| Expression | Contextual comment | Time/Region | References |
|---|
| ace queen | A 1970s phrase meaning 'great queen.' Prison vernacular for a male who presents a more 'feminine' look, such as shaved legs or plucked eyebrows. Might be labeled as a component of incarcerated homosexual culture. Should not be confused with the much more commonly-used expression "ace," a shortening of "asexual." Refer to "asexual." | UK, USA, 1970s | Mosca de Colores - Gay Dictionary |
| alphabet people | An offensive contemporary label for LGBTQ+ individuals, frequently employed by right-leaning individuals responding to perceived advances in the rights of LGBTQ+ people. | 2020s- | Green's Dictionary of Slang - https://greensdictofslang.com/ |
| bathroom queen bog queen | Gay slang for those who regularly go to public lavatories in quest of sexual interactions. Synonyms: Bathsheba (a composition between bathroom and Sheba to form a title evocative of the Queen of Sheba), Ghost (1950s, ghost, because they roam the halls of the restroom). | USA, UK | Mosca de Colores - Gay Dictionary |
| batting for the other team | An euphemistic phrase, indicating someone (of any gender) is gay. This saying isn't a slur or particularly insulting and is usually used humorously. Nonetheless, it is dated because the euphemistic reluctance to normalise terminology like "gay" or "lesbian" indicates that LGBTQ+ people should not be discussed openly. It endangers discoverability if used instead of more straightforward terms. | 20th and early 21st century |
| bean queen | Slang employed in male homosexual communities in the USA to describe Mexican homosexuals. Racist undertones. Also utilized to describe Latinx drag queens, and white men who are drawn to Latino men. | Mexico, USA | Mosca de Colores - Gay Dictionary |
| bear | A community term with numerous meanings. 1. A gay or bisexual man who is hairy (facial/body) and has a cuddly physique. 2. An overarching term referring to participants of a subculture in the gay and bisexual male communities and is often characterized as more of an attitude or sense of comfort with natural masculinity and bodies. May be replicated as a self-descriptor, but consider employing quotation marks to showcase this is their word. | 20th Century- | "LGBTQ+ Terminology," Montclair State University [1] |
| beard Miss Beard | Individuals who pretend to be the date or partner of someone they are not involved with, typically to keep their sexuality from public exposure; most typically utilized to refer to a woman pretending to be dating a gay man. | 20th Century-, Europe, USA | Homosaurus |
| bicycle | Employed as slang for bisexual in the nineteen sixties. Also more extensively employed to indicate promiscuity, especially for women; this usage is considered offensive. | 1960s-, UK | Mosca de Colores - Gay Dictionary |
| bottom | A "bottom" is a person who acts as the "receiving" partner in sexual encounters. Broadly used, though should be included within quotation marks and contextualised if necessary in archival descriptions. Occasionally utilized as a self-descriptor within queer communities, but should be replicated with caution. Occasionally used as a verb ("to bottom for someone"). Offensive if applied to LGBTQ+ individuals from outwith queer communities. See also "top" and "switch." | Homosaurus |
| bronco bronc | A young gay man, or someone new to the gay community. | 1930s-, USA | Green's Dictionary of Slang - https://greensdictofslang.com/ |
| butterfly butterfly boy | Gay community slang for a man who is effeminate. No longer in common usage. | 1960s-1970s | Mosca de Colores - Gay Dictionary Green's Dictionary of Slang - https://greensdictofslang.com/ |
| capon | Originating from an animal husbandry word for a castrated rooster, the word was from the 1600s applied to castratos. In the 20th century, it was employed by American gay communities to denote a young or inexperienced gay man. No longer in use, though would be considered offensive. | USA, 1930s-1970s | Mosca de Colores - Gay Dictionary Green's Dictionary of Slang - https://greensdictofslang.com/ |
| Charlie Ronce Charley | British rhyming slang for 'ponce,' in the sense of "pimp." | UK | Green's Dictionary of Slang - https://greensdictofslang.com/ |
| chaser | Short for "tranny chaser." A person who views trans people (commonly trans women) as inherently sexual, and sexually objectifies them. In contrast to someone who is merely predominantly attracted to trans women; a chaser does not view trans women respectfully as people with humanity and agency, but instead as participants in a sexual fantasy. reminder - "tranny" is extremely offensive - avoid speaking aloud | 20th Century-, Europe, USA | GenderMinorities.com - Trans 101: glossary of trans words and how to use them |
| cornhole cornholer | American rural slang to refer to anal sex, or a gay man. Generally considered offensive. Should not be confused with the game of the same name, which includes tossing beanbags into a hole in a wooden platform. | 1920s-, USA | Oxford English Dictionary. |
| curry queen | A homosexual man who is drawn to Indian men. Offensive, racist overtones. | 1990s-, USA | Green's Dictionary of Slang - https://greensdictofslang.com/ |
| Doric love | 1920s idiom for homosexual sex/romance referencing classical Greece, sometimes with overtones of pederasty. | 1920s, UK | Mosca de Colores - Gay Dictionary |
| double-gaited | Slang for "bisexual." | 1920s-, USA | Mosca de Colores - Gay Dictionary Green's Dictionary of Slang - https://greensdictofslang.com/ |
| drag family drag mother house of | In the US, a cluster of drag queens who have been mentored by a "mother," also known as a "house." These groups frequently adopt family drag names and establish close-knit communities. See also 3.1.1 LGBTQIA+ Communities and History, "chosen family." | 20th Century-, US | Wikipedia - Drag Race Terminology [2] |
| dyke bulldyke bulldagger | Contested terminology. A slur for lesbian, highly offensive if used towards a lesbian or transmasc person externally. The phrase has been reclaimed by certain lesbian communities and is at times utilized approvingly within communities. Only use if a person self-describes in this manner, and enclose within quotation marks to indicate this. "Bulldyke" and "bulldagger" are frequently used to denote butch or masculine queer women, occasionally with connotations of toughness or aggression. Only employ these terms if someone self-identifies this way, and enclose in quotation marks to demonstrate this. | 1930s-, US, UK | LGBTQ+ Terminology, Montclair State University [3] Oxford English Dictionary Green's Dictionary of Slang - https://greensdictofslang.com/ |
| egg | Slang expression (originating online) for an individual who hasn't realized they're transgender, hasn't come out yet, or is in the early stages of transition. Usually employed (fondly) by trans people to recognize when aspects of someone's personality or behavior bring to mind gender-related aspects of themselves before they understood they were trans. If needed to allude to this in description, use "speculations about transness" or "discussion about pre-/early-transition experience." | 21st century, online | Wikipedia - List of LGBT Slang Terms Emily St. James, Vox[4] |
| faggot fagot faggotry faggoty fag faggy fagged | An extremely offensive slur for a gay man, usually used to suggest someone is effeminate, lacking power or vigor, weak, cowardly, and ineffectual. Hate speech when used about a gay man, especially in the US. Not to be confused with other meanings: "Fag" is also British English slang for a cigarette. Widely used in this way in the UK, inoffensive. "Faggot" can mean a bundle of sticks or herbs, frequently for a fire. Historically (Middle Ages) connected with the bundles of wood used to burn people accused of heresy/witchcraft. Currently largely obsolete. There is speculation that the term evolved to be a slur due to this association with immorality and punishment, but there is no consensus on its origins. "Faggot" is also utilized in the UK Midlands to denote a regional cuisine—a type of meatball. Inoffensive within this context, though unusual. "Fagged" or "fagged out" were historically (18th-20th century) employed to signify tired or exhausted. If used in these alternative contexts, consider incorporating more explanation or quotation marks in descriptions to make this clear. | (as a slur) 1940s-, US, later UK | Oxford English Dictionary Moscas de Colores |
| fag hag | A woman, normally a heterosexual one, possibly of a certain age, who prefers, enjoys, or seeks out the companionship of homosexual men. This term is offensive to gay men and misogynistic to heterosexual women. Once common, now rarely used within queer communities. | 1960s- | Oxford English Dictionary Green's Dictionary of Slang - https://greensdictofslang.com/ |
| fag stag | A heterosexual male who savors the company of gay men. Uncommon. | 1990s- | Green's Dictionary of Slang - https://greensdictofslang.com/ |
| fairy | Slang for a homosexual male, probably originating from earlier slang use meaning a promiscuous woman. See 3.2 Women's History. Contested terminology—originally offensive, but reclaimed by gay men in the 1960s. Only use if an individual self-describes this way. | 1890s- | Green's Dictionary of Slang - https://greensdictofslang.com/ |
| fairy lady | Some sources cite this term to refer to a feminine lesbian, others to refer to a bisexual individual of any gender. Mostly arose originally in the 1920s and onwards in informal dictionaries of slang, which weren't always reliable. Unable to corroborate from other sources. | 1920s-? | Green's Dictionary of Slang - https://greensdictofslang.com/ |
| flame flamer flaming | "Flaming" can be employed generally as an intensifier or curse, but has become especially associated with feminine gay men and camp. Often still used fondly, especially by older generations of gay men, but offensive if applied by others. Only utilize if an individual self-describes in this way, and indicate this with quotation marks. | 20th Century- | Green's Dictionary of Slang - https://greensdictofslang.com/ |
| flip-flop flip flop | Slang to indicate either 1) bisexuality or 2) an individual who enjoys switching between "top" and "bottom" roles during sex. Particularly employed by incarcerated people in the US. | 1970s- | Green's Dictionary of Slang - https://greensdictofslang.com/ |
| flower daisy pansy tulip water-lily | Various flowers are used to refer to feminine gay men, though "pansy" is likely the most frequent. Associates gay men with misogynistic perceptions of femininity; implies weakness, unthreatening appearance, cowardice. Offensive, often employed as an intentional slur. | 1890s- | Green's Dictionary of Slang - https://greensdictofslang.com/ |
| flute fluter flute-player | Outdated slang for fellatio, or someone performing fellatio. | 1900s- | Green's Dictionary of Slang - https://greensdictofslang.com/ |
| foop | Rare slang for a homosexual man. | 1890s | Green's Dictionary of Slang - https://greensdictofslang.com/ |
| forty-one 41 | 'Forty-one' is an expression utilized in the state of Texas (USA) to pertain to homosexual men. The origin of this term is discovered in neighboring Mexico, where the very same expression is employed in Spanish, resulting from a scandal that occurred in 1901 in Mexico City. 41 individuals were detained at a private dance, where nearly half were cross-dressing. This episode is known as 'The Dance of the Forty-One.' It is said that in actuality, they were 42, but one of them was the son-in-law of President Porfirio Diaz, who was permitted to escape. Those who couldn't afford freedom or silence were sentenced to hard labor in the Oaxaca National Valley. So, the number 41 became a euphemism for forbidden sexuality, and was averted. | Texas, USA; Mexico | Mosca de Colores - Gay Dictionary |
| friend of dorothy | Coded slang for gay. Referencing Judy Garland's Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz, a gay icon. | UK, USA, 1970s- | Moscas de Colores Green's Dictionary of Slang - https://greensdictofslang.com/ |
| frit | Rare slang for a gay man. | UK, USA, 1970s | Moscas de Colores Green's Dictionary of Slang - https://greensdictofslang.com/ |
| fruit fruity | Slang for a homosexual man, particularly for a feminine gay man. Outdated and frequently offensive, as it implies someone is easily "picked," or links someone with its other slang meanings of "dupe," "victim," or someone suffering from mental illness. There are many variations of this phrase utilized for queer people across the 20th century and across different regions, including bowl of fruit, fruitcake, fruit-eater, fruitloop, and fruit-picker. | 20th Century- | Moscas de Colores Green's Dictionary of Slang - https://greensdictofslang.com/ |
| gay cat gaycat | Slang predominantly utilized in unhoused and/or criminal communities from the first half of the 20th century in the US. Typically denoting a younger homosexual companion. | 1900s-1950s, USA | Mosca de Colores - Gay Dictionary Green's Dictionary of Slang - https://greensdictofslang.com/ |
| gay lord gaylord | A slur for a homosexual male. | 1970s-, UK, USA | Oxford English Dictionary Green's Dictionary of Slang - https://greensdictofslang.com/ |
| gentleman of the back door | 18th-century slang for a gay man. Only located in popular slang dictionaries of the period—little corroborating evidence that this was actually utilized. | 18th Century-, UK | Green's Dictionary of Slang - https://greensdictofslang.com/ Norena Shopland, A Practical Guide to searching LGBTQIA historical records (Routledge 2021 |
| ginger ginger beer Brighton Pier jere gear King Lear | Cockney rhyming slang for "queer." | 20th Century-, UK | Mosca de Colores - Gay Dictionary |
| girl | Sometimes used as a slur for a homosexual man, assuming that being "feminine" is "lower status." Consequently offensive to gay males and to women more generally. More often used as a (now widely recognised) term of endearment between gay men, although it is more probable as a friendly term than a romantic one. | 1910s- | Mosca de Colores - Gay Dictionary Green's Dictionary of Slang - https://greensdictofslang.com/ |
| giver | Slang for the "active" role during homosexual sex. The giver/taker dichotomy is largely acknowledged as artificial and heteronormative. | 20th Century-, UK, USA | Moscas de Colores |
| gold star | Slang for someone who has never had sexual relations with a person of the opposite gender, occasionally incorporating bisexual individuals of their own gender. Most commonly used in lesbian communities, now broadly acknowledged as biphobic. | 20th Century- | Green's Dictionary of Slang - https://greensdictofslang.com/ |
| gonsel gunsel gunshel gunsil | Slang used by incarcerated and unhoused communities in the US to designate a young gay man or boy. | 20th Century, USA | Moscas de Colores Green's Dictionary of Slang - https://greensdictofslang.com/ |
| gump | Slang utilized by incarcerated men in the US to denote a person in the "passive" role in homosexual sex. | 1980s-, USA | Mosca de Colores - Gay Dictionary Green's Dictionary of Slang - https://greensdictofslang.com/ |
| gym rat gym bunny muscle mary | A sports enthusiast; usually one who goes to gyms and training facilities; frequently utilized for young gay men fixated on body building. | 1970s-, USA, Scotland | Mosca de Colores - Gay Dictionary Green's Dictionary of Slang - https://greensdictofslang.com/ |
| Harry Hoofter iron hoofter iron hoof iron woolie woofter wooly | Cockney rhyming slang - a slur for gay men (rhyming with "poofter" or "poof"). | 20th Century- | Wikipedia - List of LGBT Slang Terms |
| hip-hitter | A 1970s phrase for "top" gay male. | 1970s, USA | Moscas de Colores Green's Dictionary of Slang - https://greensdictofslang.com/ |
| homo | A shortened form of "homosexual." Often derogatory. Always employ the complete expression in a description. | 1920s- | Moscas de Colores Oxford English Dictionary |
| jocker | Slang utilized by incarcerated and unhoused communities in the US to denote an older or "predatory" gay man. | 1890s-, USA | Green's Dictionary of Slang - https://greensdictofslang.com/ |
| left-handed | A term used pejoratively in 1930s USA as slang for gay. Offensive to both left-handed and gay individuals, since the association assumes that both are "incorrect." | 1930s, USA | Green's Dictionary of Slang - https://greensdictofslang.com/ |
| lipstick lesbian | Usually refers to a lesbian with a feminine gender expression. Can be used in a positive or a derogatory way, contingent upon who is utilizing it. Is occasionally also used to refer to a lesbian who is perceived as automatically "passing" for heterosexual. Only employ if somebody self-describes this way, and place within quotation marks to indicate this. The expression "femme lesbian" may be more fitting. | 20th Century- | "LGBTQ+ Terminology," Montclair State University [5] |
| Nancy Nancy boy Nance Mary Mary-Ann Molly Nelly | Women's names have often been adopted as slurs for gay men, especially for feminine gay men and transfeminine individuals. "Nancy" is possibly the most common, across the 20th century globally. All are offensive and shouldn't be reproduced in a description unless necessary. See 3.1.1 LGBTQIA+ Communities and History, "Molly" for a historically-specific application of this name. | Mosca de Colores - Gay Dictionary Green's Dictionary of Slang - https://greensdictofslang.com/ |
| prushon | Slang utilized by unhoused communities in the US to denote a young homosexual male who travels with an older companion. | 1890s-1980s | Moscas de Colores Green's Dictionary of Slang - https://greensdictofslang.com/ |
| punk punker | Originating as a term for a sex worker, in the late 19th century, it came to indicate a gay man, commonly a "bottom" or someone coerced into gay sex. Initially utilized by incarcerated and unhoused communities, and later as a slur for gay men in African-American communities. "Punk rock" emerged as a musical and political movement in the 1970s. | (as slang for gay) 19th Century- | Oxford English Dictionary |
| rough trade | Slang for a male who identifies as straight, but occasionally engages in sex with queer men (usually as a "top"). | 1960s- | Green's Dictionary of Slang - https://greensdictofslang.com/ Claire Hayward, "Queer Terminology: LGBTQ Histories and the Semantics of Sexuality." [6] |
| stoke Stoke-on-Trent | Cockney rhyming slang for gay, rhyming with "bent." | 1980s-, UK | Green's Dictionary of Slang - https://greensdictofslang.com/ |
| stud | A community term for an African-American and/or Latinx masculine queer woman. Also recognized as "ag." Only employ if a person self-describes in this way, and avoid using for white individuals, since this is a phrase specifically developed by and for African-American and Latinx communities. | 20th Century-, USA | "LGBTQ+ Terminology," Montclair State University [7] |
| sugar daddy | A phrase from the Black community in the nineteen twenties, to refer to an older, wealthy partner. Over time, this phrase was adopted by the LGBTQIA+ community as well. | 1920s- | Mosca de Colores - Gay Dictionary |
| swings the other way swinging both ways | An euphemistic phrase indicating that someone (of any gender) is gay or bisexual. These expressions are not a slur or particularly offensive, and are frequently used with a note of humor. Nevertheless, they are outdated, due to the euphemistic reluctance to normalise terms such as "gay," "lesbian," or "bisexual," suggesting that LGBTQ+ people should not be discussed openly. Risks blocking discoverability if used instead of more direct phrases. Not to be confused with the term "swinging" on its own, which can indicate non-monogamous practices. | 1960s- | Green's Dictionary of Slang - https://greensdictofslang.com/ |
| swish swisher swishy | Slang for a feminine gay man, originating from 1930s USA. Not especially offensive, although should still be complemented by clearer LGBTQ+ terminology to help discoverability. | 1930s-, US | Mosca de Colores - Gay Dictionary Green's Dictionary of Slang [8] |
| switch vers | LGBTQ+ community slang for somebody who "switches" between "giving" and "receiving" during sex. Refer to also "top" and "bottom." "Vers" is short for "versatile." "Switch" is sometimes also used in a BDSM context, to indicate someone who "switches" between the dominant and submissive roles. | 20th Century- | Homosaurus |
| switch-hitter | USA slang for bisexual, originating from baseball terminology. | 20th Century-, US | Moscas de Colores |
| top | A "top" is a person who acts as the "giving" partner in sexual encounters. Broadly used, though should be enclosed within quotation marks and contextualised if needed in archival descriptions. Often utilized as a self-descriptor within queer communities, however, should be replicated with caution. Sometimes used as a verb ("to top someone"). Offensive if used to LGBTQ+ individuals from outside queer communities. See also "bottom" and "switch." | Homosaurus |
| tranny | A highly offensive slur for a trans person. Initially employed to conflate "transsexual" people, "transvestites," and drag queens. Primarily employed about transfeminine individuals, though offensive to all trans people. reminder - "tranny" is extremely offensive - avoid speaking aloud | 1970s- | Green's Dictionary of Slang [9] Oxford English Dictionary |
| twink | Slang phrase extensively employed in gay communities to describe a young or young-looking male with minimal or no facial or body hair. Can be pejorative, yet can also be a self-descriptor. Always enclose within quotation marks if necessary to utilize in a description, and contextualise. | 20th Century- | "LGBTQ+ Terminology," Montclair State University [10] |