General
keys code
What does keys code mean?
Before the hanky code took over, men flagged with their keys. A bunch of keys clipped to the left belt loop or hip said top/active; on the right said bottom/receptive. Same left-right logic the hanky code later inherited. Quiet, deniable, readable across a crowded bar — exactly what you needed in an era when being obvious was risky.
"Keys on his left hip — old-school flagging that told you everything before you said hello."
Origin
An early gay cruising signal predating/overlapping the hanky code; key placement on left or right hip indicated top or bottom status, using the same left/right convention the handkerchief code adopted.
Frequently asked questions
What does the Keys code mean?
The Keys code is a pre-hanky-code cruising signal: keys worn on the left hip mean you're a top, and on the right mean you're a bottom.
How was the Keys code used?
People would clip their keys to one hip to discreetly signal their preferred role to others in the know.
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