Brown Hanky

The brown handkerchief is one color in the hanky code, a system of color-coded bandanas gay and leather communities have used since the early 1970s to non-verbally signal sexual interests. Brown indicates an interest in scat play, meaning erotic interest involving feces. Following the general logic of the code, wearing it on the left side signals a top or active preference and wearing it on the right signals a bottom or receptive preference. Color meanings were never fully standardized and varied by city and era, so the code has always worked best as a conversation starter rather than a fixed contract. Like the rest of the code, it grew out of a need for discreet communication when being openly gay carried real risk.