Why Did Society Allow "gay" To Mean Homosexual?

[10ClarionSt]

Look in any dictionary and the first definition of "gay" says homosexual. That was never the case. We all know that previously being gay meant happy, carefree, colourful, vibrant etc. So why, and how was this allowed to happen?

[jim360]

And now Naomi joins the show of ignorant unity coloured by narrow personal experiences! How wonderful! AB should remember this day.

[naomi24]

Jim, I'm not sure why you're being so rude, but that aside, unless someone is homosexual, how can their experiences be anything other than narrow?

[ichkeria]

Lots of words change meaning over time. Many of the words for "homosexual" were rather unpleasant (and still are), so it was probably payback.

[jim360]

I'm demonstrating the exact amount of respect that the last few posts deserve, nothing more than that.

[naomi24]

Jim, as far as I'm aware I haven't said anything disrespectful, so why be rude to me?

[Beeee]

GAY stands for Good as You.

So, when someone says they are gay, they are saying they are as you as the person they are talking to.

Many gay people are in fact very happy, very carefree, colorful and extremely vibrant.

Sadly there was (and still is) too many homophobic people out there.

The English language grows and changes. Some folk do not like the changes others embrace them.

[jim360]

Nah, Beee, that's a "backronym" -- as in, it was thought of after the word was used that way.

* * * * *

Naomi, just to be clear, Khandro was the rude one in that he trivialised and dismissed bisexual people as just gay people who'd occasionally forgot that, which is ignorant as a matter of principle, and pointing that out is not rude -- just accurate. For Mikey to agree with him puts him in essentially the same boat; for you to agree with them both, ditto.

I call it as I see it, anyway. Bisexuality is a real (and surprisingly large) part of human sexuality, and not invalidated by Khandro's narrowed view of it, nor by your own experiences. I'm saddened, but not exactly surprised, to see such attitudes on AB. Not exactly the most supportive of communities when it comes to LGBT issues.

[Garaman]

Some people accept all the changes in the English language that happened before they learnt it, but want the language freezing at that point.

[geevo]

We are fortunate to have English as our native tongue - the most vibrant, exciting language in the world: let's enjoy it in all its wonderful complexity.

[naomi24]

Jim, Khandro didn’t say they ‘occasionally forget it’, he said they may occasionally deviate from their true orientation. Where the ‘matter of principle’ comes into it I’ve no idea, but personally I think it worthy of consideration.

Furthermore, the idea that we must all be ‘supportive’ of LGBT issues reads to me that we shouldn’t question whatever the LGBT community tells us, but why not? If you are right – and since you’re no more privy to everyone else’s thoughts, preferences, and foibles than the rest of us, I’m not sure you are, how do you ever expect other people to understand if you rubbish their questions and demand automatic respect?

[Khandro]

jim, //Khandro was the rude one in that he trivialised and dismissed bisexual people as just gay people who'd occasionally forgot that, which is ignorant as a matter of principle//

I believe I am neither rude (in this case) nor homophobic.
I cited J.M.Keynes who was an undoubted, extremely active homosexual, (and one of the greatest minds of the 20th cent.) who did eventually marry the Russian ballerina Lydia Lopokova, of whom he had undoubted fond feelings - though in the bedroom he liked her dress as a boy.

[Khandro]

^^ Also there's more than mikey, naomi and me thinks so;
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/07/05/health/straight-gay-or-lying-bisexuality-revisited.html

I think a man saying he's half homosexual is like a woman saying she's half pregnant. :0)

[Togo]

Lol @ Mikey. Animal Vegetable or Miserable anyone?