Whitney Smith in 1957.įlags have been used in battle for symbolizing wins and defeats, or to send signals to allies and enemies. Vexillology, or the study of flags, takes its literal meaning from the Latin word for “guide,” a meaning which continues to carry weight in the use of flags today. Their meanings often exemplify the values, history and moral standing of the places or individuals they represent.įlags have been used as common symbols in history for over 5,000 years, dating as far back as 3000 BC with a metal Iranian flag and flag representation in Egyptian tomb carvings. Flags have long been used as representation of places and people, and the thought that goes into their design goes far beyond just the choosing of complimentary colors and images. We often take for granted the significance and meaning behind some of our most well-known symbols.
WHAT DOES EACH COLOR IN THE GAY FLAG MEAN CODE
S Leather in San Francisco, claimed that he created the first hanky code with his business partners at Leather 'n' Things in 1972, when their bandana supplier inadvertently doubled their order and the expanded code would help them sell the extra colors they had received.Color Meanings in Flags | Country Flag Colors and More The red and blue handkerchiefs and their significance were already in existence, and meanings were assigned to other colors as well.Īlan Selby, founder of Mr. The Trading Post, a department store specializing in erotic merchandise, began promoting handkerchiefs in the store and printing cards with their meanings. In San Francisco, the signs began appearing around 1971. Others say that it was around 1971 by the San Francisco department store for erotic merchandise, The Trading Post.
Some say it started in New York City in late 1970 or early 1971 when a journalist (not Michael Musto) for the Village Voice joked that instead of simply wearing keys to indicate whether someone was a "top" or a "bottom", it would be more efficient to subtly announce their particular sexual focus by wearing different colored hankies. It is thought that the wearing of bandanas by men originated in San Francisco after the Gold Rush, when, because of a shortage of women, men dancing with each other in square dances developed a code wherein the man wearing the blue bandana took the male part in the square dance, and the man wearing the red bandana took the female part.Ĭlaims to when the more modern hanky code started vary. Color-coded, this system has been historically used by gay men to indicate preferred sexual fetishes, what kind of sex they are seeking, and whether they are a top or bottom.
The handkerchief code (also known as the hanky code, the bandana code and flagging) is the wearing of various colored bandanas around the neck was common in the mid- and late-nineteenth century among cowboys, steam railroad engineers and miners in the Western United States. Here, we take a look at the tools gay men have historically used to determine who is into what. But questions like “into” and “looking for” have been around a lot longer than the dating apps we use today to ask them.
Some may think that the gay community’s obsession with finding out the sexual proclivities of a potential partner is a trend of today.