What Is the Lesbian Carabiner Code? Meaning & History

Carabiners are used by rock climbers to connect climbing gear, but they actually have another use: to indicate that someone is a lesbian. In the LGBTQ+ community, lesbians often wear carabiners to indicate their sexual preferences to others in the community. In this article, we’ll explore the meaning and history of the carabiner code to teach you everything you need to know about this lesbian fashion accessory. Plus, we’ll explain what other accessories are commonly associated with lesbians.

Lesbian Carabiner Code Explained

Lesbians often wear a carabiner to indicate their sexuality to other lesbians. In some cases, the side of your pants that you wear your carabiner on indicates whether you’re a top or bottom. Traditionally, wearing one on your left side means you’re a top, and wearing one on the right means you’re a bottom.

Section 1 of 7:

What is the carabiner code?

In the LGBTQ+ community, wearing a carabiner signals that you’re a lesbian. In the LGBTQ+ community, wearing a carabiner is often a form of “flagging,” or discreetly communicating your sexual preferences with others in the community. Wearing a carabiner on the belt loop of your pants is a subtle way to let other lesbians know your orientation without having to announce your sexuality to people who might be unsafe.^{[1]
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- Keep in mind that not everyone who wears a carabiner identifies as a lesbian. Carabiners are very practical accessories that many people use regardless of sexuality.

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Left vs. Right Side

The side you wear your carabiner on indicates whether you’re a top or a bottom. The carabiner code is often compared to the hanky code, in which gay men indicate their sexual preferences based on the position and color of their hanky. While the color of your carabiner doesn’t mean anything, some lesbians use the position of their carabiner to indicate whether they’re a top or a bottom.^{[2]
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- Wearing a carabiner on you left side indicates that you’re a top.
- Wearing a carabiner on your right side indicates that you’re a bottom.
- Wearing a carabiner toward the center of your body sometimes indicates that you’re a switch.
- Keep in mind that not everyone follows this part of the code. Many lesbians wear their carabiner on the side that is most convenient for them.

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Carabiner Code History

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Lesbians’ connection to carabiners can be traced back to WWII. While the exact origin of the carabiner code is hard to pinpoint, many believe it starts with World War II. When the war broke out, many women began taking over jobs traditionally done by men. Butches and other masc women were pushed into blue collar jobs and began using carabiners for practical reasons, like carrying their keys and tools in the workplace. After the war, women didn’t want to give up their financial freedom, so wearing a carabiner morphed into a symbol of female liberation, masculinity, and eventually, lesbianism.^{[3]
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Carabiner code became popular in the 1970s. In the 70s, carabiners became popular with feminists and lesbians who wanted to subvert the male gaze. Because of the political climate and the fact that fashion was more androgynous than in previous decades, many lesbians began leaning into butch appearances, and they carabiner code became more widespread within the community.^{[4]
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Alison Bechdel’s memoir made the carabiner code more prominent. In 2006, American cartoonist Alison Bechdel published her graphic memoir, Fun Home, in which she describes her sexual awakening upon seeing a masculine delivery driver with a short haircut and a keyring on her belt loop. While Bechdel didn’t invent the trend of lesbians wearing carabiners or keyrings, she helped bring it to more people’s attention.^{[5]
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- Fun Home was even turned into a musical, featuring the song “Ring of Keys,” in which the actress playing Bechdel sings, “Your swagger and your bearing/ And the just right clothes you’re wearing/ Your short hair and your dungarees/ And your lace-up boots/ And your keys, oh/ Your ring of keys.”

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Is the carabiner code real?

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Many lesbians still follow the carabiner code. While not every lesbian wears carabiners or follows the carabiner code, many still wear them as a way to flag their identity. These days, however, a lot of lesbians aren’t aware that the side you wear your carabiner on is supposed to reflect whether you’re a top or bottom. They simply wear carabiners as a form of self-expression or for convenience.
- Some lesbians view the carabiner code as an outdated stereotype that implies all lesbians are masculine.
While carabiner code still exists, it may be difficult to determine whether someone wearing a carabiner is actually a lesbian. Carabiners are trendy and functional accessories, so many people wear them for convenience rather than as a way to flag their sexuality. Straight women may also wear carabiners.

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Carabiner Code on TikTok

Popular TikTok videos helped spread awareness of the carabiner code. While the carabiner code has been used in some lesbian subcultures for years, not all lesbians or members of the LGBTQ+ community know it exists, especially if they’re younger or don’t know many other people in the community. However, in recent years, the carabiner code has gone viral on TikTok, giving people new ways to express themselves and their sexuality.
- In general, the TikTok videos are playful, like Poppy Laur’s video where she uses a set of nail clippers attached to a carabiner to indicate that she’s gay.
- The trend also shows that lesbians don’t have to fit certain stereotypes for their sexuality to be valid. For example, lislynn13’s video is captioned “It’s femme lesbian carabiner season,” showing that not all lesbians are butch.

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Other Lesbian Flagging Accessories

Lesbians often use other accessories and clothes to flag their sexuality. While lesbian fashion stereotypes aren’t always accurate and can be hurtful, some lesbians lean into these stereotypes because they feel they best represent their personal style and sexuality.^{[6]
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Expert Source

Dean Modah
Queer Linguistics Educator and Cultural Commentator

Expert Interview} You shouldn’t assume someone’s sexuality based solely on how they’re dressed, but here are a few accessories lesbians often use to hint at their sexuality:^{[7]
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- Thumb rings
- Eyebrow slits
- Short nails
- Flannel
- Doc Martens
- Snapbacks
- Chains
- Undercuts

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Final Thoughts

While the carabiner is fairly well-known within the LGBTQ+ community, it isn’t a universally accepted symbol. Many lesbians wear them to express their sexual preferences, but carabiners are also useful accessories for anyone. If someone is wearing one, it doesn’t necessarily mean they’re gay. The only way to know someone’s sexual orientation for sure is to ask them.

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Can I wear a carabiner if I identify as bisexual?

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Yes, you can. While carabiners have been associated with lesbian identity, you may wear one for convenience, personal style, or simply because you like them, regardless of your sexual orientation.

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Can I wear a carabiner if I am heterosexual?

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Yes, you can wear a carabiner for practical purposes, such as holding your keys. Its use is not exclusively for lesbians.

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I use a carabiner for my keys without knowing its symbolic meaning. Can wearing a carabiner signify being pansexual, and is it okay if I've been using one without this awareness?

Axolotl18

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No, it's perfectly fine, and you shouldn't feel bad about it. While carabiners can have symbolic meanings, including for some LGBTQ+ identities, they are not exclusively tied to lesbians, and using one for keys is completely acceptable.

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Remember, you can wear a carabiner (or whatever you want) regardless of your sexuality. You also don’t have to dress a certain way just to indicate that you’re a lesbian. Be yourself and wear what you like!

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