when did the term gay start
Ayto [20th Century Words] calls attention to the ambiguous use of the word in the 1868 song The Gay Young Clerk in the Dry Goods Store, by U.S. female impersonator Will S. Hays. The word gay in the 1890s had an tinge of promiscuity, a gay house was a brothel.The suggestion of immorality in the word can be traced back to 1637. Gay as a noun meaning a (usually male) homosexual is attested from 1971.This happened around the late 60s early 70s rather then use the word homosexual they used the word gay because it sounds a lot better. I think it is just because the want to be happy.yto [20th Century Words] calls attention to the ambiguous use of the word in the 1868 song The Gay Young Clerk in the Dry Goods Store, by U.S. female impersonator Will S. Hays. The word gay in the 1890s had an tinge of promiscuity, a gay house was a brothel.