What I mean by this is the term "gay" was intentionally meant to be "happy" and now it is a term for "homosexual/lesbian". Why do you think people started calling them "gay"? If gay means happy, then why do people insult them in such a way? Ignorance?
I'm a lesbian so I'm not singling out gays and lesbians into a rude catagory.
2007-03-22 08:07:30 · 9 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Cultures & Groups ➔ Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender
Actually no it does not offend me. I mean, why do people think its an insult?
2007-03-22 08:17:32 · update #1
I don't know, I don't mind being called "happy!"
What really bothers me is the new use of the word to mean "stupid."
That's completely off base from it's Original meaning.
2007-03-22 08:13:32 · answer #1 · answered by DEATH 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
"Gay" started to refer to people who were sexually deviant: prostitutes and the like (and gay people as well). At some point, that started to stick with JUST homosexual people. (In my head, I usually make a distinction between homosexual behavior and a gay identity, so I don't see the two words as synonymous. That's neither here nor there though). And, after awhile, gay people reclaimed it as a positive thing, harkening back to "happy" and not "immoral", bringing the word full circle. Sort of.
2007-03-22 15:36:36 · answer #2 · answered by Atropis 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hm... in English class I learned that 'Gay' came into the language in the 1920s. Interesting what you learn there, mind you it's not surprising since my prof likes to choose readings on Religion and sex *surprisingly since Religion generally clashes with Homosexuality* and yet we read Brokeback Mountain ^^
2007-03-22 15:14:22 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Language is a living thing - ever changing and ever growing - what one word means today it might not mean in 100 years.
100 years ago a disc was a thing to be thrown in Olympic competition, today it could mean that or a media file system.
2007-03-22 15:12:08 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 0⤋
Because they're gay to be gay! I have nothing against homo's, my boyfriends aunt is gay and I get along well with both her and her partner, but I never knew calling homo's "gay" was an insult. I thought calling them f.ag, or lesbo was
2007-03-22 15:13:20 · answer #5 · answered by ~♥The Hon♥~ 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
it is faster to write gay than homosexual
2007-03-22 15:11:34 · answer #6 · answered by andrew w 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
I don't know how this came to be. Is this term offensive to you or homesexuals?
2007-03-22 15:13:28 · answer #7 · answered by Gummy 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i used to have a bad habbit of saying 'oh that's so gay' when i was referring to something negative then my friend who was gay would correct me. it didn't really offend him but it was just a bad habbit. idk why i'm telling you this
2007-03-22 15:22:33 · answer #8 · answered by angel 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
because they are scared
2007-03-26 01:33:29 · answer #9 · answered by Norweiginwood420 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋