What is the ear piercing that is considered gay?

On the playground during childhood, it was a deeply rooted certainty, so firmly fixed that opposing it implied risking social isolation: If an individual sports an earring specifically in their right ear, it is indicative of their gay identity. We took it for granted as undeniably true, never contesting its basis.

It's possible it was the underlying homophobia prevalent throughout my Illinois community back in the '90s. However, as I transitioned into adulthood, it appeared that nearly every individual I encountered, irrespective of their origin, was familiar with and comprehended the earring code, regardless of how random it might seem.

This notion was even cemented within the archives of the esteemed New York Times: A report from 1991 asserted that gay men would "frequently showcase a solitary jewelry piece nestled in the right ear as a deliberate signal of their sexual inclinations." Fast forward to 2009, and the Times revisited the subject yet again, within the pages of TMagazine: "The conventional wisdom has consistently dictated that the right ear distinctly marks the gay individual," the author penned, reflecting upon his personal piercing narrative.

Delving into historical context, the reality proves to be considerably nuanced. Over the unfolding years, earrings adorning men have been symbolic of myriad facets, encompassing social standing and even religious allegiance. Desmond Morris elucidates within his literary work, The Naked Man: A Study of the Male Body, that earrings have been emblematic of both sagacity and empathy, as showcased by the elongated earlobes intrinsic to representations of the Buddha, while pirates donned them under the conviction that they would offer protection against the perils of drowning. During the Elizabethan epoch, earrings enjoyed considerable vogue among men, he elucidates.

Furthermore, throughout the progression of the 20th century, individuals encountered bewilderment regarding which ear conveyed what information:

Within the Western Hemisphere, earrings, traditionally regarded as a purely feminine adornment, have witnessed a surge in visibility upon an escalating number of male ears. Initially, the prevailing assumption held that all wearers identified as effeminate homosexuals; however, it swiftly became apparent that the trend was permeating the more unconventional echelons of young heterosexuals. This phenomenon subsequently triggered a degree of perplexity, with tales circulating that a clandestine code existed—where donning an earring within a pierced left ear signified homosexual inclination, whereas piercing the right ear implied a rebellious heterosexual stance. The underlying challenge resided in the inability of individuals to definitively recall which designation corresponded to which ear. Ultimately, the male earring divested itself of any definitive sexual symbolism, transitioning into a generalized expression of vexation directed towards middle-aged puritans entrenched in outdated ideals.

Therefore, what underpins the pervasive belief held by numerous individuals that a right ear piercing equates to being "gay"? Andrew Spena, in his contribution to Mic, alludes to the aforementioned T Magazine article, which "echoed what has now become a familiar refrain for certain segments of society: 'Left signifies right, and right signifies wrong' (wherein, 'wrong' serves as a euphemism intended to denote 'gay'). … This cultural discomfort has since saturated the digital sphere, inundating it with anxious inquiries emanating from heterosexual men concerning the appropriate ear for piercing, whether or not to opt for a piercing at all, or the optimal strategies for overtly projecting their heterosexuality via their choice of facial jewelry," Spena articulates, before concluding: "The upside lies in the apparent diminishing relevance attributed to this notion."

Does this sentiment genuinely hold? What are the perspectives harbored by Generation Z concerning the entirety of the gay code?

Cooper Gelb, a 21-year-old scribe residing in Chicago, expresses unfamiliarity with the aforementioned rumor. "I don't vividly recall encountering much discourse pertaining to the ‘gay piercing phenomenon,' and I originate from a suburban enclave situated near Jacksonville, Florida, thereby attesting to my familiarity with a considerable share of small-town based homophobia," he conveys. "Consequently, it might potentially predate my era slightly, perhaps representing more of a mid-'90s inclination, if anything. I cannot recollect anyone directing a solitary earring-related jest towards me or in reference to myself. Instead, I primarily endured epithets such as ‘faggot,' had projectiles hurled in my direction from passing vehicles, among other indignities."

He further posits that the phenomenon might merely constitute a "straight people conjecture rather than anything concrete."

"Gay identity encompasses a spectrum of intricate nonverbal communicative languages; however, earrings do not inherently constitute one of them," Gelb articulates to MEL. "This dynamic might have differed two decades prior; however, I dispute the assertion that earrings ever occupied a significant position within gay culture or clandestine communication strategies."

Dan Irani, a sound engineer based in Chicago who additionally identifies within his early twenties, concurs, stating: "The entirety of the premise lacks substance, and it quite literally holds no genuine existence. Perhaps it manifested as a discernible element during the nascent stages of cruising culture; however, given the absence of a conclusive consensus concerning which ear specifically denotes the designated signal, I cannot help but harbor the perception that it merely represents yet another stereotype affixed onto gay individuals, thereby affording cisgender heterosexual men and women with a perceived sense of dominance over them by fostering the illusion that they possess the capacity to discern the ‘faggot' within a given setting."

Pat, a gay individual in his early thirties hailing from my quaint hometown situated in central Illinois, divulges that his circle of acquaintances—"a merry cohort of thirty-something 'mos spanning various geographical locales across the nation (Michigan, North Shore suburbs, Minnesota, and NYC)—collectively recollect [the right-earring convention] as indeed 'being a thing,' " despite each harboring divergent interpretations thereof. "One chap reminisces that, among males, a right ear piercing signified gay inclination, both ears denoted bisexuality, and a left ear indicated heterosexuality. Conversely, another comrade opted to adorn himself with two piercings in his right ear during his collegiate years, prompting all of us to quip that he harbored a desire for universal awareness of his status as a power bottom—a characterization that he, in fact, embodies."

An American man pens on Quora, recounting his decision to pierce his left ear, only to subsequently discover that his friends held a reversed interpretation of the prevailing convention:

I vividly recall navigating my way through the sixth grade … expounding upon the fallacy of it being a "gay piercing" to all my peers—attributing my assertion to its placement within my left ear. Had it been situated within my right ear, it would have unequivocally signified my gay identity. This memory remains indelibly etched within my mind …

Subsequently, I developed an affinity for piercings, fostering a desire to acquire additional adornments—yet, I hesitated to expose myself to the risk of being perceived as gay; therefore, I merely acquired supplementary piercings confined to my left ear.

At some juncture thereafter, I, of course, reconciled with the reality of my gay identity.

In alignment with Desmond Morris' postulation regarding the contemporary relevance of the male earring, Gelb increasingly perceives his piercings as correlating more closely with aesthetic inclination rather than sexual orientation. "I did, in fact, acquire my gauges in an intentional effort to project a more effeminate image; however, I contend that they align more closely with connotations of ‘coolness' as opposed to ‘queerness,' " he asserts. "I have never encountered earrings serving as a discernible signifier of queer identity. Gayness encompasses a diverse range of intricate nonverbal signaling modalities; however, earrings do not inherently constitute one among them. I refrain from ascribing any particular judgment towards individuals who sport a solitary earring. Ultimately, to each their own."