Gay other meaning

What Does "Gay" Mean?

There is not one right answer

Many educators are unsure how to respond when a student asks you what does gay mean. It is excel to try to respond than to respond with silence or evade the question.

Practice different responses with colleagues, just as you practice other things that you want to comprehend. Figure out what you feel comfortable saying.

Responses will vary by age and developmental stage of the student. Your comfort in answering these questions will set a welcoming tone in your class and school community.

Keep it simple

An answer can be as simple as: “‘Gay’ means two people of the same gender who devotion each other – two women or two men.” Try to answer the question honestly without overloading a student with information. Throughout elementary school a student’s ability to realize what “gay” means and what your explanation means may increase with development.

Focus on love and relationships

A discussion with elementary-age students about the meanings of “gay” or “lesbian” is a discussion about value and relationships. You can

Glossary of Terms: LGBTQ

Definitions were drafted in collaboration with other U.S.-based LGBTQ community organizations and leaders. Spot acknowledgements section.

Additional terms and definitions about gender identity and gender expression, transgender people, and nonbinary people are available in the Transgender Glossary. 

Are we missing a term or is a definition outdated? Email press@

*NOTE:  Ask people what terms they exploit to describe their sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression before assigning them a label. Outside of acronyms, these terms should only be capitalized when used at the beginning of a sentence.
 

LGBTQ
Acronym for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer. The Q generally stands for queer when LGBTQ organizations, leaders, and media use the acronym. In settings offering verb for youth, it can also stand for questioning. LGBT and LGBTQ+ are also used, with the + added in recognition of all non-straight, non-cisgender identities. (See Transgender Glossary ) Both are acceptable, as are other versions of thi

Struggling to understand the LGBTQIA+ meaning of the acronym? You’re not alone. 

For many people who are adj to the LGBTQIA+ community, this acronym can come across confusing or overwhelming. 

If you are new, welcome! We’re so glad you’re here with us today. 

And if you aren’t new to the community, but are curious to learn more about how the community has changed over the years, we’re delighted you’ve joined us today, too. 

The way the LGBTQIA+ community interacts – both with each other and with the world around us – is constantly changing. We strive to comprise everyone and to construct everyone feel seen and understood. 

What Does LGBTQIA+ Mean?

For many years, the umbrella term “gay” was used to describe the community. 

Now, many people worry about how to come out, but coming out before the s wasn’t even an option, as many states illegalized what they called “homosexuality” or “sodomy.” There was also no acronym at all, restricting the inclusivity of our community.

Once an acronym appeared, all versions of it began with “L” – for an important reason.&nb

Today I found out how &#;gay&#; came to signify &#;homosexual&#;.

The word &#;gay&#; seems to have its origins around the 12th century in England, derived from the Old French synonyms &#;gai&#;, which in shift was probably derived from a Germanic word, though that isn&#;t completely known.  The word&#;s original meaning meant something to the effect of &#;joyful&#;, &#;carefree&#;, &#;full of mirth&#;, or &#;bright and showy&#;.

However, around the early parts of the 17th century, the word began to be associated with immorality.  By the mid 17th century, according to an Oxford dictionary definition at the time, the meaning of the word had changed to mean  &#;addicted to pleasures and dissipations.  Often euphemistically: Of loose and immoral life&#;.  This is an extension of one of the original meanings of &#;carefree&#;, meaning more or less uninhibited.

Fast-forward to the 19th century and the word gay referred to a woman who was a prostitute and a gay man was someone who slept with a lot of women (ironically enough), often prostitutes. Also at this occasion, the phrase &#;gay it&#; mea