Enough With Labels

Years ago (back in the 50’s and 60’s) there was a small group of kids that lived in our neighborhood that were called “the bugs.” Mention “the bugs” to anyone and they knew exactly what you meant and who you were talking about. They tended to go off and not socialize or play with us and over time they were called queer.

The adjective queer, meaning strange or odd from a conventional viewpoint; unusually different; singular, seemed to fit them nicely. The second meaning of queer (of a questionable nature or character; suspicious; shady) also seemed to fit them at times.

However the other two dictionary definitions of not feeling physically right or well, giddy, faint, or qualmish or mentally unbalanced or deranged, did not fit.

It seemed like no one wanted to call them what they were. They seemed to be afraid of the word homosexual. They were effeminate and unmanly, so they were called queer (not conventional men).

Somewhere along the line there was a gradual change. More and more of these people who were hiding in closets started to “come out.” I thought the term “coming out” was used to describe young prominent ladies when they would be allowed to socialize.

I remember reading about Mr. And Mrs. Peabody’s daughter “coming out” at the annual Debutante Ball. These stories were often found in the Social page(s) of the Sunday newspaper. Many of these young ladies were from well-to-do and well respected families.

Now we have homosexuals “coming out” of closets and changing from queer to gay.

Look up the word gay in the dictionary today and you will find the following definitions/meanings:

1. Having or showing a merry, lively mood: gay spirits; gay music. 2. Bright or showy: gay colors; gay ornaments. 3. given to or abounding in social or other pleasures: a gay social season. 4. Licentious; dissipated; wanton: The baron is a gay old rogue with an eye for the ladies. 5. Homosexual. 6. Of, indicating, or supporting homosexual interests or issues: a gay organization.

I have three dictionaries in my house; the 1927 Webster’s New International Dictionary, the 1947 Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary and the 1968 American Collegiate Dictionary.
All three have a variation of the first four definitions from above yet none have homosexual as a definition.

Why did you have to steal the word gay? I don’t get it.
Why would you want to brand yourselves? Why do you feel that you need a label?
Do you feel inadequate?

“Cast your burden on the Lord,
And he will sustain you:
He will never permit
The righteous to be moved.

But thou, O God, wilt cast them down,
Into the lowest pit;
Men of blood and treachery
Shall not live out half their days.
But I will trust in thee.

-Psalm 55