What is the Hanky Code?

When we changed our name from 'The Rot Spot' to 'hankycode' at the beginning of this year, many people were curious as to why we chose the name we did. The truth is that it took a lot of time to decide on the name we wanted to use. We settled on hankycode as a reminder of the era beginning in the mid-19th century, when individuals would wear a colored hanky in one of their back pockets to inform others of their sexual interests. We sought a name that would serve as a reminder of our rich queer past while also providing hope for connection and community in our future. 

Today, I want to explore a little deeper into the history of the Hanky Code. LGBTQ+ people have always existed, and one way queer folks have found each other through the centuries has been through flagging. Flagging uses symbols, signals, clothing, and much more to help LGBTQ+ people signal who they are and find one another. Especially given the current legislative attacks on LGBTQ+ people, it makes sense why flagging is still used today. Flagging may look different now than it did 50 years ago, but its purpose remains the same: it's a way to find community safely. 

The Hanky Code is perhaps one of the most extensive and well-known uses of LGBTQ+ flagging. It began around the Gold Rush era in San Francisco in the mid-19th century and remains in existence today. The Hanky Code is a fairly simple system where individuals wear a colored hanky in one of their back pockets to inform others of their sexual interests. 

Image from: https://theflamestribune.com/archive/2024/march-2024/from-key-code-to-hanky-code.html

As a publication dedicated to LGBTQ+ history and elevating the voices of queer creatives, it seemed only fitting to choose a name so rooted in a history of community, resistance, and overcoming. This pride month, we are grateful for our queer elders who came before us, paving the way through the Hanky Code and numerous other avenues of connection and resistance. In the face of political and societal uncertainty, there is comfort in knowing that we aren't alone; even just a quick glimpse of our LGBTQ+ history shows that we are a blossoming community that can't be destroyed no matter what we are up against.