These days, tattoos and LGBTI culture go hand in hand and it’s a trend that’s on the rise.īut where did it all begin and what do these hidden meanings signify? ‘Bad Boys and Tough Tattoos’Īccording to famous gay tattooist Samuel Steward (also known as Phil Sparrow), the gay community in particular really began embracing tattoos in the 1950s. In a time when it was illegal to be out and proud in Western culture, many LGBTI people got tattoos to convey secret messages or as an act of defiance to authority. The LGBTI community has a long and varied history with tattoos.
