The Spectm: The ‘gayt thg’ you’ve ever done

QUEERNS IS A MEME: WHY ALL THE GOOD SOCIAL MEDIA IS GAY

* maybe it's a gay thing *

If you n immediately intify what k alternativ, eyebrow sls, astrologil charts, ttagere athetics, Lil Nas X’s “MONTERO (Call Me By Your Name), ” cuffed pants, and girl red have mon, you’ve probably land on the gay si of TikTok — or, maybe, the gay si of Instagram’s “Explore” page. “Everyone really ronated wh that, and I didn’t even know that was a gay thg, ” Sabate says.

There was Polari, a 20th century Brish slang form often ed as a to ss out other gay people or protect onelf om prosecutn.

THAT'S GAY

This say is part of The Spectm, a weekly fom our Opn sectn for margalized voic to share their perspectiv. To subm a piece for The Spectm or discs story ias, please email Thank you for tellg me the story of the “gayt” thg you’ve ever done. I’m sure was a memorable... * maybe it's a gay thing *

In his 1996 book Word’s Out: Gay Men’s English, Leap explaed that d language helps “nfirm gay inty durg rmal nversatns between strangers public plac.

Many mem reference ternalized homophobia, ignorant qutns om cishet iends, and the challeng of g out to fay members.

IS BEG GAY A S?

Cheyenne agre, pecially when I brg up the moody world of gay Tumblr. You don't simply shout "I'm gay" and a rabow halo sprouts atop your head. Unls you personally intify as LGBTQIA+ or love someone who do, there is a good chance you bee oversaturated by what you thk are too many stori about gay rights, transgenr kids, and pronoun e.