# When (in Literature) Did "Gay" Begin to be Used?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-in-literature-did-gay-begin-to-be-used/502035>\
**Category:** Cafe Society\
**Created:** [July 6, 2009, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-in-literature-did-gay-begin-to-be-used/502035 "2009-07-06T00:58:30Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![ralph124c](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8797f3/32.png) [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\
**Post date:** [July 6, 2009, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-in-literature-did-gay-begin-to-be-used/502035/1 "2009-07-06T00:58:30Z")

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The use of the word “gay”, as a synonym for homosexual: when and where did it start?  
I am under the impression (I’m sure I am wrong) that “gay” is a 1960’s term…am I wrong?

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**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\
**Post date:** [July 6, 2009, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-in-literature-did-gay-begin-to-be-used/502035/2 "2009-07-06T01:15:00Z")

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> [@ralph124c](#):
>
> The use of the word “gay”, as a synonym for homosexual: when and where did it start?  
> I am under the impression (I’m sure I am wrong) that “gay” is a 1960’s term..am I wrong?

[The Master speaks !](http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/517/how-did-gay-come-to-mean-homosexual)

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**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\
**Post date:** [July 6, 2009, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-in-literature-did-gay-begin-to-be-used/502035/3 "2009-07-06T01:27:05Z")

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As indicated, the term was used as far back as the 1930s (and even earlier), but did not become mainstream until around 1970. Homosexuals actually liked it that way: in a time when they could get in a lot of trouble with the law, it was a way to identify other gays without danger.

For instance, if you saw a likely man, you could go to him and ask if he knew where to find a gay time. If he’s straight, he would give a variety of answers, but if he were gay, he would know exactly what you were asking.

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**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\
**Post date:** [July 6, 2009, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-in-literature-did-gay-begin-to-be-used/502035/4 "2009-07-06T02:11:31Z")

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Two previous threads on the subject.

[http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=55582&highlight=homosexual](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=55582&highlight=homosexual)

[http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=170184&highlight=homosexual](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=170184&highlight=homosexual)