[SIZE="2"]“I’ve never been GAY a day in my life, and I’m sure as hell not part of any movement.” (William S. Burroughs)
“Are you GAY, debonair and witty, or are you the quiet, shy, unconscious type?” (Groucho Marx, to a bachelor contestant on You Bet Your Life, c.1950 )

Carrying on from the thread about “a problem” being gay, and inspired by the two passages quoted above, I’m interested in how the word GAY ever became a synonym for homosexual. Also, why are MtF crossdressers automatically assumed to be gay, when many of us are staunchly heterosexual? Even so, we are gay, somewhere along the way, if you remember the recent past, and if we understand the obsolete definitions of this misused word…

I’m old enough to remember a time when you could say the word “gay” in mixed company (in it’s original context) and not hear someone snicker. Yes, back in 1950, Groucho Marx could ask a man on national TV if he was gay. Of course, he meant animate, blithe, carefree, convivial, happy, pleasure-seeking, lively, vivacious, and so forth. If he happens to be a bachelor, he IS gay, meaning unconstrained, but let’s not get ahead of ourselves. What is the opposite of being gay? Invariably, you will tend to be sad, depressed, unhappy, upset, or worried, correct? Based on the choices available, isn’t it better to be gay and enjoy life? OK, I know it’s not 1950 anymore, but what happened? According to Wiki, sometime in the 20th century the word “gay” gained a new pejorative in some parts of the world:[/SIZE]

“In the Anglosphere, this connotation [for gay], among younger speakers, has a derisive meaning equivalent to rubbish or stupid (as in "That's so gay."). In this use, the word does not mean "homosexual", so it can be used, for example, to refer to an inanimate object or abstract concept of which one disapproves. This usage can also refer to weakness or unmanliness. When used in this way, the extent to which it still retains connotations of homosexuality has been debated. Well into the mid 20th century a middle-aged bachelor could be described as "gay", indicating that he was unattached and therefore free, without any implication of homosexuality.”

[SIZE="2"]So, gay began to stand for weakness (and eventually immorality), in the eyes of society, and the old definitions of the word gradually faded away. We are left with the tragic consequences, and crossdressing is considered to be an immoral activity (a perversion), via association, by those individuals or groups who insist on making distinctions – in this way of thinking we are assumed to be gay, or aligned with a world that is at odds with expected behavior. But I think we ARE gay, if we hearken back to the antiquated uses for this hapless word. I mean, we, as crossdressers, leave our drab male clothes behind to be more bright, or flashy, or showy, or flamboyant, maybe even garish or gaudy. I don’t go that far, but when crossdressing veers towards drag you may begin to see my point. Again, what is the opposite of gay? It is being dull, lifeless, plain, and uncolorful – I think this describes the male clothes we left behind rather eloquently, don’t you think? Here’s a little more history:[/SIZE]

“By the mid-20th century, gay was well-established in reference to hedonistic and uninhibited lifestyles and its antonym straight, which had long had connotations of seriousness, respectability, and conventionality, had now acquired specific connotations of heterosexuality. In the case of gay, other connotations of frivolousness and showiness in dress ("gay apparel") led to association with camp and effeminacy.”

[SIZE="2"]Yes, no doubt about it, I’m GAY as all get-out. I’m engaged in a hedonistic and uninhibited lifestyle, I’m not married (a gay bachelor), and my effeminacy is there for all to see. On the other hand, my dress is not at all showy, unless you compare it to what passes for my male (drab) “wardrobe.” I’m fairly moral (believe me), yet I reject any notions of camp, along with all ideas of seriousness and respectability. I do worry a lot, but I’m not depressed, sad, or upset about things. I am a fun-loving pleasure-seeker, therefore I am witty and debonair, not to mention GAY…

In response to Mr. Burrough’s iconoclastic quote above, I find it very odd that the word “gay” has become a synonym for homosexual, but these things happen. Words evolve like everything else, and I get the feeling that it’s just too difficult for some people to use more definitive or specific language. The next time someone asks you if you’re gay, just say YES, and think about the days when the word GAY meant something else entirely. In other words, fight accepted words with better, more informed words – they won’t know what hit them! You are light-hearted, alert, ebullient, dynamic, genial, and keen aren’t you? Just asking! Carry on, you GAY fool…
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