Common Slang Terms for Gay Men and Lesbians and Their Origin
Some of the slang terms for gays and lesbians include the words “gam”, “div”, “stud”, “fruit”,” butch”, “queer”, and “trade”. The origins of these terms can be traced to various gay and lesbian groups from different cities and cultures. For example, the word “div“ comes from labeling American gay men in the 1950s, and “gam“ was used in gay talk in New York City in the 1960s (González, 2019).
Current Connotations and Social Acceptability
The current connotations of these terms and their acceptability depend on the situation. These terms can be used in positive and ironic contexts as affirmations of gays and lesbians and to bring groups together. However, they can also be used to insult or bash gays and lesbians. It depends on the context, tone, and setting of these terms.
Personal Experiences with Slang Terms
I first heard these terms when I was young and never used them because I was not conscious of my understanding of gays and lesbians. But now I am more conscious about it and feel that I should not use these terms because they may be offensive to some gays and lesbians. Depending on the situation, these terms can have a positive or negative context, so it’s best to avoid using them.
Slang Terms Used by Gay Individuals for Straight People
The terms gay people use about straight people are “breeder”, “hetero”, “vanilla”, and “bigots”. If I were called one of these terms, I would feel insulted. I want to be appreciated for who I am, not called by one of these words. It would make me uncomfortable and not taken seriously.
Comparing the Effects of Slurs Across Communities
There is a distinction between being referred to as a “breeder“ and being referred to as a “faggot” as a gay guy. “Breeder“ is a phrase used to describe a heterosexual person, whereas “faggot” is a derogatory epithet used to describe a gay person. The distinction between these two labels reflects our society’s power dynamics since the term “faggot” is frequently used to humiliate and oppress someone who is homosexual. In contrast, “breeder“ usually describes someone who is simply straight. This reflects the LGBTQ+ community’s long history of discrimination and stigma, as well as the varying levels of privilege that heterosexual individuals experience in comparison.
Reference
González, O. (2019). From Hom(e)ophobia to Hom(e)oerotics: Searching for a “Substitute for Salvation” in the Corpus of John Rechy. Web.