I'M QUEER, I'M CONSERVATIVE...(A lesson in political correctness)

http://www.etherzone.com/port110201.shtml ^ | November 2, 2001 | Nathan Porter

[Bernard Marx]

I know for certain that "gay" was used by homosexuals to describe their lifestyle at least as far back as the 1940s because I had a homosexual acquaintance in school who talked about his "gay life."

I did a quick Google search and came up with the following (although some references say the term has been in use since the 1860s):

"The first unequivocal written use of gay to mean homosexual is in 1933 in Ford and Tyler's Young & Evil. In 1938 in the movie Bringing Up Baby, the character David, played by Cary Grant, when asked why he is wearing women's clothing replies, "Because I just went gay all of a sudden." In retrospect, this is probably a joke slipped in by the screenwriters intended to slip past the censors. In their 1941 book Sexual Variations, Gershon Legman and G.V. Henry cite gay as a slang term for homosexual, which indicates that it was in use for some time prior."

[Alissa]

That is interesting! I knew it had been around since I can remember. I was just being conservative with 30 years.

[Bernard Marx]

I can't help myself: why wonder when real answers are so easy to get? I've been wondering about the origin of the term myself and this was a good chance to check it out.

It would be interesting to know where it came from. There's apparently a myth it's an acronym for Good As You but several sites I checked said that's not true.

[scrapiron]

I'm a male lesbian. :-b

[He Rides A White Horse]

WARNING: This article contains a couple of words (and more than a few ideas) that are bound to offend somebody. Proceed at your own risk.

Geez, how'd I know somebody was talking about me..............

[RightOnline]

If he'd keep his sexuality to himself and not make it the centerpiece of his article, I'd say "BRAVO". Either way, well-written, well-stated.

[He Rides A White Horse]

And yes I am a fag, not a faggot, but a fag.]

...... and once again, another situation has to be thought of in the context of some gay relation(?!!!!).......(I don't remember asking about that)?........

[HiTech RedNeck]

JIM!?! I thought you nuked this kind of post, how dare offend the f*gs. Getting mellow in your old age eh???

[HiTech RedNeck]

Related to the French "gai"

[orbitboy]

keep it to yourself buddy and there'll be no problems

[brat]

Who cares! I'm Hetero. Does this mean I need to write a piece about it and GET IN YOUR FACE, Mr. Porter?

[Renegade]

Never stated I was wondering . Stated I was trying . If you know the URL to answer my question , reach out and touch someone LITERRALY ( me ) and I'll check it out . Thanks.

[Sandy]

Sure are a lot of dummies around here, eh? I read it, understood it, and laughed out loud. All the goofballs who are assuming that the author is gay are simply proving the author's point. Thanks for posting.

[nancetc]

Well I guess the other part of the question is when did "fag" become a homosexual and not a reference to a cigarette?

[nancetc]

Long time no see Mom.

[JimVT]

If there is any problem here it is that WE DIDN'T NEED TO KNOW!!!!!!

[Fiddlstix]

I'm still trying to find out when " gay" became an adjective for a homosexual and not a description of a good time or a happy persona.

Me Too!

[IronJack]

The "gay rights" movement could learn a lot from this philosophy. Here is a man who is gay, who doesn't pretend otherwise, and who is comfortable enough with the life he's chosen to transcend the petty insults of others. While I thoroughly disapprove of his lifestyle, I salute the strength of his convictions. But then, he never asked me for either.

[WIMom]

Hi nancetc! I'm here, so many threads.......so little time. Good to see you too!