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.

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. Cheyenne agre, pecially when I brg up the moody world of gay Tumblr.

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 *

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.

IS BEG GAY A S?

You are fatigued om all of the “gay stuff” nstantly beg shoved your face; you are fe wh the “liftyle” but why n’t we jt live and let live? Tell me aga how tired you are of seeg another story about trans kids and gay people.