What earring is the gay side

Maybe the right ear versus the left ear was less about sexuality than it was about attitude. She specializes in honest shoe reviews, style tips, and practical guides to help readers find the perfect pair for any occasion. (China has since banned men's earrings outright.)

Casting director and industry stalwart James Scully remembers his first encounter with the phenomenon, in the late '70s.

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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. Studies have not linked earring placement to a person’s identity or feelings. It soon became clear that the "gay ear" was no longer a reliable way to tell if a man was gay or not.

The "gay earring" fad lasted until the 1990s.

Wearing earrings is about freedomand diversity.No right or wrong side exists. Today, many people wear earrings on either ear or both.

They often showed status, wealth, or beliefs. This can help to kill germs. It helps people feel free to be themselves. It was discussed as far back as 1991 in a New York Times article, as the author described a right ear piercing as a "subtle indicator" of one's sexual orientation. They provide a minimalist alternative to larger, more statement-making hoops.

At the same time, the left ear is straight.

As time went on, earrings as a whole became more popular, and even some straight men opted to pierce their right ear. In other words, if you walk up to a young adult on the street and ask them who they are, they'll probably just tell you. Twisting the piercing a couple of times daily will also discourage the piercing from closing.

Going Forward

If you've considered going for a gay earring (or really, any ear piercing at all), we hope that you now have the information you need to choose the right jewelry and piercing type.

Both choices are okay.

Wearing earrings is about breaking old ideas. 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. The slow-burn comeback of the awkward noughties (frosted everything), indie sleaze, and party girls (ahem, white eyeliner) are no longer nostalgic, cringeworthy memories but legitimate demi-decades when our appearance was (still) an act of subversion.