Ryan Bleese: What is ‘Gay’ Anyway?

According to the handy dictionary feature in Microsoft Word, the word “gay” leads to an elaborate array of definitions. “Attracted to the same sex”, “merry”, “bright in color”, “carefree”, and “debauched” are included under the adjectives. As a noun, it is used to describe a man or a woman who is attracted to the same sex (as we all very well know). However, none of those definitions offer any explanation as to why the word has become a replacement for such words as stupid, disagreeable, unfortunate, calamitous, apocalyptic, or any other word in which a person could express disdain. How, then, did we come to a point in America where the word “gay”, most commonly associated now with a specific group of individuals who have long suffered the plights which come with civil rights issues, was used in such derogatory tones?

More at: My Fox Illinois!