2006-08-05 08:58:38 · 26 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Cultures & Groups ➔ Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender
I am not for sure they picked the word "gay" to describe themselves.
2006-08-05 09:05:11 · answer #1 · answered by carl l 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well love its not as though we all got together one night and voted on it. Life for male homosexuals was fraught with all sorts of danger until the 1960's - it was illegal and could carry a prison sentence. The biggest problem was that of blackmail - imagine the damage to say a surgeons career if it was made known that he was a homosexual. Of course, all this has happily faded away now but the term homosexual managed to carry a lot of its past with it. Somewhere along the line, it happened that some one or organisation used the word "gay" because it was deliberately positive and happy sounding and it has been used ever since. If you think, gays, homosexuals or whatever you wish to call us don't have courage, you are sadly mistaken. It takes a lot of courage to come to terms with being gay and even more to tell others.
2006-08-05 09:09:38 · answer #2 · answered by Raymo 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Gay is shorter, friendlier and less clinical. Less clinical is of particular importance since the APA decided in the late 20th century that homosexuality was not a mental illness as it had previously listed. The term homosexual also carries with it the connotation that the relationships are purely sexual in nature, which is not the case. Many of us enjoy deep, meaningful emotion connections with an individual of the same gender that is as deep and spiritual as those of married, straight people.
2006-08-05 14:11:48 · answer #3 · answered by Speedo Inspector 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Gay is an adjective meaning "carefree", "happy", or "bright and showy"; however in modern usage, gay is a word usually used to refer to homosexuals. "Gay", when used as an adjective, has become recognized mainly as a description the traits associated with both homosexual men and women, their culture, or lifestyle as being carefree and uninhibited.
The word "homosexual" describes a sexual desire exclusively for others of the same sex or gender. Many people feel the term "homosexual" is too clinical and somewhat dehumanizing, while others feel that "gay" describes more how one acts than it does their sexual preference.
2006-08-05 09:21:09 · answer #4 · answered by rp_iowa 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
the word homosexual sounds so clinical: gay sounds user-friendlier.
as for courage, u try being yourself in a world where so many people look down on you. it takes courage to be who you really are.
peace swot xxx
2006-08-05 10:52:44 · answer #5 · answered by swot 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
it takes courage to live life freely, not to use some word or the other... Besides how did you came to the conclusion ALL homosexuals call themselves GAY???????????
2006-08-05 09:07:27 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
gay has always meant happy-theyve ruined a word that we could all use at some point. homosexual should be used instead-it dont matter that its a long word-i agree with you on this one.
2006-08-05 10:05:33 · answer #7 · answered by Little Minx 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
well GAY ia an acronym and actually stands for Good As You I dont know the origins of this but being gay i know this to be true and I agree with freak who said why do hetrosexuals call them self straight. why is a dog called a dog,?? could go on for ever here but i wont
2006-08-05 09:41:46 · answer #8 · answered by patricia 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Nowt to do with courage. Gay is used for the same reason that heterosexuals use the word straight instead of heterosexual, bi for bisexual and trannie tor TV
2006-08-05 13:39:06 · answer #9 · answered by acidedge2004 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Homosexual takes too long to say.
2006-08-05 09:22:01 · answer #10 · answered by Agent Double EL 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋