Is wearing one earring gay

why did gay men wear a single earring?

and which ear was the gay ear anyway?

welcome back to yesterqueers

my name is Amanda I'm a public historian of queer history

and for pride

I'm diving into the history of all sorts of queer symbols and slang

the practice of ear piercing is at least 5,000 years old

and it's part of cultural traditions around the world

it actually fell out of favor in the United States in the 1920s

piercing didn't start to regain its popularity until the seventies

due in part to rock stars like Keith Richards

wearing pierced earrings and punks

especially in Europe sporting multiple facial piercings

wearing an earring very quickly

became a way for gay men in the US

to flag their orientation to other people in the know

originally whether a man wore an earring on the right or left

often mirrored

his preference for taking the active or passive role during sex

but eventually the right ear became known as the gay ear

unfortunately it took less than a decade

for that discreet symbol to become widely known

and if you grew up in the 1980s or 90s

I bet you heard the phrase "LEFT is right and right is WRONG"

at some point when boys were discussing getting their ears pierced

we even see Bender putting Claire's earring in his left ear

at the end of The Breakfast Club

as you can imagine

having what was supposed to be a discreet signal turned into a bright

flashing light was not great for queer men

and it became an excuse for targeted harassment

by 1991 piercing had become so popular

that the New York Times actually wrote about it

and noted in their article

that the trend was making it nearly impossible

for gay men to use earrings to identify each other

that's it for today as always

more information including sources and further reading

is available in the usual place

Your ear candy carries a surprising amount of controversy.

Maybe you’ve noticed people sporting a single earring and asked yourself, “Is it gay to wear one earring?” It’s a question that pops up because fashion and self-expression often get tied to labels.

But what does that small choice really mean for you? Do whatever you want & don’t worry about what others think.” He reminds us that ear piercings should be left up to individual choice and self-expression. 

RickKassidy on Reddit makes a straightforward assertion: “There isn’t a gay ear in 2024.” This reflects a consensus that the notion of "which ear is the gay ear" is not relevant in contemporary culture.

Furthermore, online apps have made it significantly easier for LGBTQ+ individuals to not only date, but also form non-romantic relationships. 

Today’s internet discourse reflects a more inclusive and nuanced perspective on which ear is the gay ear:

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. 

Tony McGurk on Quora similarly explains, “I have my left ear pierced as 40 years ago when I got it done in my mid 20’s Left meant Straight & Right meant Gay.

Nowadays I don’t think anyone cares. And according to ancient Chinese belief, the left earring meaning also symbolized that a person's life had been endangered, and to prevent a recurrence, an earring was worn to prevent bad luck. If you’re on the fence about getting your ears pierced, check out our hoop non-pierced earrings to experiment with different looks, such as the earlobe, helix, or even nostrils.

Molten Metal Earrings: Mimicking the organic shape of melting metal, these dynamic earrings create a sculptural effect that also looks more upscale and of-the-moment.

Style choices are personal and unique to each person. It does not mean anything about a person’s sexuality. Because, as the studies show, it won't matter to a new youth who harnesses their power in being different anyway. Once considered unconventional, today's men’s jewelry trends are shifting towards a more fluid direction, blending delicate stones and dainty silhouettes with bold, rugged metals.

While the question of "which ear is the gay ear" has long been a topic of debate, Porter’s red carpet looks always highlight his fearless approach to fashion, showing that bold accessories can transcend outdated stereotypes.

SAM SMITH: DROP EARRINGS

Sam Smith pushes fashion boundaries with adventurous earrings, including a bold glitzy phallic-shaped piece.

Maybe the right ear versus the left ear was less about sexuality than it was about attitude. Everyone should feel free to express themselves. It is not tied to any one group or label.

Social Reactions And Stigma

Wearing one earringcan mean different things in many places. Despite trends becoming more fluid - the gap between gender-neutral styles in fashion and beauty narrowing - Salem knows the journey endures.

"I find it hilarious when people say, 'Why can't people just dress like their own gender and stop pushing their agenda on everyone?' Because I can only say the same to so many other people for trying to tell me how to dress my entire life," he says.

People choose to wear them for many reasons, like fashion or culture.

In the past, some believed wearing one earring had specific meanings. "Nowadays, everyone is too influenced.