by Penny The Wise on April 5th, 2007

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What are all the euphemisms and nicknames for 'gay'? (Even the offensive ones, so easily offended, beware.) I'm interested, because I thought I had heard them all.

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Answers. 30 helpful answers below.

by Magenta on June 4th, 2007
Some with historical context:

----------------------------------------------
"Wears a Green Carnation"

Comes from the fact that Oscar Wilde used to wear one.

Pretty boys, witty boys,
You may sneer
At our disintegration.
Haughty boys, naughty boys,
Dear, dear, dear!
Swooning with affectation...
And as we are the reason
For the "Nineties" being gay,
We all wear a green carnation. ”

—Noel Coward, 1929 , Bitter Sweet

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"Bohemian"

In the early days of American Theater, it was forbidden to have plays mention homosexuality. So instead, the scriptwriters would use the word "Bohemian" and sophisticated audiences would know what they meant.

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"Friends of Dorothy"

The term dates back to a time in the early 20th century when homosexuality was against the law in both the United Kingdom and in the United States. Saying at a social gathering that another man was a "friend of Dorothy" was a euphemism used for discussing sexual orientation without other people knowing what you were discussing.

The origin of the term is unknown and there are various theories. Most commonly it has been linked to the film The Wizard of Oz because Judy Garland, who starred as the main character Dorothy, is often noted as a major icon in the gay community. A less popular etymology links it to Dorothy Parker, who had many homosexual friends.

Starting in the late 1980s, on several cruise lines, gay passengers began approaching ship staff, asking them to publicize gatherings in the daily cruise activity list. As the cruise lines were hesitant to announce such things so blatantly in their daily publications, they would list the gathering as a "Meeting of the Friends of Dorothy". Such meetings have expanded in popularity and frequency over the years. Now, many cruise lines will have multiple "FOD" events, sometimes as many one each night.
Comments
- Friend of Dorothy - that's the one I would have used. As an example for the question - I generally just say Gay.
  
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  by LadyLuck on June 4th, 2007
- Oh yes, I had forgotten about "Friend of Dorothy".
  Thanks Magenta Studios.
  
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  by Penny The Wise on June 4th, 2007
- Thankyou for the history lesson! Never heard of either "Bohemian" or "Friend of Dorothy" before in this context.
  
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  by Arisztid on June 21st, 2007
- Very educational response, Magenta Studios! Thanks!
  
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  by ... on July 17th, 2007
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by Redhawk on April 28th, 2007
Femme
butch
tweener
dyke
queer
lip-licker
carpet muncher
bush nibbler
pearl diver
clam eater/digger/lover
stone butch/stone femme (more of a life style than "just" a Lesbian.
lezzie
lezbo
lesbian

fag
faggot
Mary
pansy
Old Violet
queen queenie
fairy fairy-got-father
bear/ hairy bear/ fuzzy bear
SnowQueen
Comments
- Thanks Redhawk.
  
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  by Penny The Wise on April 28th, 2007
- No problems! <wink>
  
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  by Redhawk on April 28th, 2007
- you missed shit stabber, Ring Rustler, Bum Bandit, otherwise I think that covers it....
  
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  by wthing8 on December 17th, 2008
- lol well...us lesbos may not know all of the stereotypical gay guy nom de plumes...
  
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  by Redhawk on December 17th, 2008
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by Sheriff Raff -Answerhag on April 5th, 2007
Baloney Smoker
Fudge Packer
Bone Smuggler
Rump Wrangler
Sodomite
Colon Cowboy
Comments
- Thank you Riff-Raff. I appreciate your contribution.
  
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  by Penny The Wise on April 6th, 2007
- I don't use these terms, I have simply heard them. I prefer just plain old "gay".
  
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  by Sheriff Raff -Answerhag on April 6th, 2007
- Np.
  
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  by Penny The Wise on April 6th, 2007
- Darn, I'd thought I'd get to put down fudge-packer.
  
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  by BenThere HR on June 4th, 2007
- LOL
  
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  by Penny The Wise on June 4th, 2007
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by fallore on April 5th, 2007
Fag(got), queer, something like breeder I think (breeder is a term for hetero's, I think there is a gay equivalent), cock mongrel, ass/butt pirate, fairy, dyke, homo, carpet muncher, muff diver, brokeback, flamer, prison bitch, homoerotic, gaylord
Comments
- Thank you for posting. Some I haven't heard and some of the 'classics'. Points.
  
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  by Penny The Wise on April 6th, 2007
- "Breeder" is for hetero's. I have never heard anything similar for gays.
  
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  by Arisztid on June 21st, 2007
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by Anonymous on April 5th, 2007
Apologies in advance for my lack of decorum...

As a kid I called homosexuals "bum chums" & "pooh stabbers" (I am red with shame now!).
Comments
- Thanks, I have definitely not heard those!
  
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  by Penny The Wise on April 5th, 2007
- Cheers :)
  
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  by Anonymous on April 5th, 2007
- pooh stabbers - lol - this thread is awesome. Not that I would use any of these, but it's still funny.
  
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  by LadyLuck on June 4th, 2007
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by knightrider17 on April 5th, 2007
Homosexual (well duh...)
Wrong way up the turnpike
a Real Soprano
Putting from the ruff
fudgepackin'
shitstabbin'
uphill gardener
backside artist
Comments
- Those are good. Thanks! Some I definitely haven't heard!
  
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  by Penny The Wise on April 5th, 2007
- What an interesting variety :)
  
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  by Anonymous on April 5th, 2007
- Don't forget 'light in the loafers'.
  
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  by Halskiisaklink on April 5th, 2007
- I am glad someone said that! Thanks Trotskys.
  
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  by Penny The Wise on April 6th, 2007
- That's alright. Thank you.
  
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  by Halskiisaklink on April 6th, 2007
- Real Soprano - LOL
  
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  by LadyLuck on June 4th, 2007
- I like the wrong way up the turnpike - for purely novel reasons.
  
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  by ... on July 17th, 2007
- hehhe
  
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  by Penny The Wise on July 17th, 2007
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by Pete m on August 18th, 2007
Hi when i lived in the north of england the term there was "soft lad" an to be honest i kind of like it
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- Thanks Pete. Welcome to AB!
  
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  by Penny The Wise on August 19th, 2007
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by Rescuer Treesaw on June 4th, 2007
Of the Lavender Set.
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by dagirlyone on April 27th, 2007
pillow biter.
Comments
- Where did that one come from? I've never heard it.
  
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  by LadyLuck on June 4th, 2007
- Ah yes.
  I believe that is referring to anal sex, and having to put their face in the pillow.
  
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  by Penny The Wise on June 4th, 2007
- But if you're straight and like it from the back, you do the same thing. That one doesn't really add up for me.
  
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  by LadyLuck on June 4th, 2007
- True. But to say it to a man, implicates that he would be taking it in the bum. It wouldn't make sense to call a woman that.
  
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  by Penny The Wise on June 4th, 2007
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by Raymond_H2744 on April 27th, 2012
Gay is the euphemism invented for the term homosexual.
Comments
- That's very good, Raymond. I like that. (And I'm a homosexual, for the record.)
  
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  by Mark_R206 on May 5th, 2012
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by Raymond_H2744 on April 27th, 2012
Questions do not come any more distorted than that. "Gay" is the euphemism for homosexual.
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by streetforce1 on August 23rd, 2007
Anti-man, batty boy...these are terms you'd hear mostly in Jamaica.
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- Thanks!
  
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  by Penny The Wise on August 23rd, 2007
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by derek on June 21st, 2007
TERMS FOR MALES ONLY:
closet case
deviant
back-door bandit
gay
gayboy
queer
queer-bait
queen
pervert
perv
nancy-boy
nance
twinkie
pansy
faggot
fag
fairy
nellie
sodomist
bent
bitch-boy
butch
chicken
chicken-hawk
cock-sucker
fruit
homo
mary
limp-wristed
midnight cowboy
poof
poofter
sissy-boy
sissy
swish
that way
one of those
one of them
three dollar bill
epicene (obsolete)
morfadike (obs)
SPORTS TERMS:
plays for the other team
left handed hitter
swings the other way
switch hitter
STRAIGHT TERMS (NOT GAY):
muff-diver
pearl diver
Comments
- "Midnight cowboy"??
  .
  I have heard of most of these and can make sense of most the ones I have not heard of but where did they get "midnight cowboy" from?
  
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  by Arisztid on June 21st, 2007
- The first time I saw the term "Midnight Cowboy" was the novel, 1965, followed by the movie, 1969. The lead character thinks he's a real (straight) stud, and can make a fortune selling his body, but ends up turning tricks with queers.
  
  Oh, and "Breeder" is a derogatory term gays use for straights.
  
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  by derek on June 21st, 2007
- Thanks. Right breeder is what some gay people call straight people- cause straight people "breed".
  Thanks for the lesson!
  
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  by Penny The Wise on June 21st, 2007
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by Anonymous on June 4th, 2007
Limp wrist.
Comments
- Never heard that one!
  
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  by Penny The Wise on June 4th, 2007
- And I never heard many of the other terms.
  
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  by Anonymous on June 4th, 2007
- "Limp wrist" is an oldie.
  
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  by Arisztid on June 21st, 2007
- haha! Limp wrist was one of the terms I used to try to describe my first close male gay friend - but since I never heard of it being used by others in my circle I thought I practically invented it +blush+
  
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  by ... on July 17th, 2007
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by J and B on June 4th, 2007
Way, way back when I was in the service, we referred to them as those with a round mouth who received a "dual sixes" discharge. As I recall, the regulations which prohibited homosexual activity was Air Force Regulation 55-66.
Comments
- That would make sense. Thanks JandB.
  
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  by Penny The Wise on June 4th, 2007
- Interesting. I guess that is along the lines of being "51-50" is insane because that is the legal statute that is used to involuntarily commit someone to a mental institution in California.
  
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  by Arisztid on June 21st, 2007
- It's actually section 5150 of the California Welfare and Institutions Code. 72 hour psych. evaluation.
  
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  by J and B on June 21st, 2007
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by Tamilze on June 4th, 2007
Director of Homo-land Security

Of course you could always tell them, "If I have any questions about toungedarting a stinktube, I'll ask you." or "Snarf my cavernous bunghole you snurdnurgling Jew!"
Comments
- The director of Homo-land security, that one was pretty funny. The others are borderline offensive, but I'll give you points for your input.
  
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  by Penny The Wise on June 4th, 2007
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by theredbaron on June 4th, 2007
Light in the loafers.
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by BenThere HR on June 4th, 2007
Salami hiders.
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by El Soupy spanish for the soupy on June 4th, 2007
Nobody said Pole Smoker yet
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by Anonymous on June 4th, 2007
Faggot
Queer
Homosexual
Gaylord
Bentdi*k.
Comments
- I've never heard of bentdick as a gay term. Thanks, alanpro.
  
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  by Penny The Wise on June 4th, 2007
- I heard someone in my class call a classmate that. I think it has to do something with being straight having a straigh dick, and being gay having it bend? It's really stupid.
  
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  by Anonymous on June 4th, 2007
- Never heard of "bentd*ck".
  
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  by Arisztid on June 21st, 2007
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by LiLDoe on June 4th, 2007
fudge-packin-fanny-pirates
buttfucker-r-us
three-legged-pooper-scoopers
bolgona-pony-gliders
gizzum-junkies
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by Chopsy the Diver on June 4th, 2007
evrything covered apart from arse bandit lol
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- Lol
  
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  by AGoodperson on May 30th, 2010
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by badboy78 on June 4th, 2007
pillow biter, shirt lifter, a joseph, ass pumper, bum chum, fag, sausage hider,
Comments
- Oh, I forgot about sausage hider.
  
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  by Penny The Wise on June 4th, 2007
- Never heard of "a joseph".
  
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  by Arisztid on June 21st, 2007
- Yeah. Heard of A Mary, but not a Joseph. Interesting the names people come up with!
  
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  by Penny The Wise on June 21st, 2007
- it comes from an english television show where they were looking for someone to play joseph on the stage. nearly all the contestants were gay hence the new euphamism.....joseph
  
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  by badboy78 on June 22nd, 2007
- Aha. Thanks for the lesson!
  
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  by Penny The Wise on June 22nd, 2007
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by Mike_L640 on April 14th, 2012
tongue punching the fartbox
sausage smoker
tea bagger
fondue dipper
cornhole cop
peanut puncher
bagel banger
salad tosser
bottom feeder
jiz guzzler
one-eyed monster army
willy neck bone
billy but banger
ass pirate
moon cricket
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by aspgirl21 on April 7th, 2012
Bum-bandits (or ass-bandits)
Turd-pusher
Ass-goblin
Butt-munch
Sh*t-stabber
Ball-washing b*stard (used in certain parts of the country)
Ball-boy (ditto to the above)
Turd-burglar
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by Mike_L640 on April 14th, 2012
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by lyn on February 3rd, 2009
I've been collecting euphemisms for gay and lesbian for a while - my list is at http://www.lyn.lowenstein.eu/projects/homo/euphemism.htm - it's not comprehensive of course, so if you have some to add please let me know! I'll add the ones in the other answers! lyn
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by ultraindy on March 7th, 2011
Unless I missed them, the two that seemed to be missing from the lists are:

Nancy boy,
Donut Puncher
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by Penny The Wise on July 17th, 2007
These are all things I thought of off the top of my head- I didn't copy any answers though I'm SURE there are duplicates:

Toms
Dykes
Bull Dykes
Queer
Carpet Lickers
Carpet Muncher
Rug Muncher
Lezzie
Lezzbo
Fag
Faggot
Gay
Light in the Loafers
Friend of Dorothy
Flies the Rainbow Flag
Salami Biter
Hides the Salami
Fudge Packer
Butt Pirate
Homo
Plays for the Other Team
A Mary
Pole Smoker
Got a one way ticket to Fairy Land
Faries
Mary-Annes (more referred to cross dressers who were gay)
Queer as a 3 dollar bill
Fruit
Funny
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by Mike_L640 on April 14th, 2012
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Question

What are all the euphemisms and nicknames for 'gay'? (Even the offensive ones, so easily offended, beware.) I'm interested, because I thought I had heard them all.

Answers. 30 helpful answers below.

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