Way back in the older days Gay ment to be happy or fun and Queer ment strange or unusual...just who thought of useing these 2 words to call men and women who are now gay and is the word Queer used to insult a person ? just curious
2007-09-01 05:43:45 · 7 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Cultures & Groups ➔ Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender
The word 'gay'" has been leading a double life. Although many people believe "gay" simply meant lighthearted or cheerful the truth is the word has long had a secondary connotation of alternative sexual identity. As early as 1637 the Oxford English Dictionary gives one meaning as "addicted to social pleasures and dissipations". Often euphemistically: Of loose and immoral life"--whence, presumably, the term "gay blade" in the 1800s the term was used to refer to female prostitutes; to "gay it" meant "to copulate." By 1935 the word "geycat," meaning a homosexual boy, had found its way into print, giving a clue as to the direction things were starting to go. Sure enough, by 1955 "gay" had acquired its present meaning, as P. Wildeblood notes in Against Law: "Most of the officers had been "gay' ... an American euphemism for homosexual."
I couldnt find anything on queer. But it does mean odd or different. So maybe that had something to do with it.
2007-09-01 05:52:52 · answer #1 · answered by Amanda R 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I'm not sure when queer was associated with gay folk, but the term GAY was used during Oscar Wilde's time period as a derogatory term toward homosexual men.
Much like the Quakers did with their name (quaker was originally meant in a derogatory manner) the gay community adopted the words and empowered them.
2007-09-01 12:52:54 · answer #2 · answered by knightofsappho 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
If the Older days means 1955 for you, then long before then (centuries) both words were being used with that meaning with more or less pejorative tones. Take a look in the Oxford English Dictionary that has citations.
2007-09-01 12:48:37 · answer #3 · answered by Mike1942f 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
The words "gay" and "queer" have negative connotations. Where they came from for this purpose, is something that I don't know. Peace and God Bless.
2007-09-01 12:47:39 · answer #4 · answered by In God We Trust 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
well aparantly, and i didnt know this til a few weeks ago. the word gay, was actually originally adopted as an acronym for 'good as you.' as for queer, it means odd in english, which is exactly why straights applied it to homosexuals, they found/find it odd.
2007-09-01 12:53:19 · answer #5 · answered by mrzwink 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I wish I knew myself. I'd kick them really hard.
2007-09-01 12:49:01 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It came out of the Bible to smite the blasphemeristic people that cannot see that our Bible is perfect and is the literal word of God with absolute clarity and reason behind it.
2007-09-01 12:49:37 · answer #7 · answered by Bob from Mars 4 · 0⤊ 6⤋