| Revision as of 00:37, 26 November 2002 view sourceEd Poor (talk | contribs)Extended confirmed users, Pending changes reviewers59,217 edits moving up the "don't like" thing← Previous edit | Revision as of 00:38, 26 November 2002 view source Ed Poor (talk | contribs)Extended confirmed users, Pending changes reviewers59,217 edits deleting "some people don't like it" -- tough, get used to it, we're here, etc.Next edit → | ||
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| ] ] Originally meaning "joyous" or "glad," <b>gay</b> has also come to refer to ]s other than ]. | ] ] Originally meaning "joyous" or "glad," <b>gay</b> has also come to refer to ]s other than ]. | ||
| The word ''gay'' has had a sexual meaning since at least the nineteenth century -- in Victorian England, female prostitutes were considered to be "gay". | |||
| The term can be used inclusively or exclusively. The inclusive meaning refers to both men and women who prefer sexual or romantic relationships with their own sex (see ]). The exclusive meaning refers only to men who prefer sexual or romantic relationships with other men. Whether ]s are included in either of those meanings is a matter of debate (see ]). | The term can be used inclusively or exclusively. The inclusive meaning refers to both men and women who prefer sexual or romantic relationships with their own sex (see ]). The exclusive meaning refers only to men who prefer sexual or romantic relationships with other men. Whether ]s are included in either of those meanings is a matter of debate (see ]). | ||
Revision as of 00:38, 26 November 2002
Originally meaning "joyous" or "glad," gay has also come to refer to sexual orientations other than heterosexuality.
The word gay has had a sexual meaning since at least the nineteenth century -- in Victorian England, female prostitutes were considered to be "gay".
The term can be used inclusively or exclusively. The inclusive meaning refers to both men and women who prefer sexual or romantic relationships with their own sex (see homosexuality). The exclusive meaning refers only to men who prefer sexual or romantic relationships with other men. Whether bisexuals are included in either of those meanings is a matter of debate (see bisexuality).
It has been claimed that "gay" was derived as an acronym for "Good As You", but this appears to be a folk etymology.
The word "gay" is also used in a pejorative and derogatory sense meaning "bad", or "inferior", without necessarily implying anything about the sexuality of the person or thing so devalued, or even, some claim, about the relative merits of different sexualities.
Related terms: Queer, homosexual, lesbian, lesbigay, LGB
See also: gay village, gay rights, gay pride, gay marriage, rainbow flag, political correctness, homophobia, Queer culture, Wikipedians/Queer