The Library is Open – The Ultimate Glossary for Understanding Modern Gay Lingo

The LGBTQ+ community has honed the power of words over the years through the fine art of gay slang. We’ve created our own language—one that often goes over the heads of our straight counterparts—drawing from early gay culture, when such language was essential, as well as the ’80s/’90s ballroom scene, drag, queer movies, the fetish scene, social media trends, and even memes. It’s difficult to keep up with kids, so we’ve gathered a not-so-serious list of commonly used LGBTQ+ terms today.