👬
Men Holding Hands
men hohl-ding handz
Definitions
1
People · Relationships
Common
Represents two men holding hands, commonly used to express male romantic relationships, particularly in LGBTQ+ contexts, though also representing friendship or brotherhood.
Frequently used to represent gay couples or male partnerships, though context determines whether romantic or platonic.
Finally moving in with my boyfriend next month! 👬
Instagram caption
So happy to see my brother after two years apart 👬
WhatsApp message
Pride month celebration downtown this weekend! 🌈👬👭
Twitter post
Gained prominence as a symbol of LGBTQ+ visibility and same-sex relationships, particularly after marriage equality movements worldwide.
2
People · Family
Less Common
Used to represent brothers, twins, or male family members expressing closeness or solidarity.
Context usually clarifies family relationship versus romantic relationship.
Happy birthday to my twin brother! 👬 40 years and still inseparable!
Facebook post
Father-son day at the park 👨👦👬
Family group chat
In some cultures, this emoji may be more commonly used to represent brotherly bonds rather than romantic relationships.
Evolution Timeline
2010
First introduced in Unicode 6.0 as a gender-specific pair emoji.
Growing digital representation of diverse relationships.
2015
Usage surged following US Supreme Court marriage equality ruling (Obergefell v. Hodges).
Celebration of same-sex marriage legalization in the US.
2018
Design standardized across platforms to clearly show two men holding hands.
Push for consistent representation of gender in emoji.
2019
Introduction of gender-neutral couple emoji reduced exclusive reliance on 👬 for male couples.
Growing recognition of gender diversity and non-binary identities.
Cultural Context
Represents evolving attitudes toward same-sex relationships, with usage patterns reflecting societal acceptance levels across different regions and demographics.
Often used as a symbol of LGBTQ+ rights activism and visibility in digital spaces, particularly in regions where such rights are contested.
Context-dependent interpretation varies widely, with accompanying text or emojis determining whether romantic or platonic relationship is implied.
Usage increased dramatically following legal recognition of same-sex relationships in various countries, marking digital celebration of civil rights advances.
In some conservative regions, users may employ this emoji with deliberate ambiguity, allowing for plausible deniability about romantic implications.
Regional Variations
India
Growing in usage following the 2018 decriminalization of homosexuality, but still carries some social stigma in conservative areas.
Russia
Used more cautiously due to restrictive laws against LGBTQ+ 'propaganda'; often employed with plausible deniability.
United States
Predominantly associated with gay relationships and LGBTQ+ pride, especially in urban areas and on social media.
Generational Usage
Gen_X: More likely to use in explicit LGBTQ+ contexts rather than for platonic relationships. Often employed in family announcements and milestone celebrations.
Gen_Z: Used casually in various contexts including friendship, with less concern about potential misinterpretation. Often paired with ironic or humorous captions on TikTok and Instagram.
Older: Less frequent usage overall, with greater tendency to interpret as friendship rather than romantic relationship unless context is explicit.
Millennials: Commonly used to represent romantic relationships, particularly on dating apps and in advocacy contexts. Strong association with marriage equality movement.
Common Combinations
👬❤️
Gay couple in love or romantic relationship between men.
Widely used during Pride month and to celebrate same-sex relationships.
👬💍
Gay engagement or marriage, male couple getting married.
Celebration of same-sex marriage, particularly in countries where recently legalized.
🌈👬
LGBTQ+ pride, specifically highlighting gay male relationships.
Used during Pride events and in LGBTQ+ advocacy contexts.
👬👨👨👦
Gay couple with children or male couple starting a family.
Represents same-sex parenting and family diversity.
👬🏠
Male couple moving in together or sharing a home.
Represents domestic partnership or cohabitation milestone.
Related Emojis
👭
Female equivalent showing two women holding hands
👫
Heterosexual counterpart showing man and woman holding hands
🌈
Pride flag, often used in combination to emphasize LGBTQ+ context
❤️
Often paired to explicitly indicate romantic relationship
👨❤️👨
More explicitly romantic representation of male couple