Do you know your hanky code?

As my mother used to say, those who fail to learn from history are destined to run for mayor of the meth capital of Alaska. While I’m sure the same doesn’t really apply to leather and kink, it’s probably in your best interest to brush up on your kinky history, especially since you’re on only the second day of Toronto Leather Pride.

Today’s lesson: the hanky code. It’s a way of letting people know your sexual preferences by putting a coloured handkerchief in either your left (for tops) or right (for bottoms) back pocket. Each hanky colour or pattern represents a different kink. I’m way too lazy to post the whole list (and believe me, it’s a LONG list, including houndstooth, for Christ’s sake), but if Schoolhouse Rock taught me anything, it’s that you can boil down complex lessons to catchy songs, so here’s Peaches to sing you through the hanky code!

Keep Reading

The backs of three heads surrounded by flowers

How safe are cruising apps, really?

Here’s how you can be careful—and still have fun
Illustration of three shadowy figures in a mine, holding a rope leading out to the mine's shining golden entrance. Purple and golden birds fly toward the entrance. The heads and shoulders of larger shadowy figures are in visible on either side of the illustration.

Opening up about being non-binary helped my family see gender differently

While they might not fully understand my transness, our conversations about gender bring us closer
An illustration of two people with pink hair

I came out to my dad to protect my queer sibling

As kids, my sibling took heat because I was sporty and they were nerdy. When we grew up, I did everything I could to keep them safe
The Grindr logo in yellow against a black background; both with an ombré effect

‘Unusable’: The enshittification of Grindr

How pop-up ads, paywalled features and boardroom decisions degraded the quality of one of the world’s most popular dating apps
Advertisement