Word of the Gay: "Polari"

"Polari" is a secret language that was used by gay people in England to disguise their conversations. It was a combination of English rhyme with other languages such as Italian and Yiddish. As homosexuality became more mainstream the need for the language faded, but many of the terms are still used.

Word of the Gay: "Lavender Linguistics"

"Lavender Linguistics" is a term used by linguists to study the language of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people. The field focuses on speech patterns, pronunciations, and use of certain vocabulary.

Word of the Gay: "Nellyectomy"

A "nellyectomy" is an imaginary surgery in which a bone is removed from the wrist allowing it to be flexible and stereotypically gay. The joke being that butch gay men upon entering a safe space such as a gay bar are said to suddenly have had a "nellyectomy" because their attitude changes.