Forum: Story Ideas

Please give me tips that might be included in my upcoming story:

It came up in another discussion about how advertising aimed at LGBT community is invisible to hetros. A nice article describing that:

https://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2016/06/how-subarus-came-to-be-seen-as-cars-for-lesbians/488042/

Poux, who helped come up with the license-plate idea, says he held focus groups with straight audiences where he'd show ads featuring gay couples. Even after an hour of talking about gay issues, they'd think a man was shopping with his uncle.

The articles talks about "coding" and "gay-vague" and things.

Gays in England actually created their own tiny "in language" called Polari. When I read about it I realize that I've heard a lot of that on mainstream tv and never ever knew that was what I was listening to. I'd liken it to discovering double entendres and realizing that everyone else knew them. A very strange feeling.

I recall once enjoying a cozy coffee shop in a big European city and only twigging as we left that actually every other couple was same sex. This was before I knew what the subtle rainbow flag in the window meant.

As a hetro I have no idea what these codes are, and I'm wondering how to depict some homo relationship in a way that screams it in hindsight etc. Anyone got any examples?

In the 1970s and 1980s in California, many started to use what became known as the "Handkerchief Code". In this, bandanas would be hung from the rear pocket, tied to a belt loop, or around the wrist and arm.

Each of them would signify what the preferences were of the wearer, ranging from oral and anal sex, to fisting, S&M, bondage, or even if they were a prostitute. And depending on where they wore them if they were offering or looking.

A lot of people I knew in LA had a laugh at the album cover of Bruce Springsteen's "Born in the USA" album, because the way he wore his bandana it was saying that he liked to be fisted.

During the 1980s this fashion fad was then seen in some pop culture, most of whom never knew it started as a gay code for finding partners.