Orange Hanky

The orange hanky is one color in the handkerchief code, also called the hanky code or flagging, a system gay men used to signal sexual interests without speaking. The code took shape in gay male communities, with roots often traced to San Francisco, and spread widely in the 1970s. A colored bandana worn in a back pocket carried meaning, and the side mattered: left pocket usually indicated a top or more active role, right pocket a bottom or more receptive role. Orange traditionally signaled openness to a wide range of activities, sometimes summarized as anything, anytime. Interpretations vary by place and era, so clear spoken communication and consent always matter more than the signal.