"Gay" is a colloquial term used to describe non-heterosexual people, communities and activities. Prior to the 20th Century, the word "gay" meant happy and carefree.
Shifting Definitions
Most often applied to things of a homosexual nature, the term "gay" is also used in a broader sense to describe those who are bisexual and transgendered or transsexual. For instance, the "gay community" usually encompasses anyone who is not involved in or seeking a traditional male-female heterosexual relationship.
While the term lesbian is gender-specific and is applied only to women who are homosexual, both men and women who have homosexual tendencies may be labeled "gay." However, some members of the community reject the "gay" label since it does not express the diversity of the community and, according to some opinions, refers only to men who are homosexual. The term LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender/transsexual) is generally preferred by members of the community, as it reflects not only the group's distinctness from the mainstream, but also the diversity within the community.
References
Fast Facts
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Fact:
May refer to anything not heterosexual
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Fact:
In some instances, refers strictly to homosexual men
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Fact:
A lesbian is a woman that is attracted to other women
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Fact:
A bisexual is a person attracted to members of both sexes
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Fact:
"Gay" is sometimes used in a derogatory manner to refer to something undesirable
