The Fotten Secret Language of Gay Men - Atlas Obscura

Contents:

• THE FOTTEN SECRET LANGUAGE OF GAY MEN
• GAY CHICKEN
• WHO'S THE REAL WNER 'GAY CHICKEN'?
• CAN CHICKEN MAKE YOU GAY? COLOMBIAN MOL NATALIA PARIS SAYS Y
• GAY CHICKEN ED MEANG
• WHY IT'S OK FOR BIRDS TO BE GAY
• GAY CHICKEN
• GAY CHICKEN
• MAN WS WORLD'S LONGT GAME OF "GAY CHICKEN": {FONT:NORMAL 800 1.2REM/1.2 "D BOLD",SANS-SERIF;TEXT-TRANSFORM:NORMAL;LOR:HER;DISPLAY:LE-BLOCK;PADDG-BOTTOM:6PX;POSN:RELATIVE;TEXT-TRANSFORM:UPPERSE;}{BACKGROUND:#89308A;BOTTOM:0;NTENT:'';DISPLAY:BLOCK;HEIGHT:2PX;LEFT:0;POSN:ABSOLUTE;RIGHT:0;-WEBK-TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;WIDTH:100%;}{LEFT:51%;RIGHT:51%;WIDTH:0;}{FONT:NORMAL 800 1.2REM/1.2 "D BOLD",SANS-SERIF;TEXT-TRANSFORM:NORMAL;LOR:HER;DISPLAY:LE-BLOCK;PADDG-BOTTOM:6PX;POSN:RELATIVE;TEXT-TRANSFORM:UPPERSE;}{BACKGROUND:#89308A;BOTTOM:0;NTENT:'';DISPLAY:BLOCK;HEIGHT:2PX;LEFT:0;POSN:ABSOLUTE;RIGHT:0;-WEBK-TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;WIDTH:100%;}{LEFT:51%;RIGHT:51%;WIDTH:0;}LIFEBY DAN AVERYSEPTEMBER 29, 2013/4:22 PMBY DAN AVERYSEPTEMBER 29, 2013 / 4:22 PM{"@NTEXT":","@TYPE":"NEWSARTICLE","HEADLE":"MAN WS WORLD'S LONGT GAME OF \"GAY CHICKEN\": WATCH","DATEPUBLISHED":"2013-09-29T20:22:11.000+0000","DATEMODIFIED":"2013-09-29T20:22:11.000+0000","IMAGE":{"@NTEXT":","@TYPE":"IMAGEOBJECT","WIDTH":1920,"HEIGHT":1080},"URL":","THOR":{"@TYPE":"ORGANIZATN","NAME":"LOGO TV"},"MAENTYOFPAGE":{"@TYPE":"WEBPAGE","@ID":"},"PUBLISHER":{"@TYPE":"ORGANIZATN","@ID":","NAME":"LOGO TV","URL":","LOGO":{"@TYPE":"IMAGEOBJECT"}},"CREATOR":"DAN AVERY","ARTICLESECTN":"LIFE"}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;DISPLAY:-WEBK-BOX;DISPLAY:-WEBK-FLEX;DISPLAY:-MS-FLEXBOX;DISPLAY:FLEX;-WEBK-BOX-PACK:CENTER;-WEBK-JTIFY-NTENT:CENTER;-MS-FLEX-PACK:CENTER;JTIFY-NTENT:CENTER;} .TWTER-TWEET-RENRED, {M-WIDTH:65%;WIDTH:TO !IMPORTANT;} {WIDTH:100%;} {MARG-LEFT:TO !IMPORTANT;MARG-RIGHT:TO !IMPORTANT;} IMG{MAX-WIDTH:100%;WIDTH:100%;} > IAME{BORR:NONE;MAX-WIDTH:100%;} > *{MAX-WIDTH:NONE !IMPORTANT;}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}GAY CHICKEN ISN'T SOMETHG YOU ORR AT A FE BOYSTOWN, 'S AN HEAD-SCRATCHG "GAME" PLAYED BY PRUMABLY STRAIGHT GUYS TO SHOW HOW HETEROSEXUAL THEY ARE. HOW? BY KISSG ANOTHER {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}THE EDY CLIP ABOVE, OM THE NORWEGIAN EDY SHOW KOLLEKTIVET, EXPLAS THE LOGIL GYMNASTICS BEHD THE GAME'S THKG AND TAK THEM TO THEIR ILLOGIL {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;CLEAR:BOTH;}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;MARG:0 TO;WIDTH:90%;M-WIDTH:288PX;MAX-WIDTH:1440PX;M-HEIGHT:194PX;}LATT NEWS
• WHO'S THE REAL WNER 'GAY CHICKEN'?

THE FOTTEN SECRET LANGUAGE OF GAY MEN

Vada (“look at”), dolly eek (a pretty face), and chicken (a young guy) are all words om the lexin of Polari, a secret language ed by gay men Bra at a time when homosexualy was illegal. In the 1930s was spoken among the theater typ of the Wt End, om which crossed over to the cy’s gay pubs, gag s stat as the secret language of gay men. In England, homosexualy was officially nsired a crime until 1967, when the Sexual Offenc Act legalized private “homosexual acts” between nsentg adults over 21.

) The Act me a after the ernment’s Wolfenn Report, which igned bate by remendg the partial crimalizatn of homosexual acts. Durg the terim years, when beg openly non-straight brought the risks of social isolatn and crimal prosecutn, Polari provid gay men wh a subtle way to fd one another for pannship and sex. Among nfirmed gay men, however, there was nothg subtle about Polari nversatns.

GAY CHICKEN

The Hidn History of Gay Life at Sea, Pl Baker and Jo Stanley wre that Polari played a role “allowg gay men to nstct a humoroly performative inty for themselv.

In the late ‘60s, as gay liberatn groups were fightg for regnn and equaly, Polari h mastream Brish pop-culture the form of Julian and Sandy, two flamboyant, not-officially-but-pretty-obvly gay characters on a BBC rad show lled Round the Horne. But the ‘60s, they were the extent of gay men’s media reprentatn Bra.

Julian and Sandy prented a nundm: as lovable gay characters on a very popular show, they enared themselv to Brish dienc an era of homophobia. But some gay liberatn groups me to rent the image that they—and Polari—perpetuated.

WHO'S THE REAL WNER 'GAY CHICKEN'?

By the early ‘70s, as LGBT groups fought for rights beyond those granted by the 1967 Sexual Offenc Act, the image of the mp gay man had bee the target of ire.

Many who were lobbyg for sexual equaly, says Dolan, “felt was about gay people prentg themselv as jt ordary folks. “Gay men unr 40 barely know of at all. When Ecclton and Fairbairn posted the film onle, they were surprised by the enthiastic rponse—and the level of fascatn wh Polari, this myster, cipherable “gay language.

CAN CHICKEN MAKE YOU GAY? COLOMBIAN MOL NATALIA PARIS SAYS Y

“The kds of nts still exist where opprsn is still entrenched, ” says Ecclton, cg Swardspeak, a language based on English and Tagalog that is ed among gay men the Philipp. Given s associatns wh stereotypil reprentatns of gay men, Polari may not seem to have a place the 21st century. But the backlash agast mp has mellowed—’s not the way to be gay, but ’s one way among many.

Dolan brgs up the pot that gay men shouldn’t have to be “straight-actg” orr to be accepted: “Might not be more fun to embrace a b more mp and actually have fun wh ourselv and wh each other? A past-time enjoyed by 16-17 year old boys, where both lean close to each other, about to kiss, until one pulls away, showg that he has plete boy arms and assigng the other the tle of furtht this ever seems to go to is lip ntact, though there has been one ocssn where tongu may momentarily played too often, people may thk you are iends who are only permted to observe the ntt, often fd themselv beg bored wh semi-homoerotic activy, as always ends at the good Wanna play gay chicken? *they kiss*Greg: Wanna play gay chicken?

GAY CHICKEN ED MEANG

*they nearly kiss*Greg: Wanna play gay chicken? Are you gay?

Greg: Wanna play gay chicken? Gay Friend: This is sh.

WHY IT'S OK FOR BIRDS TO BE GAY

You guys the Gay Chicken chicken like the regular game of chicken except that stead of drivg at each other on a llisn urse, players make homosexual advanc until one player will "chicken out". However, like the normal game of chicken, the worst rult for both players is when neher chickens out, the se of gay chicken rultg some form of homosexual act.

If neher chicken out, then the two are many other variants on Gay Chicken like nng a hand up each other's thigh or simply kissg to the air, wkg, etc.. One form may take is a straight out gay actn that would immediately creep out the other person whout them even tendg on playg the game, e. In this way, Gay chicken be more like a prank than a one-on-one game of Oh look.

Rex: Tom's not very good at gay chicken..

GAY CHICKEN

Nope, he chickened Man gay chicken disturbs me. I wonr about him the Gay Chicken mug.

The first person to give up is looked at as gay, bee he is not fortable wh his the Gay Chicken mug.

The one that pulls away first is the proclaimed Gay Chicken.

GAY CHICKEN

"Man, Mike is a pro at Gay Chicken, he even tongue. ""No way, I uld never do that, I uld only last a few mut e no homo. I uld last only a few sends, sce I'm not gay haha.

"Get the Gay Chicken mug. I am not sure how I feel about "Gay Chicken.

MAN WS WORLD'S LONGT GAME OF "GAY CHICKEN": {FONT:NORMAL 800 1.2REM/1.2 "D BOLD",SANS-SERIF;TEXT-TRANSFORM:NORMAL;LOR:HER;DISPLAY:LE-BLOCK;PADDG-BOTTOM:6PX;POSN:RELATIVE;TEXT-TRANSFORM:UPPERSE;}{BACKGROUND:#89308A;BOTTOM:0;NTENT:'';DISPLAY:BLOCK;HEIGHT:2PX;LEFT:0;POSN:ABSOLUTE;RIGHT:0;-WEBK-TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;WIDTH:100%;}{LEFT:51%;RIGHT:51%;WIDTH:0;}{FONT:NORMAL 800 1.2REM/1.2 "D BOLD",SANS-SERIF;TEXT-TRANSFORM:NORMAL;LOR:HER;DISPLAY:LE-BLOCK;PADDG-BOTTOM:6PX;POSN:RELATIVE;TEXT-TRANSFORM:UPPERSE;}{BACKGROUND:#89308A;BOTTOM:0;NTENT:'';DISPLAY:BLOCK;HEIGHT:2PX;LEFT:0;POSN:ABSOLUTE;RIGHT:0;-WEBK-TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;WIDTH:100%;}{LEFT:51%;RIGHT:51%;WIDTH:0;}LIFEBY DAN AVERYSEPTEMBER 29, 2013/4:22 PMBY DAN AVERYSEPTEMBER 29, 2013 / 4:22 PM{"@NTEXT":","@TYPE":"NEWSARTICLE","HEADLE":"MAN WS WORLD'S LONGT GAME OF \"GAY CHICKEN\": WATCH","DATEPUBLISHED":"2013-09-29T20:22:11.000+0000","DATEMODIFIED":"2013-09-29T20:22:11.000+0000","IMAGE":{"@NTEXT":","@TYPE":"IMAGEOBJECT","WIDTH":1920,"HEIGHT":1080},"URL":","THOR":{"@TYPE":"ORGANIZATN","NAME":"LOGO TV"},"MAENTYOFPAGE":{"@TYPE":"WEBPAGE","@ID":"},"PUBLISHER":{"@TYPE":"ORGANIZATN","@ID":","NAME":"LOGO TV","URL":","LOGO":{"@TYPE":"IMAGEOBJECT"}},"CREATOR":"DAN AVERY","ARTICLESECTN":"LIFE"}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;DISPLAY:-WEBK-BOX;DISPLAY:-WEBK-FLEX;DISPLAY:-MS-FLEXBOX;DISPLAY:FLEX;-WEBK-BOX-PACK:CENTER;-WEBK-JTIFY-NTENT:CENTER;-MS-FLEX-PACK:CENTER;JTIFY-NTENT:CENTER;} .TWTER-TWEET-RENRED, {M-WIDTH:65%;WIDTH:TO !IMPORTANT;} {WIDTH:100%;} {MARG-LEFT:TO !IMPORTANT;MARG-RIGHT:TO !IMPORTANT;} IMG{MAX-WIDTH:100%;WIDTH:100%;} > IAME{BORR:NONE;MAX-WIDTH:100%;} > *{MAX-WIDTH:NONE !IMPORTANT;}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}GAY CHICKEN ISN'T SOMETHG YOU ORR AT A FE BOYSTOWN, 'S AN HEAD-SCRATCHG "GAME" PLAYED BY PRUMABLY STRAIGHT GUYS TO SHOW HOW HETEROSEXUAL THEY ARE. HOW? BY KISSG ANOTHER {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}THE EDY CLIP ABOVE, OM THE NORWEGIAN EDY SHOW KOLLEKTIVET, EXPLAS THE LOGIL GYMNASTICS BEHD THE GAME'S THKG AND TAK THEM TO THEIR ILLOGIL {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;CLEAR:BOTH;}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;MARG:0 TO;WIDTH:90%;M-WIDTH:288PX;MAX-WIDTH:1440PX;M-HEIGHT:194PX;}LATT NEWS

(Note: Gay Chicken do not volve wrappg yourself pk feather boas and antilly crossg Halsted Street to get to the other si. )Gay Chicken is a wild game -- no pun tend -- that apparently is all the rage at llege mp., the go-to source for bizarre new slang, f Gay Chicken as when two straight guys move their fac closer and closer together, as if to kiss. The first one to turn or pull away is the "Gay Chicken.

"Meang that the loser is the one who is aaid to act or be seen as game is all over the Inter, which is where I stumbled across while lookg for exampl of gay Halloween stum.

Ocsnally, they do touch lips for a brief moment, and their iends all hoot and holler about their allegedly gay, I'm not sure how I feel about this. Part of me is offend by the fact that the object of the game is to "act gay" but then chicken out, as if is sry to be first, I was so put off by this that I nsired filg a plat -- wh whom, I don't know -- or at least stompg around the hoe and plag to any t that would listen about the phobic behavr beg the more I watched the vios and the more I thought about , the more I started thkg that the chicken is actually the loser.

WHO'S THE REAL WNER 'GAY CHICKEN'?

"Gay Chicken" really seems like a way for the straight-but-cur guys to act out their fantasi of experimentg wh other dus.

So long as is game form, their heterosexualy remas also might make people more secure wh their own sexualy and even open-md about homosexualy , leave to straight guys to vent a game that volv tryg to get to first base wh a iend for a lgh. (YouTube)Apparently gay men ate a lot of chicken when they were growg up.

Natnal figure Natalia Paris is receivg flack after beg ught on vio sayg boys who eat chicken jected wh hormon are more likely to turn gay. "Bee of that, the boys that are eatg [that kd of] chicken, bee they are jectg female hormon, are startg to turn to homosexuals, " she Paris is known for beg outrageo, the ments seemed to be a far reach for many The New York Daily News reported, the print of the Natnal Feratn for Colombian Poultry Farmers (FENAVI) Andrés Fernando Monda was quick to ll the claims “bbish. Adam* said was dangero to e out as gay his home untry and feared beg forced to an arranged marriage wh a said he was "so lucky" to wed his soulmate, Ray, Manchter and wish everyone uld marry who they love.