Why the word gay?

This is a question I have on many an occasion asked myself and my friends, to which I get many amusing answers but none really answer it. Why are we called gay?

Looking at the dictionary meaning of the word which is “carefree and merry! with gay abandonment, bright and cheerful, smartly dressed ….” these except for ‘smartly dressed’ for the most part, are all words that I would hardly use at first glance to describe the gay community out there.

On the contrary a lot of gay people are very inward looking and shy, afraid to express themselves for fear of ridicule or scorn and many deny even to themselves their true sexuality and in doing so the emotional pressure cooker that builds up inside can often lead to emotional and even mental breakdown. Young gay men and women are at a much higher risk of suicide than their straight counterparts. A lot of this pressure comes from society’s expectations that people have a girlfriend or boyfriend and behave in a certain way and if a person does not then eyes turn and questions are asked.

I think that sometimes these problems are exasperated in the media especially on tv where the old stereotypes are played out time and again. The gay man is nearly always portrayed as flamboyant feminine and camp, and lesbian women as masculine and butch. As a gay man watching these types of characters I find that the opposite is more often the truth. Gay men are first and foremost men, they play football, they are brickies and joiners as well as being hairdressers. Lesbian women are as beautiful and feminine as their straight counterparts, so these old stereotypes really are outdated.

For every ten people you meet today one of them will be gay so getting back to my original question “Why gay” – I am no closer to an answer, but then why not gay! I think that the gay community should live up to its name and start being more carefree, merry, bright and cheerful, and live their lives to the fullness of their potential. Why not!

Next meeting of the Newry Rainbow Community is next Tuesday 1st November at 7.30pm in Ballybot House, Cornmarket. All are welcome.

Email: nrc@gaynewry.com or go to: www.gaynewry.com