SEX AND RELATIONSHIPS

The Secret Language of Homos

gay slang
Written by Gary

Gay language.

Back in the day, gay people had to invent a secret language to avoid being caught.

gay slang

If you have any gay friends at all, you know that we have a language all our own. Granted, we boosted most of it from black girls, but any time you hear someone say ‘hunty’, ‘kween’, or ‘yass’, chances are that person is a homosexual.

Things weren’t always so great for us homos though, and there was a time when we had to use a secret language just to avoid being arrested.

Polari was a language used in Britain back in the 50s and 60s, when being gay was illegal. Nowadays it is being seen again, even in the lyrics of a song on David Bowie’s final album.

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Polari is derived from a mishmash of Italian, Romani, Yiddish, cockney slang, backslang—meaning spelling words backwards, and cant, a language used by 18th-century traveling performers, criminals, and carnival workers.

Polari was generally spoken by oppressed people in the working class, in an effort to create a queer culture at a time when such a thing wasn’t allowed. Homosexuality wasn’t legalized in England until 1967, and since then it has sort of died out.

Call me crazy, but I would take Polari over the ridiculous gay slang I hear strewn about in gay bars nowadays. Half the time I don’t even know what we are saying anymore, and I am a card carrying, silver star homo.

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About the author

Gary

Gary is the gay guy that every girl wants to be, and every guy wants to be with (Mostly because he can't get pregnant). He is based in Manhattan, but loves traveling to exotic new people, and sleeping with interesting new places. He is an adventurous writer, digital artist, and game designer that will try almost anything if it makes a good story.
--Instagram: @garyadrianrandall --Twitter: @gadrianrandall

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