How did it become "GAY"?

Question

At which point in history, or how did the description of "homosexual" or "same-sex oriented" people become "GAY".
I mean, linguistically, the word "GAY" means "happy" or "joyous".
Anyone know?

Answer 1

The use of the term gay, as it relates to homosexuality, arises from an extension of the sexualised connotation of "carefree and uninhibited", implying a willingness to disregard conventional or respectable sexual mores. Such usage is documented as early as the 1920s. It was initially more commonly used to imply heterosexually unconstrained lifestyles, as for example in the once-common phrase "gay Lothario",[2] or in the title of the book and film The Gay Falcon (1941), which concerns a womanising detective whose first name is "Gay". Well into the mid 20th century a middle-aged bachelor could be described as "gay" without prejudice.

By the mid-century "gay" was well-established as an antonym for "straight" (respectable sexual behaviour), and to refer to the lifestyles of unmarried and or unattached people. Other connotations of frivolousness and showiness in dress ("gay attire") led to association with camp and effeminacy. This range of connotation probably affected the gradual movement of the term towards its current dominant meaning, which was at first confined to subcultures. The subcultural usage started to become mainstream in the 1960s, when gay became the term predominantly preferred by homosexual men to describe themselves. Gay was the preferred term since other terms, such as "queer" were felt to be derogatory. "Homosexual" was perceived as excessively clinical: especially since homosexuality was at that time designated as a mental illness, and "homosexual" was used by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) to denote men affected by this "mental illness". Homosexuality was no longer classified as an illness in the DSM by 1973, but the clinical connotation of the word was already embedded in society.

Answer 2

I'm totally guessing here, mostly because so far no one has answered you. Traditionally, men aren't supposed to be perky and outwardly joyous. Homosexual men are perky and have a tendency to be outwardly joyous. Hence the term "gay." Again, I'm totally guessing.

Answer 3

One night when you were very tried and sleepy, the Gay Fairy came into your bedroom and sprinkled Fairy Dust on your body. The next day you had forgotten about men and wanted a lady. Simple!

Answer 4

To me gay is still a good clean word and has nothing to do with queer - and a rainbow is beautiful and not a symbol of perversion. If you choose to be queer be original - come up with your own stuff.

Answer 5

Yes. . GAY stands for Got Aids Yet!

Answer 6

i dont KNOW for sure but id guess maybe because there are very happy excited 'gay' people so they decided to call them gay? i dont know really...

Answer 7

I don't know either,but have often wondered myself