What side is the gay ear
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On current rotation, Scully posits, is the septum piercing: equal parts rejection and an invitation, rooted in pleasure and pain. But once your piercing has healed, there's a whole world of exciting earring types out there!
3 Gay Earring Types
Here are the three main types of earrings (along with their pros and cons):
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Studs - As you probably know, a stud is an earring with a straight post.
This was a form of non-verbal code or "flagging" used decades ago. Generally, wearing it on the left often signaled an active, "top," or giver role, while wearing it on the right indicated a passive, "bottom," or receiver role.
This system was incredibly nuanced, allowing for a detailed and instantaneous form of communication in cruising areas, bars, and clubs.
Unlike the more explicit "hanky code," which often signified specific sexual preferences, the ear piercing typically served a broader, more profound purpose: a general indication of being part of the gay community.
This simple piece of jewelry became a badge of solidarity, a discreet glimmer that said, "I am one of you." It allowed individuals to navigate public spaces – be it a bustling city street, a bar, or a social gathering – with a hidden radar, searching for that tell-tale glint of metal.
You'll also want to wash the piercing at least once per day with soap and water -- this is easy to do in the shower or bath.
Twice a day, use a cotton ball and rubbing alcohol to clean around the piercing. It was seen as a fashion statement, a sign of rebellion, or simply a trend, without any presumed association with one’s sexuality.
What many now dismiss as a silly playground rule was once a potent and necessary form of non-verbal communication within the LGBTQ+ community.
A Code Born from Necessity
The story of the "gay ear" is not one of arbitrary fashion choices but is deeply intertwined with the history of queer coding and the Gay Liberation Movement.
By dismantling this one stereotype, we don’t just correct a piece of folklore; we uncover a rich and resilient cultural history that deserves to be remembered.
Today, the only thing an ear piercing signifies is what the wearer wants it to—and that freedom is a history worth celebrating.
Because, as the studies show, it won't matter to a new youth who harnesses their power in being different anyway. Since surgical steel earrings are made from the same type of steel used in surgical devices, they are safe even for people who have very sensitive skin. That is, one of the three major US cities where different walks of life are more widely tolerated than, say, his hometown of Akron, OH.
He rocks the "gay earring" on the regular - and on purpose, a signature style cue he refers to as his "gag du jour" on Instagram - rarely opting for a subtle hint of gold but a more-is-more approach. This trend, embraced by individuals of all backgrounds, fundamentally dismantles any lingering ideas of a singular, coded meaning based on ear placement.
People are urged to express themselves anyway they want, disregarding out-of-date stereotypes.
FAQs about the “gay ear” myth
1. But you can put just about any design on the end of the post! To assess someone’s orientation solely on which ear they pierced is both inaccurate and reductive.
Ear piercings and self-expression in Australia
In modern Australia, piercings have become somewhat common means of self-expression.
But stainless steel is ideal for those new to piercing. Nor was it about a limp wrist or gaydar. Studs are also less likely to get caught on clothing, and they're easily the most versatile earring type on the list.
4 Gay Earring Materials
Likewise, there are plenty of materials out there for earrings.
But it hasn't disappeared entirely -- you can find plenty of forum posts online from men asking which is the gay ear before getting a piercing!
The "gay earring" wasn't the only thing used for signaling that one was gay, although it's probably the most famous one.
"Flagging" was another. Back then, men wearing an earring in their right ear were often perceived as gay.