Police had a list of names of known lesbians. The nautical star is now hugely popular among LGBTI people, including a lot of gay porn stars.Īs well as being a common tattoo for sailors (it symbolizes sailors trying to find their way home), the nautical star also points to prostitution in some circles.įor this reason, the tattoo was always on the wrist where it could hide behind a wristwatch. In 2011, CNN published a piece from a gay man who is HIV+. In the piece, Michael Lee Howard says he got the biohazard symbol on his right arm and the radiation symbol on his left to indicate that he’s living with HIV.Īfter his diagnosis in 2005, Howard said he got the tattoos to help him on his journey of self-acceptance.