The Leatherman's Hanky Code

The Hanky Code is a traditional form of signaling 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.

Hankies can also be worn around the wrist, around the ankle or leg at the thigh above the knee, or around the neck with the tie going either right or left.  Other objects can also be used such as keys and key chains or watch fobs and even a set of handcuffs, to let people know if you are 'top' or 'bottom'.  If worn in the back on the centre belt loop, it translates as 'versatile'.

The Leatherman's Hanky Code

COLOUR	WORN ON LEFT	WORN ON RIGHT
BLACK	heavy SM top	heavy SM bottom
GREY	bondage top	fit to be tied!
BLACK w/WHITE Check	safe sex top	safe sex bottom
GREY W/BLACK	light SM top	light SM bottom
GREY FLANNEL	owns a suit	likes men in suits
BLACK w/WHITE Stripe	likes black bottoms	likes black tops
CHARCOAL	latex fetish top	latex fetish bottom
BLACK VELVET	has/takes videos	performs for the camera
BLUE, Light	wants head	cocksucker
BLUE, Robin's Egg	69er	anything but 69ing
BLUE, Medium	cop	copsucker
BLUE, Navy	fucker (top)	fuckee (bottom)
BLUE, Airforce	pilot/flight attendant	likes flyboys
BLUE, Light w/WHITE Stripe	sailor	lookin' for salty seamen
BLUE, Teal	cock & ball torturer	cock & ball torturee
RED	fist fucker	fist fuckee
RED w/WHITE Stripe	shaver	shavee
RED w/BLACK Stripe	furry bear	likes bears
MAROON	cuts	bleeds
RED, Dark	2-handed fister	2-handed fistee
PINK, Light	dildo fucker	dildo fuckee
PINK, Dark	tit torturer	tit torturee
MAUVE	into navel worshippers	has a navel fetish
FUSCHIA	spanker	spankee
MAGENTA	suck my pits	armpit freak
PURPLE	piercer	piercee
LAVENDER	likes drag queens	drag queen
YELLOW	pisser/WaterSports	piss freak
YELLOW, Pale	spits	drool crazy
MUSTARD	hung 8"+	wants 8"+
GOLD	two looking for one	one looking for two
YELLOW w/WHITE Stripe	likes Asian bottoms	likes Asian tops
GOLD LAME	likes muscleboy bottoms	likes muscleboy tops
ORANGE	anything anytime	nothing now, thanks
APRICOT	two tons o' fun	chubby chaser
CORAL	suck my toes	shrimper (sucks toes)
RUST	a cowboy	a cowboy's horse
GREEN, Kelly	hustler (for rent)	john (looking to buy)
GREEN, Hunter	daddy	looking for daddy
OLIVE DRAB	military top	military bottom
GREEN, Lime	dines off tricks	will buy dinner
BEIGE	rimmer	rimmee
BROWN	scat top	scat bottom
BROWN LACE	uncut	likes uncut
BROWN SATIN	cut	likes cut
BROWN w/WHITE Stripe	likes latino bottoms	likes latino tops
WHITE	beat my meat (J/O)	I'll do us both (J/O)
HOLSTEIN	milker	milkee
CREAM	cums in condoms	sucks cum out of condoms
WHITE LACE	likes white bottoms	likes white tops
WHITE VELVET	voyeur (likes to watch)	will put on a show
BLUE, Light w/WHITE Dots	likes white suckers	likes to suck whites
BLUE, Light w/BLACK Dots	likes black suckers	likes to suck blacks
BLUE, Light w/BROWN Dots	likes latino suckers	likes to suck latinos
BLUE, Light w/YELLOW Dots	likes asian suckers	likes to suck asians
RED/WHITE GINGHAM	park sex top	park sex bottom
BROWN CORDUROY	headmaster	student
FUR	bestialist top	bestialist bottom
SILVER LAME	starfucker	celebrity
LEOPARD	has tattoos	likes tattoos
TAN	smokes cigars	likes cigars
TEDDY BEAR	cuddler	cuddlee
PAISLEY	wears boxer shorts	likes boxer shorts
UNION JACK	skinhead top	skinhead bottom
MOSQUITO NETTING	outdoor sex top	outdoor sex bottom
KEWPIE DOLL	chicken	chicken hawk
DIRTY JOCKSTRAP	wears a dirty jock	sucks dirty jocks clean
DOILY	tearoom top (pours)	tearoom bottom (drinks)
ZIPLOC BAG	has drugs	looking for drugs
COCKTAIL NAPKIN	bartender	bar groupie
KLEENEX	stinks	sniffs
KEYS IN FRONT	has a car	looking for a ride
KEYS IN BACK	has a home	needs a place to stay
HOUNDSTOOTH	likes to nibble	willing to be bitten
CALICO	new in town	tourists welcome
TERRYCLOTH	bathhouse top	bathhouse bottom
WHITE w/MULTICOLOR Dots	hosting an orgy	looking for an orgy