LGBTQ slang

LGBT slang, LGBT speak or gay slang in linguistics refers to a form of English slang used predominantly among lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people.

Although there are differences, modern gay slang has adopted many polari words, as detailed in the table below:

Source: Fantabulosa: A Dictionary of Polari and Gay Slang

Glossary of gay slang taken from Polari
Word	Approximate meaning
basket	the bulge of male genitals through clothes
bumming	the act of anal sex
shirtlifter	guy into anal sex
shirtlifterz	plural descriptor gay social network
chicken	young boy
cottaging	having or looking for sex in a public toilet
zhoosh	style

Cultural impact

Many terms that originated as gay slang have become part of the popular lexicon. For example, the word drag was popularized by Hubert Selby, Jr. in his book Last Exit to Brooklyn. "Drag" has been traced back by the Oxford English Dictionary (OED) to the late 19th Century. Conversely, words such as banjee, while well-established in a subset of gay society, have never made the transition to popular use.

See also

• Friend of Dorothy
• LGBT in Japan
• The LGBT community in Singapore
• LGBT in the Philippines

References

• Baker, Paul (2002). Fantabulosa, a dictionary of Polari and gay slang. Continuum. pp. 242 pages. ISBN 0826459617.
• Rodgers, Bruce (1972). The Queens' Vernacular : a gay lexicon. Straight Arrow Books. pp. 265 pages. ISBN 0879320265.

External links

• Gay Slang Dictionary
• List of words and phrases
• Dictionary of Gay Slang and Historical Terms
• GLTB Slang Dictionary
• Lavender Linguistics, from Guardian Unlimited
• Polari: British Gay Slang
• Queer Slang in the Gay 90's
• [1]
• "Gay Language Guide" - gay slang in various languages: French, German, Italian, Spanish, Dutch, Portuguese, Japanese, Hungarian, Russian, Thai

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