gay Gay is a complicated little word. On the one hand it refers to male or female homosexuals (e.g., "The gays all live in San Francisco." or "She just told me she's gay."). But it's also used to describe something or someone considered weak, lame or inferior (e.g., "That's so gay." or "Stop being so gay."). Coincidence? Probably not. This second use of the word likely grew out of the first--people who are homosexual (especially men) have historically been accused of being weak and inferior. For this reason, many people find this use of the word offensive. Of course, "gay" originally meant merry or happy--it's from the Old French word gai. But it's had a sexual meaning for over a hundred years. In the 19th century, prostitutes in England were said to dress "gaily." In that historical context, gay meant merry, or joyous, as the prostitutes dressed in a cheery fashion. Brothels were called "gay houses." The word took on its homosexual connotation in the early 20th century in the United States. Within the hobo community homeless boys would look to an older man on the street, or a "gay cat," for survival skills. The relationship between the two companions was sometimes sexual, so the word "gay" took on its current meaning. By the 1920's homosexuals began using the word to describe each other. The earliest uncontested use of the word is in Noel Coward's 1929 musical "Bitter Sweet." Today the word "gay" is widely used--both within the gay community and without--as a neutral way to describe someone who is sexually attracted to members of the same sex.

Comments

[G]

I'm bi-sexual, so people give me greif about that
I find that gay people can be some of the best friends I could ever have, they see things in a slightly different perspective, but their still people.

[Brittany]

Im a christian..i think gay people are pretty funny and cool but im going to pray for yall because thats a sin..you guys will figure yourselfs out one day...god bless yall

[Tori]

Hey I think gay people are awesome. I am a chirstan but begin gay is just one part of them. And you can be gay and a chirstan you could be a murder and a chirstan. God dosen't care as long as you believe in him. Yeah he would probally like for you to be straight but he is your fauther and he love you anyway. GAY PEOPLE ROCK!!!no i am not gay. GOD ROCKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[michael]

Most people are drawing conclusions based off of hasty generalization. Some people who identify as GLBT personally don't have an issue with the word "gay" being used in a derogatory sense, but poll the community as a whole, and you'll find that an overwhelming majority of the community finds it offensive.

And just because 90% of ONE GLBT group apparently doesn't take offense to the word "faggot" does NOT mean it's okay to say. "Faggot" is the exact same word as "nigger" but to a different group of people.

[Melanie G]

you sound like you have never read the Bible Brittney...you should!!

[brittany]

To hell with all you who bring the bible into stuff like this!!! Ya god created Adam and eve but he aslo created Adam and STEVE...no one will ever know wat god really wanted so shut up...The gay community is here to stay and is growing more and more...and no one can tell me that they dont have ONE single person in their family that isnt gay, bi, or les!!!LOVE IS LOVE dont ruin it even if its man and woman, woman and woman or man and man...love does not mean man an woman!! This word is fine to use until it comes up as a hate word!!If you all decide to call someone gay because they are uncool your fucked up in the head. I want to say even though im straight i love the GBTL community and all you haters need to leave them alone. Its not their fault your uncomfortable with yourself!!

[Clay Akien]

Quit making a joke out of me!!! I am going to cry now.

[haley]

We need to dump this word from our slang vocabulary. It's derogatory towards homosexuals, and we can certainly think of other words to describe something we deem uncool.
On that note, everyone needs to lighten up about gayness. They're here, they're queer, so GET OVER IT.

To you:
Almost 90% of my friends are part of the gbtl Group and they do not care if they are called the following:
Gay
Homosexual
Faggot
Lesbian
LezBo.
Trannie
Bi
Or anything else.
Why do you >_<
Think is being mean...?
Is it mean to say HEY STRAIGHT KID.
No..?
So why on earth would it be mean to say hey gay kid,...to a gay kid,.
Seriously

[Dani]

In spain the word "Gay" is used only to define homosexuals, has no negative connotations, that's the advantage of being exported a word of another language.

Many greetings from Spain.

[Rosie]

Oh come ON! What the fsuck ESLE are you going to call a homosexual? A homosexual?! I mean sure, go ahead. If you want to sound like you have a stick consistently being shoved further and further up your ass! Even the gays don't call themselves that! Gay is generably accepted in the gay/les/bi/trans community especially as it's in the fsucking title! That aside, it's not all that cool to call something "gay" when you think it's uncool but whatev. It's not the worst word in the world.

[Za]

I hate it so much when people say for oh this is so gay or when they tease people about being I think being gay is okay (even though I am straight) I think people should be able to love who ever they want and not be discriminated about. I think it is sad that people tease people about being Gay,Lesbian, or Bisexual!!
R.I.P Lawerence King!!!

[Angel]

We need to dump this word from our slang vocabulary. It's derogatory towards homosexuals, and we can certainly think of other words to describe something we deem uncool.
On that note, everyone needs to lighten up about gayness. They're here, they're queer, so GET OVER IT.

[AxGirlxInxPurple]

I do feel frustration when people are using this term in such a way.. but unfortunately it has become something of a slang term and there isn't really anything anyone can do about it.

[kelly]

haha.i never thought of it that way!you make a good point!

[bebebaby]

i think that its good that us as teenagers use things that originate from different things and turn it into our slang LOL EVEN IF ITS BAD,but then we know what we are useing and were it came from so we learn something new YAY!!!

[shabalabadobop]

EVERYONE ON THIS SITE IS GAY ESPECIALLY z001991! =] woohoooooo!!! Yahh trick yahhhhhhhhhhh!!!! ♥

[Morii]

I'm bisexual and so is my girlfriend. We use gay all the time. But when everyone starts with gay hate we just say fuck you! We use gay as in retarded or stupid.

[waynebradyhater]

well wayne brady is gay he drinks hos own urine

[tianna]

i agree.i mean,i'm not bi,but i know this girl,and she was like "i'm dating this girl" and i said,"you're gay?" and she said"no,i'm just doing it to play with her.you'll uderstand when you're older"and i just looked at her,and was like "what the hell is wrong with you?that's so mean."

[hazel]

im BI so i love gay people personaly and i dont play with people and there sexuality

[clay]

and if you're wondering im super!!!!!thanks for asking!!!!

[clay]

hey its clay and everything is super duper fabu!!!scandelous!!!

[Z1001991]

i know gay people who say 'thats so gay'. some people might be homophobes when they say it but even it slips out and i say it but that doesnt mean i dont like gays because i have a shiit load of gay friends.

[Lindsey Kirkham]

"i go to such a homophobic school. EVERYONE uses the word "gay" to describe things that are stupid. even though i'm not gay, everyone thinks that i am because i stand up for homosexuals. i'm only in 8th grade, but everyone my age is prejudiced."

That's pretty much me! I get so pissed off whenever people make stupid comments like that. >.<

[anna]

i go to such a homophobic school. EVERYONE uses the word "gay" to describe things that are stupid. even though i'm not gay, everyone thinks that i am because i stand up for homosexuals. i'm only in 8th grade, but everyone my age is prejudiced.

[S0 WAT?]

OK PPLE! PLZ just get over it!! i mean like CMON- really, if sum1 says " thats so gay" or sumthin like that, really, is it gonna kill u? it dosent matter if sum uses it like that, u pple have 2 get over the fact that sum pple say that. I don't really care at all, but i would NEVER stand for gay pride.

[Lauren]

I would never call someone gay in an offensive way....

[Nat]

The word has taken on a different meaning, and people shouldn't take so much offense to that. I mean, when it's used to mean homosexual, and it's an insult, that is wrong. But I don't take offense to people replacing 'stupid' with 'gay'.

[me]

DUMBLEDORE IS GAY

[sharon heafner]

gay can mean that you happy or it can mean you like the same sex . most ppl refer to it as being gay or ur queer!

[Dria]

Saying it and using it in a discriminatory way are two different things. If you say, I HATE GAYS or OMG I H8 THAT CAUSE ITS SO GAY then you are using it in a discrimitory way. But if, like, your friend's goofing off and just acting spazzed out, if you say, omg ur so gay, then it's not as bad. There's a difference.

[Jackie]

I'm gay and I don't take offense to it being used that way. Hell, both my girlfriend and I use it to mean stupid. I hate how people get so upset about it. I mean, it's respectable if you take offense to it but you're going to have to deal with it and get over it at some point. You can't tell people to talk different, it's like asking a gay person not to be gay. It's one of those things you should learn to deal with, just like being called homo or dyke or faggot. Take pride in your label, whether it's bad or not, and when people say something in a fashion you dislike, get over it. Just like people that are racist or homophobes, you're going to have to deal with the fact that not everyone is like you and that the earth revolves around the sun.

[Janey]

Oh gosh, don't even get me started on this word. Personelly, I'm not gay but I do have 2 gay uncles which has made me very open to gay people. I believe that ppl who dscriminate against gay people are mean. So what if a guy like a guy or girl likes girl. SUCK IT, ok? These ppl have to deal with so much crap from you people who hate on them. I mean so many ppl are gay these days. Get over it.

[Luna]

omfg k my friend isn't homophobic, but he is against the whole gay/lesbian thing. I dont have a prob w/ that just I hate it when he uses it like "your being so gay!" or "your just gay." i mean why the f____ don't ppl just say stupid other than hurting ppl's feelings? plus my other friend thinks she's bi (bisexual) but she's not sure and he's always accusing of her and my other friend of being lez and being together. I MEAN OMG! WHAT THE FUCK?!?!?!!

[Kaity]

OH MY GOD!!! I'm not homosexual, but I think it's so messed up that people use the term as an insult! being gay isn't bad or wrong or whatever, but people make it sound like it is. GOD!

[Taylor]

Hearing the phrase "that's so gay" MAKES ME SO MAD.

All my friends know never to say it around me. The last time someone said it to me I hung up on them.
It hurts, it really hurts to hear that used.
I'm bisexual, but I hate any kind of prejudice no matter what my orientation, and using the word gay in that way is subconciously spreading homophobia each time it's used. I hate it.

I call things straight now in an offensive way the same way people use gay in an offensive way. Most people think it's cute/funny of me, but i'm totally serious about how much this issue pisses me off.

[Molly]

it seems as if all the kids at my school have replaced stupid with "gay".

it's the most offensive thing I've heard alonger with nigger, retarded, ect.

if we want to say something is stupid,
why can't we just say it's stupid instead of offending people who deserve as much respect as we do.

[Jess]

In Northern Ireland, we use the word gay as offensive or someone who's acting stupid or "retarded" we call them "Gay" often we say, "Omg stop being so gay" or "Your gay!"

[Shawnee]

Recently, people on the internet have starting using the word "ghey" to mean "weak, lame or inferior."
I prefer using this spelling when I'm using the term because my best friend is gay and takes offense when the word is used with a negative connotation.