How did someone, most likely a horny and creative man, one day long ago decide to slip something around his “Johnson” in an unabashed fashion and exploration into the unknown territory of heightened sexual arousal?

Was it necessity, curiosity or just a stab at dick jewelry? The first written confirmation of the existence of the lovely cock ring appears in historical records from China circa 1200. Rings were made from the eyelids of goats with eyelashes intact. The flexible eyelids were tied around men’s erections and the hardened lashes were said to increase the pleasure of intercourse. Most likely used by royalty whose ability to have multiple brides, concubines and boys on the side demanded longer erections. Wacky by today’s standards but, according to historical records, effective and extra points awarded for good use of uneatable animal parts. Sort of going ‘green’ in it’s own twisted way. Way to get the ball rolling ancient Chinese cock hounds! Early 1600’s-led by the perpetually erotic needs of the Chinese-the modern day cock ring rears its blood engorged head. The ring, artisan crafted and carved into supine shapes of dragons and serpents from ivory, begin to make their way into erotic writings of the time. Brisk European trade has also shown up in the Far East. Much sought after wonders of the orient like pottery, silk, and cock rings from China join the long journey home to Europe and beyond. Between 1791 and 1844 two significant events occur to help promote the popularity of the littlest treasure of the sex tool trade. First: the rise of the Marque de Sade and his mad need to test sexual limits, publish the findings and unabashedly promote sex for sex’s sake. The other: invention of vulcanized rubber. With the advent of rubber the bearer of the ring no longer endure the hard lump of the bone or wood contrivances of earlier models. As the Industrial Revolution begins so does the whirling wheels of the sex crazed inventors. It’s only a matter of time till some robber baron decides its time to try a ring mold in his size. Next evolutionary improvement in the cock ring realm: 1930 and the developmentof latex rubber. Once this process was perfected the ripple effect reaches into the sex toy industry. The more pliable material brought our beloved cock collaborator into it’s own. With the advent of WWII and the mass enlistment men from small towns were soon rubbing up against their more learned city living countrymen and the prevalence and use of the cock ring zeniths. As the war ends and millions who served were released from duty most large cities where the military mustered out saw Queer communities explode. The cock ring had found its champion at last and the age of the modern Gay man began. By the 1960-70’s we see rings appear in both print and filmed porn. Publicly its proudly worn around the neck as a thin, leather strap of a dick lariat and snapped around the wrist like a cuff for quick and easy access by the sexual revolutionaries of the time who believed that every act of sex-both overt and covert-is a slap in the face of the society that oppresses them. By now the cock ring is made of multiple types of materials and the choice is expansive. As AIDS rears its decimating head at the start of the 1980’s sex became taboo again until the anger and rage of the political situation pushed thousands into the street in groups like ACT UP and Queer Nation. They once again waved the flag of sexual freedom and sported cock rings like badges of honor on their leather jackets. Wearing them openly declared to all who saw them that “Gay Sex is Good Sex!’ Cock rings had at last arrived as Punks, Dykes, Queer Activists, and every day folks began to sport them as sex toys, political fashion and Queer pride. Today’s choice of cock ring is so wide and varied it would take ten articles to cover all of them. The little ring that began its journey into sexual infamy in China more than five centuries ago has now earned a place at the table with sex toy big boys like the dildo. If you’ve never tried one on or thought it was something just outside your comfort zone let me encourage you to be part of our long historically rich sexual journey as Queers and one whose story is still in progress-besides-it feels REALLY good!

(written by Waiyde Palmer)