When did the word gay change from happy to homosexual

By , the word gay now officially acquired the new added definition of meaning homosexual males. Gay men themselves seem to have been behind the driving thrust for this new definition as they felt (and many still do), that “homosexual” is much too clinical, sounding like a disorder.

In , the earliest reference found to date for the word gay as a self-described name for homosexuals came from Alfred A. Gross, executive secretary for the George W. Henry Foundation, who said in the June issue of SIR magazine: "I have yet to meet a happy homosexual.

In the s the term was used to refer to female prostitutes; to “gay it” meant “to copulate.” By 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.

For centuries, gay was used commonly in speech and literature to mean happy, carefree, bright and showy, and did not take on any sexual meaning until the s.

By , the word gay now officially acquired the new added definition of meaning homosexual males. Gay men themselves seem to have been behind the driving thrust for this new definition as they felt (and many still do), that “homosexual” is much too clinical, sounding like a disorder.

“Gay” came into English from French in the 13th century and meant “merry.” By the 17th century, according to Merriam-ster, the word had taken on a second, sexual meaning: “rakish,” or.

In the s the term was used to refer to female prostitutes; to “gay it” meant “to copulate.” By 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.

In , the earliest reference found to date for the word gay as a self-described name for homosexuals came from Alfred A. Gross, executive secretary for the George W. Henry Foundation, who said in the June issue of SIR magazine: "I have yet to meet a happy homosexual.