Before Stonewall, there was a secret 'knock' code for entrance into clubs that catered exclusively to homosexual males. This was a borrowed 'knock' code from the Spreakeasy days of Prohibition. After Stonewall and predominately all throughout the 70's, the "Hanky Code' was devised where male homosexuals and some bisexuals could communicate (non-verbal) with and between themselves. At first, the 'Hanky Code' was as simple as learning your ABC's -- basic colors and which back pocket communicated much about the wearer of the colored hanky. This too went by the wayside in the middle 80's and up to the present. And then there was the 'Bear Code' which was devised for the gay/bisexual Bear and Cub subculture which appeared in the late 80's and early 90's up to the present time. All of these 'codes' were indicia of a secretive society undergoing a transformation process in a subculture experiencing the undercurrents of social and political change. These undercurrents of change began in the early 60's and gained momentum in the late 60's and early 70's.

After Stonewall, there was no need for a secret 'knock code' to gain entrance into clubs'/bars that catered almost exclusively to homosexuals. As part of the 'Sexual Revolution', the gay experience was a new openness as more and more homosexual males came out of the closet about their sexuality. The hanky code was devised as part of that very same gay experience because coming out of the closet did not mean that homosexual males had been legally liberated from state-sanctioned oppression. We should remember that in 1960, every U.S. State and Territory had criminal sodomy statutes that effectively and legally criminalized the very existence of our homosexual orientation and, most importantly, our homosexual identities. We were Sexual Outlaws up until the last Supreme Court sodomy ruling.

As Sexual Outlaws, we had a very real and legitimate need to be secretive about our identities and what we were about. The undercurrents of social and political change over the past 35 years have brought about changes in how we communicate with and between ourselves. So now, as we enter a new century and face new challenges, some people have found it necessary to devise another 'code' to nonverbally communicate with and between each other about 'safe and unsafe' sex as it relates to STD's including HIV and AIDS.

We know and understand that there is this subculture of men who are predisposed to having unsafe sex. In the extreme, this subculture is known as 'Bug Chasers and Givers'. The Gay Community as we know and understand it today tolerates the existence of this subculture. And then we have the rest of the men who just have unsafe sex because they are either ignorant of the facts or lack the self-discipline to modify their sexual behaviors to remain safe and healthy.

It's 2004 and soon to be 2005. Why is there a need to nonverbally communicate something in code about ourselves such as 'safe or unsafe' sex? Instead of devising another secretive code about ourselves, we need more open lines of communication and candor with and between ourselves.

I'm probably speaking to the choir about this, but my deepest concerns are about those who feel there is a need to devise a code to effectively and safely communicate something about ourselves when we ought to be relying upon open lines of communication and candor.

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Those who deny freedom to others deserve it not for themselves. And, under a just God, cannot long retain it.

-- Abraham Lincoln

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