What it Means to be Gay

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The word “gay” in today’s society differs from what it once meant when it was originally created. The word can still be used in derogatory manners but is used as a casual word between friends some times. Different people use the word in it’s different meanings. Each meaning of the word is still used but some meanings are used more often. “Gay” was originally meant to mean words like “happy” and “carefree.” People used to say “I am feeling very gay today” and there would no negative connotation of the word, it was actually a positive thing to say. I remember learning this meaning in my third grade music class as we discussed gay music. This meaning was widely used especially in theaters; many theaters had the word gaiety in their names. It was a word used among many people as a positive adjective and to express good feelings towards other people. Today the word “ Gay” is used to express dislike towards the homosexual community. When the word evolved into this meaning, it strongly affected the homosexual community; it became the new term that everyone used when referring homosexuals. When homosexuals hear the word they get very offended by it and automatically see it at an attack towards them. They feel this way because the word was used in a negative way towards them for so many years. Today a person can use the word as an adjective to describe something as other than happy or homosexual. Sayings like “That movie was gay” or “My statistics class is gay” can be used to describe something that is either stupid or boring. Kids also call their friends gay when they do something embarrassing or unacceptable. Many gay people find this offensive because a majority of the population thinks being gay is unacceptable. I, along with many others, use the word “gay” incorrectly. I tend to call people gay when they are annoying or embarrassing to others or myself. I also

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