Gay
Today I found out how ‘gay’ came to mean ‘homosexual’. The word “gay” seems to have its origins around the 12th century in England, derived from the Old French word ‘gai’, which in turn was probably derived from a Germanic word, though that isn’t completely known. The word’s original meaning meant something to the effect of “joyful”, “carefree”, “full of mirth. The first asserts that the word derives from the late Victorian era. At the time, East London was home to a great many male and female prostitutes. The origin of the word ‘Gay’ in its Homosexual context
Gay is a term that primarily refers to a homosexual person or the trait of being homosexual. The term originally meant "carefree", "cheerful', or "bright and showy". [1] While scant usage referring to male homosexuality dates to the late 19th century, that meaning became increasingly common by the midth century. [2] In modern English, gay has come to be used as an adjective, and as a noun. It is a word that carries with it a multitude of meanings and connotations, and it has a rich history that spans centuries. What is the history behind this term and how has it evolved over time? A History of 'Gay' and Other Queerwords
Originating from Old French "gai" (12c.) meaning joyful or light-colored, "gay" evolved from "merry" and "wanton" in the 14c. to also mean a homosexual. However, around the early parts of the 17th century, the word began to be associated with immorality. Fast-forward to the 19th century and the word gay referred to a woman who was a prostitute and a gay man was someone who slept with a lot of women ironically enough , often prostitutes. 
Etymology of Gay
Actually, gays had probably been using the term among themselves long before. Ghettoization of the term began to occur in the 60s so that today “gay” in the sense of “homosexual” has chased out all other uses of the word. For centuries, gay was used commonly in speech and literature to mean happy, carefree, bright and showy, and did not take on any sexual meaning until the s. At that time the meaning of gay as carefree evolved to imply that a person was unrestrained by morals and prone to decadence and promiscuity.
How ‘Gay’ Came to Mean ‘Homosexual’
Gay people didn't "steal" a word that means happy. Still, how did gay come to mean homosexual? Let's find out. Want to remove ads? Log in to see fewer ads, and become a Premium Member to remove all ads. How did gay come to mean homosexual?
Besides a fleeting reference in , the first time the Courier-Journal used the word in its modern context was in a display ad for a homosexually-themed Hollywood movie entitled The Gay Deceivers. In the early s the newspaper started using it more widely as the Gay Liberation movement began making noise. . 
Gay
Today, gay is a socially acceptable term for homosexual people. However, this word is rooted in the classification of certain types of people as illicit, counterculture or behaving in ways that go against the respectable conventions of society. .
The history of the word “gay”
What Is the Origin of the Word ‘Gay’? – The term ‘gay’ is a term that has long been used to describe individuals who are attracted to the same sex. It is a word that carries with it a multitude of meanings and connotations, and it has a rich history that spans centuries. But where did the word ‘gay’ originate from?. .