what does the word "gay" mean?

Question

does the word gay mean a male homosexual? i always see a media outlet or a article say "gay and lesbian" instead of just gay to refer to the homosexual community. now i know lesbian just refers to female homosexuals. so i ask, does gay refer to males?
so i would like an answers from the homosexual community, what do you guys think.

Answer 1

Generally "Gay" means homosexual male.
Many lesbians do not like being called "gay" as it traditionally refers to males.

So, to be politically correct, the polite way to refer to homosexual males and females both is to say "Gays and Lesbians."

Personally, I identify as "gay" female as I'm not 100% lesbian, I'm bisexual but more attracted to women than men.
But many lesbians are offended by that generalization.

Eh, it's all just labels anyway.

Answer 2

Gay means homosexual in general. Even if you say homosexual people think male just because that is the biggest thing. MaleMale Relationships are considered wrong by socity while FemaleFemale relationships are considered entertainment for males to watch.

Most people use "Gay" when speaking about males, and "Lesbien" When talking about females, i belive, to seperate the two genders and just for more lables. But I personally use Gay for any gender.

Answer 3

Gay has been a slang term for male homosexuals for over a century. As people came out of the closet, it became more accepted into the common parlance, and so is losing much of its earlier references to jovial and carefree. Or then perhaps it is just adding to those other definitions. Any longer it would be difficult for someone to say they were feeling "gay" without people raising an eyebrow or welcoming them to the "family." (Another euphemism used by gay folks to mean someone is "like them" also gay).

Answer 4

Gay means three different things. 1. It mean happy. 2. It means homosexual. 3. It means male homosexuals.

Answer 5

Main Entry: 1gay
Pronunciation: 'gA
Function: adjective
Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French gai, of Germanic origin; akin to Old High German gAhi quick, sudden
1 a : happily excited : MERRY b : keenly alive and exuberant : having or inducing high spirits
2 a : BRIGHT, LIVELY b : brilliant in color
3 : given to social pleasures; also : LICENTIOUS
4 a : HOMOSEXUAL b : of, relating to, or used by homosexuals
synonym see LIVELY
- gay adverb
- gay·ness noun

Answer 6

The original meaning of gay meant happy, but I'm not sure how it turned into slang for homosexual.

Answer 7

Gay can mean any same sex relationship, but more and more is has come to refer to men. I'm not quite sure how or why, but thus the reason this section is Lesbian, Gay, bisexual and transgender!

Answer 8

I would say yes and no.it really depends on the way you mean it (ex.Yes there is a gay community/That women is a lesbian/that man is gay).But i could be wrong.

Answer 9

Alas!!! Oh woe on us all....the meaning of the word "GAY"
The last I check in the dictionary it meant : Happy as a lark.

GS04 :)
gayscorpio2004

Answer 10

Gay means happy.