Gay

A man who is attracted to other men, or more broadly, a person who experiences same-gender attraction. While "gay" most commonly refers to men who love men, it is also used as an umbrella term for the broader LGBTQ+ community.

The term emerged in the mid-20th century as a more positive alternative to "homosexual," which carried clinical and stigmatizing associations. Activists in the 1960s and 70s adopted "gay" as a self-affirming identity.

Gay people exist in every culture, country, and era of history. Same-gender love has been documented across civilizations and is not a modern or Western phenomenon.