| Revision as of 18:41, 5 April 2002 view sourceKoyaanis Qatsi (talk | contribs)13,445 edits ], not ← Previous edit | Revision as of 18:42, 5 April 2002 view source Koyaanis Qatsi (talk | contribs)13,445 edits article agreement. folk etymology, not Next edit → | ||
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| Some people don't like this change of meaning, but the word gay has had a sexual meaning since at least the nineteenth century -- in Victorian England, female prostitutes were considered to be "gay". | Some people don't like this change of meaning, but the word gay has had a sexual meaning since at least the nineteenth century -- in Victorian England, female prostitutes were considered to be "gay". | ||
| It has been claimed that "gay" was derived as an acronym for "Good As You", but this appears to be |
It has been claimed that "gay" was derived as an acronym for "Good As You", but this appears to be a ]. | ||
| See also ], ], ], ], ]. | See also ], ], ], ], ]. | ||
Revision as of 18:42, 5 April 2002
While once meaning "joyous" or "glad," gay has come to refer to a kind of sexual orientation. The term can be used inclusively or exclusively. The inclusive meaning refers to both men and women who prefer romantic relationships with their own sex (see homosexuality. The exclusive meaning refers only to men who love men. Whether bisexuals are included in either of those meanings is a matter of debate (see bisexuality).
Some people don't like this change of meaning, but the word gay has had a sexual meaning since at least the nineteenth century -- in Victorian England, female prostitutes were considered to be "gay".
It has been claimed that "gay" was derived as an acronym for "Good As You", but this appears to be a folk etymology.
See also homosexual, lesbian, lesbigay, LGB, political correctness.