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

[ENJOI]

MILLONS OF KUDUS FOR YOU Sha'Kedria I GO FOR YOU GIRL

[Sha'Kedria]

Listen people, being gay is not good at ALL. In the beinning God made man. And man got lonely. So he took one of man's (Adam) ribs and made WOman. Let's stop right here. If being gay was something good, God would have made Adam another man. Point blank. Then there were two angels who came to the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah. God was about to destroy the cities and he sent the angels to tell Lot to take his family and leave. Then there was a knock on Lot's door, there men, young and old, standing at the door. They asked to have sex with the angels. Lot offered his daughters to them but they refused. Then they tried to break down Lot's door to "have" the angels. After Lot and his family escaped, God destroyed the city with the fires from Heaven(sulfuric acid) and destroyed EVERYONE in it. Then sin was so bad in those cities that God told Lot and his family not to look back and his daughter looked back and was turned into a pillar of salt. It was just that bad. That should be enough for you gays. And why WOULD God let people be born that way? He is a GOOD God and he would NEVER create someone to be born to be the SICK perverts they are. If you dont believe me, read the whole chapter of Genesis:19. And read Leviticus 18. The whole chapter. If that isnt proof, may God have mercy on your souls.

[alexia]

please stop bringing "god" up.

[alexia]

i don't mind having "religion" a part of our world, but why do they have to discriminate against gays? my parents are like crazy religious and they don't let me have gay friends over.. they think it's really gross. that's one reason why i completely disagree with religious beliefs. some people are just born with it and they're not attracted to their opposite sex, and that's alright. and it's terrible how some people think it's so bad.. some live a lie by being married with someone they don't want to be married to. we should seriously all stop discriminating. everyone is born different. we have different opinions.

[tati]

it does not occur naturally it is a deamon that is in your head it is the devils work

diabolical nonescence

plus if you gays want gayness in this world well you will have it becuse this world is comming to an end and your gay ruler will be here with ya

and god will take who is coming with him

[Harriet]

Why do Christians think homosexuality is a sin. It occurs naturally which means God (if He/She/It exists) created it. Or, at least, he knew it would happen because God is specified as being all-knowing.

I just don't get why anyone would think being gay is a crime. There are lots of very awesome gay people!

[Loren]

By the way, I would love a gay best friend!! xD

[Loren]

As a Christian, I do believe that homosexuality is immoral, but I think the same of sex before marriage. Outside that, homosexuals are still human, as are other people who are immoral, and they haven't HURT anyone else or imposed on other people's rights therefore they deserve the same rights and treatment as everyone else.

I do use the term 'gay' a lot, but I don't mean any offense to gay people. You know? I think that people who do get offended are being too sensitive: as a Christian I have to hear people blaspheming 24/7 but I've learnt to deal with it. It is offensive, but those people who blaspheme do not feel the same way about that and I can't impose my beliefs upon them; it works for everyone and their beliefs.

[Guilt]

I use gay to describe a lot of things and I feel SUPER bad about it because people says that that offends gay people. It's also ironic because I 100% support homosexual couples. And I don't even like saying it about stuff anymore, it's a habit!! can someone help?

[des]

everyone who thinks using gay, as in uncool is "offensive", then your just too fucking sensitive. honestly, when people say "thats so gay" they're really not trying to insult you + you know it, so why get all worked up about it ?
i have zero problems w| the whole gay community, my moms a gay rights activist actually, + she says majority of the reasonable gay people she works w|, dont care if you use gay as a slang term..

[Standing Firm 4 Christ!!!!!!!]

Dear pixie117 and Brittany,
umm ummm umm... I agree with melanie g. the both of you need to read(esp. u PIXIE117) b/c ur not standing firm in ur beliefs as a christian. i am not saying u hate gays, but u should have a strong hate not for them but for the immorality they are doing. Pixie you are definitely using the word CHRISTIAN as a title b/c you wouldn't agree with this so much being a true born again Christian so just read these passages below. (It is in English Standard Version)
1 Corinthians 6:9 (Whole Chapter)
Or do you not know that the unrighteous [Or wrongdoers] will not inherit the kingdom of God? DO NOT BE DECEIVED: [1 Corinthians 15:50; Gal 5:21; Eph 5:5; 1 Tim 1:9; Heb 12:14; 13:4; Rev 21:8; 22:15] neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice HOMOSEXUALITY.[The two Greek terms translated by this phrase refer to the passive and active partners in consensual homosexual acts]

[Sage]

agreed. i'm straight, but i hate how so many people are homophobic. gay people are still people and they should have the right to date the same sex without getting bothered.

[Hannah Rae]

I hate it when people use "gay" when they could just as easily say "stupid." I P!$$3$ me off. Kids at my school say it all the time, and I'm sick of it. I'm not gay, but I'm bisexual and my girlfriend's gay. It really does not need to be used in that way, and the GSA at my school's going to start working on trying to get people to stop using it so frequently in school. I almost punched someone last week because they said that the homework we had was GAY. My cousin had to grab a hold of my girlfriend when she almost punched someone in the hallway for saying it. Anyways, just a little rant.....

[pixie117]

I'm staight and a Christian ,and i have alot of bi and gay friend ,not because they're bi or gay, because they're good ppl.But on the other hand to being gay is not bad AT ALL
BUT gay people you have to understand majority of the world like the oppsite sex and liking the same sex is unfortunetly NOT the "norm" so wen you hear ppl say "tht so gay" or "ur a dyke" or "wat a fag" brush it off.We all know they're just ignorant.U can't change ppl.The same way ur gay is the same ways those ppl are ignorant, they just are .Im black an it pisses me off sooo much wen i hear about the KKK,Hitler, or ppl sayin the n-word but i just kno they were raise by stupid hateful people even tho it really sux.

MUCH LUV TO MY OPENLY GAY PPL!!!

[kaitie]

i am gay.

actually, there are people in the GLBT community who do find it completely offensive to say "that's so GAY" when you mean UNCOOL. its also not okay to say faggot.

(FAGGOT comes from when the word meant a bundle of sticks, and the sticks were placed at the feet of homosexuals and they were BURNT ALIVE.) next time you use faggot maybe you should think about those people who were burnt for their sexuality.

what if you were burnt alive for your religion?

i find it infuriating when i hear "your such a faggot, dude" between two guys...."or your so gay, dude". we hear it most between two guys.... and it needs to stop.

i am 15.

so,as teenagers we need to fight the stereotypes, and prove we are not worthless, stupid, or INTOLERANT.

so, educate yourself. next time you use slang, look it up in the dictionary and make sure you arent going to offend people with your words.

PLEASE AND THANK YOU, a gay girl in the US, Kaitie

[Gray]

I do not understand why people are so Homophobic. They're the same as everyone else. SOme of them just kinda sparkle ;)im just kiding no offense intended. I love to wear rainbow shirts and stuff but people always think im gay so under the rainbow i write not gay. But then some people get offended so under that i write " but supportive";)

[jill]

<3 GAY PRIDE!! <3

[WINKWINK(jorgie)]

what the hell is up with all the h8r's?geez..
i am a lil bi myself cuz i find myself completely head over heels in love with a boy and im a boy so THERE!!!!i think God wanted us to be different in a way..we are his children and i think all he wants us to do is beleve in him..besides the bible has been translated sooo many ways over the years..how do y'all believe that is EXACTLY what God wanted huh? WHO AGREES?

[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.