When did the word gay become associated with homosexuality?

[Lliam]

I heard this song recently. It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year (1963).
It inspired this question.

It's the most wonderful time of the year
With the kids jingle belling
And everyone telling you be of good cheer
It's the most wonderful time of the year

It's the hap-happiest season of all
With those holiday greetings and gay happy meetings
When friends come to call
It's the hap-happiest season of all

The theme from The Flintstones TV show (1960-66) had a line that said "We'll have a gay old time".

Even then, gay was used to denote mirthfulness, not homosexuality.

So what happened?

[dustybiker]

Interesting article.

https://www.todayifoundout.com/index.php/2010/02/how-gay-came-to-mean-homosexual/

[Lliam]

Well that's informative. Thanks, dustybiker.

[dustybiker]

You are welcome.

[dustybiker]

Thanks for mho.

[Daniela1982]

some songs talk about cross dressers - "Don we now our Gay apparel..."

Tobacco label from 1890

1947

[Lliam]

🤣🤣🤣 Those are great, Daniela.

[Berethor]

That's what wiki is for, it happen in 20th century, when homosexuals has stop hiding.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gay#History

[Juxtapose]

I personally don't know but I do think that gay people co-opting the rainbow is a big middle finger to Christianity because the rainbow symbolizes the promise never to have another great flood again.

[Daniela1982]

That is sooo true. The next time it will be by fire.

[es20490446e]

I guess that at those times sex was less gay.

[SpringValley]

Liam, I have a joke for you, but let me know quick if you want to hear it, because it's getting late.

[Lliam]

@SpringValley. Absolutely! Let's hear it!

[Sevenpointfive]

why did a fag become a cigarette?

[exitseven]

It was sometime in the 70s.