Gay earring

However, physical ear piercings remained relatively uncommon and often considered taboo until the late 1960s. However, earrings have also sparked debates over sexual identity, such as the concept of which ear is the gay ear, leading to stigmas over the left and right piercing. Square-shaped studs are popular earrings for men, as are more traditional single stones.

On the plus side, stud earrings come in a huge range of designs.

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. It was once even more vogue, and still is, to have multiple piercings in one ear. And in the "Café Disco" episode of "The Office," Kelly can be seen piercing Andy in a cutaway as he asks: "Are you sure that's not the gay ear?"

But in the book "Sexuality and Gender in Postcommunist Eastern Europe and Russia," editors Edmond J.

Coleman and Theo Sandfort discuss the fact that straight Russian men would often mark their first sexual act with women by piercing their right ear as a way to ward off unwanted advances from gay men. But thankfully, they're still a great vehicle for self-expression.

Preparation, Cost, and Healing

Just like with getting any piercing, there's some important preparation to do before getting a pierced ear.

And, though influential, he doesn't expect designers like Kim Jones of Dior or Alessandro Michele at Gucci to push the rest of the world over the edge. 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.

It is hypoallergenic, and the silver color will not wear off, as it does with some cheaper earrings made with coated metals. They provide a minimalist alternative to larger, more statement-making hoops. Many straight men wear earrings in their right ear. But when Harry Styles does it . But you might wonder how a right-ear piercing came to be a kind of code.

The truth is that gay men weren't the first men to start wearing earrings.

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red carpet looks always highlight his fearless approach to fashion, showing that bold accessories can transcend outdated stereotypes.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.

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):

Emanuele Bicocchi diamond eye skull single earring $250, SHOP NOW.

Studs - As you probably know, a stud is an earring with a straight post.

Over time, it became a kind of open secret that more and more non-gay people were becoming aware of.

It's important to note that the "gay earring" was only ever considered to be a signal for gay men. In most modern social circles, the left-vs-right ear debate is either seen as a myth, a joke, or a relic of a less accepting time.

As gay communities developed ways to subtly signal to each other in public spaces—what’s often referred to as “queer coding” or “flagging”—jewelry became one of several tools for expression.

The myth that “left is right, and right is wrong” emerged as a sort of guideline: a man wearing an earring in his right ear was thought to be gay, while a left ear piercing supposedly implied straightness.

In many cultures, the placement or design of an earring had little to do with sexuality and more to do with tradition or symbolism.

In the 20th century, especially in the Western world, earrings became a way for individuals—particularly men—to challenge norms. .