Britpickers

[circ_bamboo]

What's a slang-but-not-derisive term for someone (male) who is gay, that would be commonly in use by, say, a London DI somewhere between 45 and 55?

I don't trust my googling and FSM only knows how long it's been since I've seen the British QaF.

Conversely, does 'queer' have the same variety of meanings in the UK as it does here in the US (old-fashioned derogatorily, just someone who's gay but as reclaimed, either 'gay' or 'somewhere in the QUILTBAG acronym, nonspecifically')?

If not, or if this word/phrase doesn't exist, I can write around it.

(If you want/need more info, email's cool: circ dot bamboo at gmail dot com.)

Comments

[fringedweller.livejournal.com]

My dad falls into the very top part of that age bracket, and he uses the word 'poof'or 'poofter'when he feels the need to comment on a gay man. It's not a judgement-free word, but it falls on the lesser side of derogetory, in my opinion. But then, as I'm not gay, I may well be wrong on this.

I can't comment on 'queer' with any authority. I've heard gay celebs on tv refer to themselves as queers, and in uni I studied queer theory as it relates to literature, but other than that I have no idea. Sorry.

[circ-bamboo.livejournal.com]

Thanks. It occurs to me that I'm very much Not Qualified to write this story. I can write about being a Youngish Urban Queer Woman in the present-day US with relative accuracy* but these are a.) men, b.) military/police, c.) in the UK, and d.) half a generation (or more) older than I am, so.

Good plan, c.b.

Heh.

*I should disclaim here that I'm not actually queer, but I try to listen to those who are.