear or just a bandana with a picture of a teddy bear on it?
This extension to the hanky code is awesome! Not just cis gay guys may be interested in respectful kinky sex.
Awesome with hankies I mean, I find the proposed extension to nail polish a very bad idea and I hope it does not catch up because I don’t want to spend the night telling people that no, I’m afraid I’m not versatile at heavy fisting 😦 And there’s no way I paint my left nails white and my right ones grey, any queen (bio- or not) knows the importance of color coordinated nail polish! Why not just tie hankies to your handbag strap, on either side, if you’re femme or queen?
I think this is amazing and important work. I frequently teach a class on leather traditions, and talk about the hanky code. Would it be okay for me to include a link to this in the bibliography – and if so, how would you like to be cited?
Hey sure! Sorry we all stopped checking the comments. Fine for the link to be shared, however you like. There’s a whole team of us so no author name necessary.
How about a hanky code from bb?
absolutely need a hanky code for BareBack. since black and white checkered is for safe-sex top & bottom, I’d suggest blue and black checkered for bareback preferred top & bottom. Also, I’d suggest red and black checkered for bareback only top & bottom.
Also would suggest a ball gag on the right for a fantasy rape victim and on the left for a role-playing fantasy rapist.
Greek Active / French Passive are top roles and flag left side, this graphic has the oral roles reversed. The top carries the tool regardless of what hole its being delivered to.
I haven’t heard anyone mention feltching… I mean it’s not my cup of tea, but they deserve a spot I think. It would be kinda neat if we all had like a flash mob, flag party mixer meetup at like a open public place…
maybe someone needs to make hankies with a tongue 👅on them, perhaps with a white dollop to represent the semen. if worn on the left, it could represent the active felching giver on the left and the snowballing recipient on the right.
[…] definitely spread outside of cisgender gay men’s spaces, to the point of variations including commentary on that (see also that site’s extensive and elaborate hanky code). And here’s some awesome ideas on […]
[…] that is deemed visibly queer. Of course it is all about queer visibility, and things like the handkerchief code are quite important. This is all fantastic and I don’t want to deny anyone the right to make […]
[…] Code or Bandanna Code that was a way of letting other guys know what one was into. Some of the Hanky Codes were quite […]
[…] Hanky Code. […]
I am surprised that I cannot find one for medical play
I’d suggest a stethoscope on the left for doctor and on the right for patient. Can buy one on Amazon for less than US $6
Is this a set palette of colors by an international organization. Or is this like average joe trying to set a standard? Because honestly, there’s way too many codes going on up there. It’s like, “hang on, that guy is wearing x color hanky, let me look that up In my manual to know what he wants? Oh, he has a toothbrush in his right pocket, some rope around his arm, a piece of celery taped to his short, and a red hanky. …..” Firstly, that would look obscene and out of place. Second, there’s just too much going on with those codes. Too many specific meanings and colors. Should I assume that so and so female walking down the street with a lemon wants their tits to be tortured? No, fuck no.
[…] Code or Bandanna Code that was a way of letting other guys know what one was into. Some of the Hanky Codes were quite […]
Is there a flag for newbie?
Camouflage ?
So, I want to anally penetrate a TS/TG or CD, perform oral sex on them, and swallow… how do I flag this? So confused by this list.
[…] phenomena, most well developed heights in the gay men’s scene with all of the complexities of hanky flagging codes and non verbal signals. I have to say it’s one of the things I enjoy in wandering about a new […]
Hello all!
I’m just new in all that hanky code stuff and really try to figure out what my friends are wearing. sometimes I get confused, because they are wearing earings, hair´clips, nailed finguers, scarfs etc. or only a shirt to show it. Unfortunately I’m making mistakes on my own.. so, please, is a white shirt with light blue dots something specific? and what can I wear when I don’t want to sign anything, just be normal?
I am really really good at sucking a gay man’s nuts as long as they are shaved or waxed and the lovely soft area right behind his scrotum is my G spot. What color of hanky would represent my expertise in a gay bar setting.
tickling?
What does all red nails with a black accent fingernail stand for on a girl? Nail is half black and half red – black from the tip to almost at the top there is a red horizontal line close to cuticle. What does it mean if it is on both fingers or right or left?
[…] have to lead anywhere. Flagging does have basic ground rules, which are outlined on the blog Flagging Opinicus Rampant. The first two are: “Flagging is not consent” and “Flagging means being cool with being […]
[…] also covered her ‘femme muse’ Musetta from La Bohème, queer hanky codes adapted to femme flagging manicures, and what a newly minted dyke wears to pride in […]
[…] hoort, of dat je laat zien dat je open staat voor bepaalde contacten. Denk bijvoorbeeld aan de hankycodes*: zakdoeken in specifieke kleuren in de linker respectievelijk rechter achterzak die m.n. in de […]
[…] Hanky Code su Wikipedia (inglese) con nota storica Elenco di tutti i colori hanky code (anche i più strani!) […]
What about some clueless jackass with a kitchen rag in his pocket thinking its hanky code when it isn’t? I almost called the kid out on it, but I bit my tongue. Portland has some dumb kids.
How does someone suggest a new hanky shade and meaning?
[…] are also both flagging with the Queer Hanky Code. The theme for our shoot is a little sub / domme power play, because the traditional Emperor card […]
Black hanky with white polka dots?
I would suggest a white gauze bandage for medical play.
This is so much better than a stethoscope imo!
Hello. I’ve just entered in this single page and I loved it! But a question: Can you explain the White with Maroon code? ’cause “Into blood” doesn’t explain too much..
Thank you!
light blue lace with white speckles,,lots of white speckles
[…] Lees hier een aantal codes. […]
What would the flag be for ‘geriatrics’?
Did I miss the BreathPlay hanky?
Is there any way of flagging an activity that you want but are a novice or even a complete newbie at?
I thought flannel and plaid were the same& i was thought that purple plaid stood for asexuality…
Am i wrong about the plaid/flannel thing?
Hi, I have a black belt with a red stripe. what do I indicate with this.
[…] Lees hier een aantal codes. […]
So purple stands for what exactly? Forgive my ignorance on the matter.
Purple= piercer/piercee
Is this a Tea ParTy related thing?
[…] Mike Holland of the Castro’s Iconic ‘Worn Out West’ Store • Flagging Opnicious Rampant – Hanky Codes • Wikipedia – Hankerchief […]
there should definitely be a color for brat/brat tamer added
What about raver lights and glow in the dark multi colour?