The citations show that during the 1600s it began to acquire a few darker meanings and that some used it to mean 'prostitute' or to describe someone addicted to social pleasure and dissipation, but on balance the word kept fine company. The Oxford English Dictionary requires an entire page to explain the etymology and nuances of 'gay' as it has appeared in literature throughout history. The general sense of the word is a combination of joyous, mirthful, bright, exuberant, cheerful, sportive, merry, light-hearted, lively, showy and pleasant. It showed up frequently in poetry and prose-Shakespeare used it 12 times-in part because it has no precise synonym. 'Gay' used to be an extremely useful word. I'm not offended and I wouldn't try to stop them if I could. They can play house, plot political strategies or couple anonymously-I really don't care. It is of the least possible concern to me what homosexuals do with one another in the privacy of their homes.
