Gay earring

Since being gay was already seen as non-traditional, using earrings seemed like a logical choice. Fortunately, while an earring in the left ear was still meant as a way of showing oneself to be straight, being gay became more and more acceptable. The perception started that the right ear was the “gay ear”, so some folks began using the right ear earring as a subtle way of showing their gay status to other gay males.

Over time, it became a kind of open secret that more and more non-gay people were becoming aware of. Robbie (Normal) on X (Twitter) captures a contemporary view by asserting, “either ear is the gay ear if you're gay.” It’s significant because it emphasizes how ear piercings related to sexual orientation are outdated and irrelevant–a sign that societal norms are shifting away from traditional views.

The idea of a "gay earring" based on which ear it's worn in is a stereotype that became popular in the s and s. The term "gay ear" was often used. While rock stars were most likely to sport the single earring in the ’s, it became more common among gay people. By the late s, wearing an earring in the right ear was a pretty clear sign that a man was gay. At the same time, the left ear is straight. Oct 01, Which ear is the gay earring?

Now you know a little bit about the gay ear. Well, if you were a heterosexual guy and you wanted to pierce an ear, it always had to be the left ear because the right ear was the gay ear. Read more for the truth behind the complicated history of the gay ear concept. Around the s, people began to catch on that a right-ear earring was effectively a code for being gay.

As time went on, earrings as a whole became more popular, and even some straight men opted to pierce their right ear. But wearing an earring on the right ear is still a popular choice. The idea of a "gay earring" based on which ear it's worn in is a stereotype that became popular in the s and s. The truth is that gay men weren't the first men to start earring earrings.

It may have something to do with the fact that wearing earrings went against most people's concept of traditional masculinity. Which ear is the gay ear? It soon became clear that the "gay ear" was no longer a reliable way to tell if a man was gay or not. Pride parades and political lobbying for gay rights made what had once been a silent subculture much better known. Find men's jewelry trends here!. According to this outdated belief, wearing an earring in the right ear signified being gay, while the left ear was considered straight.

A notable example is the “gay ear.” The suggestion is that if a man had a specific ear pierced, it would indicate his sexual orientation. And as ear piercings on both men and women are becoming more mainstream, more men than ever are opting to get their ears pierced. While there’s no single “gay earring,” some earrings have become iconic in LGBTQ+ fashion—either through cultural history, symbolism, or pure aesthetic power.

1. At the same time, the left ear is straight. According to this outdated belief, wearing an earring in the right ear signified being gay, while the left ear was considered straight. Sailors frequently wore earrings, believing they would serve as protection against drowning at sea. You might recall hearing that if a man wore gay earring on the right earthat meant he was gay.

It's not quite clear how the earring became adopted by the gay community as a code.

Check out our gay pride earrings selection for the very best in unique or custom, handmade pieces from our dangle & drop earrings shops.

Which side was the gay earring? The "gay earring" fad lasted until the s. Whether you’re new to piercings or looking to level up your look, here are five earring styles that queer folks often embrace for their boldness, uniqueness, or expressive flair. But you might wonder how a right-ear piercing came to be a kind of code. Our gay ancestors came up with coded signals to tell others that you’re safe, supportive, or maybe even DTF, depending on the context.

Photo by Andrew Chin/Getty Images The simple answer is that the right ear is the so-called “gay ear.” However, the history of how this came to be is fraught with. You might recall hearing that if a man wore an earring on the right ear, that meant he was gay. Which ear is the gay ear, left or right earring? Which ear is the gay ear? However, today this notion is widely considered irrelevant and outdated.