Gay

Until several decades ago, the word gay meant something like "jolly" or "mirthful", as in the French gai. In contemporary usage, however, that meaning is uncommon nowadays; the term is usually synonymous with "homosexual." When referring to a group of people, the term often means "male homosexual" — if gay women are referred to, the word "lesbian" is often used instead.

Complexities

Many people consider "gay" and "homosexual" to be synonyms. Other people, however, consider "gay" to be a matter of self-identification and "homosexual" to refer to sexual activities.

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Using these definitions, a person could be gay but not homosexual, or homosexual but not gay:

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If a person has had same-sex sexual encounters but does not self-identify as gay, terms such as closeted, on the down low, discreet, or bi-curious may apply.

Related Topics:
Closeted - Down low - Bi-curious

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Similarly, a person may identify as gay even in absence of sexual activity. This is the case for some celibate individuals, such as monks, or for young people who have come out of the closet as gay for political or emotional reasons but are not yet ready to form a sexual relationship. This may also apply to bisexuals, who may consider themselves to be gay due to their same-sex attractions even if they are in a monogamous relationship with a member of the opposite sex. This too involves certain complexities, however, as some people consider "gay" and "bisexual" to be mutually exclusive.

Related Topics:
Celibate - Out of the closet - Bisexual

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