Which earring means your gay

"This world is so f*cked up; any sense of comfort in the form of subliminal messaging or outward expression for LGBTQIA+ people goes a long way when it comes to feeling seen."

Recent cultural forecasts are spot on with their predictions, too. Identity expression has become increasingly accepted, diminishing the need for such signals.

At the time, society was still largely conservative in its views on masculinity and homosexuality. It can be a bold statementor a simple look. The expression "left is right and right is wrong," where "wrong" indicated being gay, also became popular at the time. 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.

In some African tribes, both men and women wear earrings to show their heritage. Some people use earrings to express their identity, while others wear them just for fashion. 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.

It helps people feel free to be themselves. "In college, Phil Oakey (The Human League) had both of his ears pierced, which really threw people for a loop because he was straight despite giving off the gayest vibe in the world."

Eyebrows, noses, tongues, nipples, and belly buttons would soon become even louder ways to make a statement. Stereotypes about ear piercing and sexuality are largely myths and do not reflect individual identity.

Why Was The Right Ear Called The Gay Ear?

The right ear gained the label “gay ear” due to cultural stereotypes from past decades.

This made many people think the myth was true. People choose which ear to pierce based on style or comfort, not science.

Culturally, ideas about earrings can vary. In India, earrings are worn by both genders as part of cultural customs, without any specific gender meaning.

Gender expressionthrough earrings also varies.

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It's a hot take on a generation who don't really need an ear piercing to talk for them, who weren't similarly reared on fashion as a conduit to freedom. What I think is missing with this generation is that no one has enough context. The idea of a “gay ear” started in the 1980s in the West. For example, in the United States during the 1980s and 1990s, an earring on the right ear was often seen as a sign of being gay.

Some people, however, continue to rewrite the rules, using style as a way to reclaim lost time when flamboyance and exuberance were frowned upon and conformity (or passing) was the only way to get by.

"I wear [an earring] specifically on my right ear because I'm a proud queer person and I want the history of what it means to have your right ear pierced to be a symbol of power, not weirdness or mystery."

Phillip Salem, a real estate agent and longtime New Yorker, has lived in a bubble for 15 years.

Yet it helped earlier generations of queer people find each other in the crowd.

A 1991 article in The New York Times perpetuating the stereotype seemed to solidify the historical hearsay as the widely known style taboo many can't quit today. It was a subtle way for some men to express their sexual orientationwithout words.

Today, many people wear earrings on any ear they like.

The idea of a "gay ear" is increasingly seen as irrelevant, with a growing emphasis on personal choice and authenticity over traditional symbols and societal expectations.

Explore Trendy Gay Earrings with Celebrity Influences

HARRY STYLES: PEARL EARRING

Harry Styles made a statement at the Met Gala with a striking single pearl earring that perfectly blended classic elegance with modern edge.