Gay dewfiniton
by Jordan Redman
Staff Writer
Do you know what the word gay really means?
The word gay dates assist to the 12th century and comes from the Old French “gai,” essence “full of joy or mirth.” It may also relate to the Mature High German “gahi,” definition impulsive.
For centuries, gay was used commonly in speech and literature to denote happy, carefree, bright and showy, and did not take on any sexual meaning until the 1600s.
At that time the interpretation of gay as carefree evolved to imply that a person was unrestrained by morals and prone to decadence and promiscuity. A prostitute might possess been described as a “gay woman” and a womanizer as a “gay man.”
“Gay house” was commonly used to refer to a brothel and, later, “gaiety” was used as a common name for certain places of entertainment.
In the 1890s, the word “gey cat” (a Scottish variant of gay) was used to describe a vagrant who offered sexual services to women or a young traveler who was new to the road and in the company of an older man.
This latter use suggests that the younger gentleman was in a sexually submissive role and may be among the first times that gay was used implying a lgbtq+ relationship.
In 1951, gay appeared in the
Glossary of Terms: LGBTQ
Definitions were drafted in collaboration with other U.S.-based LGBTQ collective organizations and leaders. Observe acknowledgements section.
Additional terms and definitions about gender identity and gender phrase, transgender people, and nonbinary people are available in the Transgender Glossary.
Are we missing a term or is a definition outdated? Email press@glaad.org
*NOTE: Ask people what terms they exploit to describe their sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression before assigning them a label. Outside of acronyms, these terms should only be capitalized when used at the beginning of a sentence.
LGBTQ
Acronym for woman loving woman, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer. The Q generally stands for queer when LGBTQ organizations, leaders, and media use the acronym. In settings offering sustain for youth, it can also stand for questioning. LGBT and LGBTQ+ are also used, with the + added in recognition of all non-straight, non-cisgender identities. (See Transgender Glossary ) Both are acceptable, as are other versions of this acronym. The term “gay community” should be avoided, as it does not accuratel
What Does It Intend to be Gay? Definition and Essence of Gay
The legal title "gay" may be confusing and even foreign to some, forcing people to ask, "What is gay?" or "Am I Gay?" And while some might think the definition of "gay" is simple, to many, it actually isn't. While "gay" can be thought of as a synonym to "homosexual," there is more to the meaning of gay than that.
Definition of Gay
Homosexuality is considered to be same-sex sexual attraction and behavior and "gay" is a synonym of homosexuality. The term "homosexuality"1 was first used by Victorian scientists who considered lgbtq+ sexual attraction and behavior a "moral deficiency."2
Homosexuality is still the correct designation clinically, but even though homosexuality is no longer considered immoral, some people feel there are still negative overtones to the pos given its source. The term "gay" was initially a slang term developed to overcome some of these negative associations. It may have come from a nineteenth century French slang pos, "gaie."
What is Gay?
Gay is a legal title that is not gender specific so men or women can be termed "gay." When spotting people as queer though, it's vital to consider three things. Ac
gayadjective, adverb, & noun
There are 31 meanings listed in OED's entry for the word gay, nine of which are labelled obsolete, and one of which is considered offensive. Observe ‘Meaning & use’ for definitions, usage, and quotation evidence.
About 20occurrences per million words in modern written English
| 1750 | 12 |
| 1760 | 16 |
| 1770 | 16 |
| 1780 | 20 |
| 1790 | 21 |
| 1800 | 22 |
| 1810 | 19 |
| 1820 | 23 |
| 1830 | 21 |
| 1840 | 20 |
| 1850 | 21 |
| 1860 | 20 |
| 1870 | 17 |
| 1880 | 17 |
| 1890 | 16 |
| 1900 | 16 |
| 1910 | 14 |
| 1920 | 14 |
| 1930 | 16 |
| 1940 | 13 |
| 1950 | 11 |
| 1960 | 8.3 |
| 1970 | 7.9 |
| 1980 | 9.5 |
| 1990 | 23 |
| 2000 | 24 |
| 2010 | 24 |
Earliest known use
Middle English
The earliest known utilize of the word gay is in the Middle English period (1150—1500).
OED's earliest evidence for gay is from around 1225, in Ancrene Riwle.
gay is a borrowing from French.
Etymons:Frenchgai.
Nearby entries
- gawlin, n.1703–
- gawn, n.1565–
- gawne, v.1563
- gawney, n.1842–
- gawp, n.1825–
- gawp, v.1728–
- gawper, n.1965–
- gawpus, n.1826–
- gawpy, n.1825–
- gawsy, adj.1720–
- gay, ad
What Does "Gay" Mean?
There is not one right answer
Many educators are unsure how to respond when a student asks you what does male lover mean. It is better to strive to answer than to respond with silence or evade the question.
Practice alternative responses with colleagues, just as you practice other things that you crave to learn. Figure out what you feel comfortable saying.
Responses will vary by age and developmental stage of the student. Your comfort in answering these questions will put a welcoming tone in your class and school community.
Keep it simple
An reply can be as simple as: “‘Gay’ means two people of the identical gender who treasure each other – two women or two men.” Endeavor to answer the question honestly without overloading a pupil with information. Throughout elementary school a student’s ability to understand what “gay” means and what your explanation means may increase with development.
Focus on adore and relationships
A discussion with elementary-age students about the meanings of “gay” or “lesbian” is a discussion about romance and relationships. You can just clarify that people affectionate each other in different ways. Some women love and want to be partners