Which piercing is the gay side
Exposing the Truth: Which Ear is the Gay Ear?
Ever wondered about the importance of ear piercings and their connection to being gay? I've thought about it, especially when the idea of getting an ear pierced came to mind. From what I've gathered, there was a period when piercing your left ear was a discreet signal among men to indicate that they were gay. However, that's old news. These days, fashion and its meanings are fluid. The concept of which ear is the gay ear doesn't hold the matching implication anymore.
When it came to my own piercing, I recognized that the decision was more about what I prefer aesthetically. Choosing between the left or right ear has become a matter of personal taste, not a matter of sexual preference. So I concluded that whether it's the left or the right, it should just feel right to you.
Understanding Which Ear Is the Male lover Ear Idea
Since I was deeply immersed in my self-expression, I have had my ear pierced. It is a simple act that carries weight. There was a moment when ear piercing, especially if it was the right ear, came with which ear is the gay ear idea. And homosexual men would subtly identify each other by getting their right ear pierced. It was a
Dispelling Myths About Piercing Placement & Sexuality
Every piercing shop in downtown Toronto hears thousands of customers demand every year, “is there a gay side for piercings?” Regardless of why they’re asking our reply is plain and plain, piercing location does not indicate your sexuality. Only you can do that.
We understand that there are all sorts of reasons people ask. Some people want to announce their sexual orientation to the world, others don’t wish to misconstrue their image. Still, many piercers may seem annoyed if you ask. And the reason is simple, this rumour has persisted for a long time and portrays piercings as something they are not.
This myth has been limiting for many people in their option of piercing, and it seems to have sprung from a time when people were less accepting of other people’s sexuality.
Where Did This Myth Appear From?
In a time when society was less accepting of LGBTQ+ culture, people believed that LGBTQ+ people used code to signal their sexual orientation to each other. Most commonly this was associated with ear, eyebrow, or nose piercings.
It’s hard to be sure if this was true as it was just as common for people to claim it was th
Your ear candy carries a surprising amount of controversy. Let’s unpack the debate: Which ear is the gay ear?
Nowadays, there are more people with piercings than without, as Statista’s data indicates that over half of the U.S. population have at least their earlobes pierced. Earrings have evolved into potent symbols of style and self-expression, allowing individuals to convey their personality through jewelry choices and piercing placement. However, earrings hold also sparked debates over sexual identity, such as the concept of which ear is the queer ear, leading to stigmas over the left and right piercing. For many, this debate has added an extra layer of doubt to a basic fashion choice, opening up broader conversations about persona, expression, and acceptance within the LGBTQ+ community.
Let’s unravel the complicated layers of the “gay pierced earring,” and where this controversial idea of which ear is the gay ear stands today.
American Jewelry: How Pierced Ears Became Mainstream
Earrings gained prominence in the 1920s, with clip-on earrings becoming a sign of wealth and sophistication. However, physical ear piercings remained relatively uncommon and often c
Why Did We Blossom Up Thinking a Piercing in the Right Ear Was Gay?
On the playground, it was a truth so firmly established that defying it meant social suicide: If you have an earring in your right ear, it means you’re gay. We accepted it as gospel and never questioned its validity.
It may have been the subtle homophobia of my Illinois community in the ’90s. But as I grew up, it seemed fond everyone I met, no matter their place of beginning, knew and understood the earring code, as arbitrary as it seems.
It was even solidified in the New York Times: A 1991 report said male lover men “often [wore] a single piece of jewelry in the right ear to indicate sexual preference.” In 2009, the Times covered it yet again, in TMagazine: “the rule of thumb has always been that the right ear is the gay one,” the author wrote about his own piercing journey.
Historically speaking, the truth is more complex. Earrings on guys have signified many things over the years, such as social stature or religious affiliation. In his book The Naked Man: A Study of the Male Body, Desmond Morris explains that earrings have indicated wisdom and sympathy in the stretched earlobes of the Buddha, while pirat
A few years ago when I was looking into nose piercings (it wasn’t until last year that I finally worked up the nerve and got it done) I discovered multiple websites debating which was the ideal side to get it done on.
I learned that in India the left side is preferred because it supposedly makes giving birth easier. I also learned that some people consider a particular side to symbolize sexuality.
Granted, there were no legitimate websites that provided me with this communication. My past English teachers would frown if they saw me consuming facts from such unreliable sources. Still, I found many of these websites where one would ask “which side should I get my nose piercing on?” and people would battle it out in the comments claiming “Get it on the right side! If you get it on the left side, it means you’re gay!” or “No, it’s the right side that means you’re gay!”
I wasn’t too conflicted. Does the average person actuallyknow these so-called “facts” about the connection between nose piercing and sexuality? I assumed then, and still assume now, that they don’t.
A bigger issue that I had