LGBTQIA+ Slurs and Slang

Please see the Guidance for writing about LGBTQ+ people in UK cultural heritage for general guidance.

This section contains many abhorrent and harmful terms.

These terms are listed to help archivists and cultural heritage professionals:

1. recognise materials that relate to LGBTQ+ people; and
2. identify potentially harmful material that may require content warnings to protect users.

None of these terms should generally be used within archival description, unless:

1. the word forms part of a title or other form of identifying a material item or collection, in which case it should be enclosed in quotation marks; or
2. the contextual note indicates a specific situation in which it may be used.

Common slurs and slang

Term	Contextual note	Time/Region	References
ace queen	1970s term meaning “great queen”. Prison slang for a man who wears a more “feminine” look i.e. shaved legs, plucked eyebrows. May be described as part of incarcerated homosexual culture. Should not be confused with the more widely-used term "ace," a shortening of "asexual." See "asexual."	UK, USA, 1970s	Mosca de Colores – Gay Dictionary
alphabet people	Offensive contemporary term for LGBTQ+ people, often used by right-wing people reacting to perceived advancements in LGBTQ+ people's rights.	2020s-	Green's Dictionary of Slang - https://greensdictofslang.com/
bathroom queen bog queen	Gay slang expression for people who frequent public toilets looking for sexual encounters. Synonyms: Bathsheba (composition between bathroom and Sheba to create a name reminiscent of the Queen of Sheba), Ghost (50s, ghost, because they wander the corridors of the bathroom).	USA, UK	Mosca de Colores – Gay Dictionary
batting for the other team	A euphemistic phrase indicating that someone (of any gender) is gay. This phrase is not a slur or especially offensive, and is generally used with a note of humour. However, it is outdated, because the euphemistic reluctance to normalise terms such as "gay" or "lesbian" suggests that LGBTQ+ people should not be openly talked about. Risks blocking discoverability if used instead of more direct terms.	20th and early 21st century
bean queen	Slang used in male homosexual communities in the USA to describe Mexican homosexuals. Racist overtones. Also used to describe Latinx drag queens, as well as white men who are attracted to Latino men.	Mexico, USA	Mosca de Colores – Gay Dictionary
bear	Community term with multiple meanings. 1. A gay or bisexual man who has facial/body hair and a cuddly body. 2. An umbrella term that refers to members of a subculture in the gay and bisexual male communities and is often defined as more of an attitude or sense of comfort with natural masculinity and bodies. May be replicated as a self-descriptor, but consider using quotation marks to show this is their word.	20th Century-	"LGBTQ+ Terminology," Montclair State University [1]
beard Miss Beard	Individuals who pose as the date or partner of someone they are not in a relationship with, typically to prevent that person's sexuality from becoming public knowledge; most commonly used to refer to a woman pretending to be dating a gay man.	20th Century-, Europe, USA	Homosaurus
bicycle	Used as slang for bisexual in the 1960s. Also more widely used to indicate promiscuity, esp for women; this usage is considered offensive.	1960s-, UK	Mosca de Colores – Gay Dictionary
bottom	A "bottom" is an individual who acts as the "receiving" partner in sexual encounters. Widely used, but should be enclosed in quotation marks and contextualised if needed in archival description. Sometimes used as a self-descriptor within queer communities, but should be replicated with caution. Sometimes used as a verb ("to bottom for someone"). Offensive if applied to LGBTQ+ individuals from outwith queer communities. See also "top" and "switch."		Homosaurus
bronco bronc	A young gay man, or someone new to the gay community.	1930s-, USA	Green's Dictionary of Slang - https://greensdictofslang.com/
butterfly butterfly boy	Gay community slang for an effeminate man. No longer in general use.	1960s-1970s	Mosca de Colores – Gay Dictionary Green's Dictionary of Slang - https://greensdictofslang.com/
capon	Coming from a word from animal husbandry for a castrated rooster, the word was from the 1600s applied to castratos. During the 20th century, it was used by American gay communities to describe a young or inexperienced gay man. No longer in use, but would be considered offensive.	USA, 1930s-1970s	Mosca de Colores – Gay Dictionary Green's Dictionary of Slang - https://greensdictofslang.com/
Charlie Ronce Charley	British rhyming slang for “ponce,” in the sense of "pimp."	UK	Green's Dictionary of Slang - https://greensdictofslang.com/
chaser	Short for "tranny chaser." A person who sees trans people (usually trans women) as inherently sexual, and sexually objectifies them. As opposed to someone who simply is predominantly attracted to trans women; a chaser does not view trans women respectfully as people with humanity and agency, but rather as players in a sexual fantasy. *reminder - "tranny" is extremely offensive - avoid speaking aloud*	20th Century-, Europe, USA	GenderMinorities.com – Trans 101: glossary of trans words and how to use them
cornhole cornholer	American rural slang to indicate anal sex, or a gay man. Generally considered offensive. Should not be confused with the game of the same name, which involves throwing beanbags into a hole in a wooden platform.	1920s-, USA	Oxford English Dictionary.
curry queen	A gay man who is attracted to Indian men. Offensive, racist overtones.	1990s-, USA	Green's Dictionary of Slang - https://greensdictofslang.com/
Doric love	1920s expression for gay sex/romance referencing classical Greece, sometimes with overtones of pederasty.	1920s, UK	Mosca de Colores – Gay Dictionary
double-gaited	Slang for "bisexual."	1920s-, USA	Mosca de Colores – Gay Dictionary Green's Dictionary of Slang - https://greensdictofslang.com/
drag family drag mother house of	In the US, a group of drag queens who have been mentored by a "mother," also known as a "house." These groups often take on family drag names and form close-knit communities. See also 3.1.1 LGBTQIA+ Communities and History, "chosen family."	20th Century-, US	Wikipedia - Drag Race Terminology [2]
dyke bulldyke bulldagger	Contested terminology. Slur for lesbian, highly offensive if applied to a lesbian or transmasc person externally. Term has been reclaimed by some lesbians communities, and is sometimes used affirmingly within communities. Only use if someone self-describes in this way, and enclose in quotation marks to indicate this. "Bulldyke" and "bulldagger" are often used to indicate butch or masculine queer women, sometimes with overtones of toughness or aggression. Only use these terms if someone self-describes in this way, and enclose in quotation marks to indicate this.	1930s-, US, UK	LGBTQ+ Terminology, Montclair State University [3] Oxford English Dictionary Green's Dictionary of Slang - https://greensdictofslang.com/
egg	Slang term (originating online) for a person who has not yet realised they are transgender, has not yet come out, or is in the early stages of transitioning. Usually used (fondly) by trans people to recognise when aspects of someone's personality or behavior remind them of gender-related aspects of themselves before they realized they were trans. If necessary to refer to this in description, use "speculations about transness" or "discussion about pre-/early-transition experience."	21st century, online	Wikipedia – List of LGBT Slang Terms Emily St. James, Vox [4]
faggot fagot faggotry faggoty fag faggy fagged	Extremely offensive slur for a gay man, often used to imply someone is effeminate; lacking power or vigour; weak, cowardly; ineffectual. Hate speech when used about a gay man, especially in the US. Not to be confused with other meanings: "Fag" is also British English slang for a cigarette. Widely used in this way in the UK, inoffensive. "Faggot" can mean a bundle of sticks or herbs, often for a fire. Historically (Middle Ages) associated with the bundles of wood used to burn people accused of heresy/witchcraft. Now mostly obsolete. There is speculation that the term came to be a slur due to this association with immorality and punishment, but there is no consensus on its origins. "Faggot" is also used in the UK Midlands to indicate a regional cuisine - a type of meatball. Inoffensive in this context, though rare. "Fagged" or "fagged out" were historically (18th-20th century) used to mean tired or exhausted. If used in these alternative contexts, consider including further explanation or quotation marks in description, to make this clear.	(as a slur) 1940s-, US, later UK	Oxford English Dictionary Moscas de Colores
fag hag	A woman, typically a heterosexual one, possibly ageing, who prefers, enjoys, or seeks out the company of homosexual men. This term is offensive to gay men and misogynistic to heterosexual women. Once common, now rarely used within queer communities.	1960s-	Oxford English Dictionary Green's Dictionary of Slang - https://greensdictofslang.com/
fag stag	A heterosexual man who enjoys the company of gay men. Rare.	1990s-	Green's Dictionary of Slang - https://greensdictofslang.com/
fairy	Slang for homosexual man, probably derived from earlier slang use meaning a promiscuous woman. See 3.2 Women's History. Contested term - originally offensive, but reclaimed by gay men in the 1960s. Only use if an individual self-describes in this way.	1890s-	Green's Dictionary of Slang - https://greensdictofslang.com/
fairy lady	Some sources cite this term to mean a feminine lesbian, others to mean a bisexual person of any gender. Mostly appeared originally in 1920s-onwards in informal dictionaries of slang, which were not always reliable. Cannot corroborate from other sources.	1920s-?	Green's Dictionary of Slang - https://greensdictofslang.com/
flame flamer flaming	"Flaming" can be used generally as an intensifier or curse, but has become especially associated with feminine gay men and campness. Often still used fondly, especially by older generations of gay men, but offensive if applied by others. Only use if an individual self-describes in this way, and indicate this with quotation marks.	20th Century-	Green's Dictionary of Slang - https://greensdictofslang.com/
flip-flop flip flop	Slang to indicate either 1) bisexuality or 2) a person that likes to switch between "top" and "bottom" roles during sex. Especially used by incarcerated people in the US.	1970s-	Green's Dictionary of Slang - https://greensdictofslang.com/
flower daisy pansy tulip water-lily	Various flowers are used to refer to feminine gay men, though "pansy" is probably the most common. Associates gay men with misogynistic ideas of femininity; implies weakness, unthreateneaning appearance, cowardliness. Offensive, often used as an intentional slur.	1890s-	Green's Dictionary of Slang - https://greensdictofslang.com/
flute fluter flute-player	Outdated slang for fellatio, or someone performing fellatio.	1900s-	Green's Dictionary of Slang - https://greensdictofslang.com/
foop	Rare slang for a gay man.	1890s	Green's Dictionary of Slang - https://greensdictofslang.com/
forty-one 41	“Forty-one” is an expression used in the state of Texas (USA) to refer to homosexual men. The origin of this expression is found in neighboring Mexico, where the same expression is used in Spanish, due to a scandal that occurred in 1901 in Mexico City. 41 people were arrested at a private dance, at which almost half were cross-dressing. This incident is known as “The Dance of the Forty-One”. It is said that in reality, they were 42, but one of them was the son-in-law of President Porfirio Diaz, who was allowed to escape. Those who could not afford freedom or silence were sentenced to hard labor in the Oaxaca National Valley. So the number 41 became a euphemism for illicit sexuality, and was avoided.	Texas, USA; Mexico	Mosca de Colores – Gay Dictionary
friend of dorothy	Coded slang for gay. Referring to gay icon Judy Garland's Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz.	UK, USA, 1970s-	Moscas de Colores Green's Dictionary of Slang - https://greensdictofslang.com/
frit	Rare slang for a gay man.	UK, USA, 1970s	Moscas de Colores Green's Dictionary of Slang - https://greensdictofslang.com/
fruit fruity	Slang for a gay man, especially for a feminine gay man. Outdated and often offensive, because it implies someone is easily "picked," or associates someone with its other slang meanings of "dupe," "victim," or someone living with mental illness. There are many variations of this term used for queer people across the 20th century and across different regions, inlcuding bowl of fruit, fruitcake, fruit-eater, fruitloop, and fruit-picker.	20th Century-	Moscas de Colores Green's Dictionary of Slang - https://greensdictofslang.com/
gay cat gaycat	Slang used primarily in unhoused and/or criminal communities from the first half of the twentieth century in the US. Generally denoting a younger homosexual companion.	1900s-1950s, USA	Mosca de Colores – Gay Dictionary Green's Dictionary of Slang - https://greensdictofslang.com/
gay lord gaylord	Slur for a gay man.	1970s-, UK, USA	Oxford English Dictionary Green's Dictionary of Slang - https://greensdictofslang.com/
gentleman of the back door	18th-century slang for a gay man. Only found in popular slang dictionaries of the period - little corroborating evidence that this was actually used.	18th Century-, UK	Green's Dictionary of Slang - https://greensdictofslang.com/ Norena Shopland, A Practical Guide to searching LGBTQIA historical records (Routledge 2021
ginger ginger beer Brighton Pier jere gear King Lear	Cockney rhyming slang for "queer."	20th Century-, UK	Mosca de Colores – Gay Dictionary
girl	Sometimes used as a slur for a gay man, assuming that being "feminine" is "lower status." Therefore offensive to gay men and to women more generally. More often used as a (now widely recognised) term of affection between gay men, though more likely as a friendly term than as a romantic one.	1910s-	Mosca de Colores – Gay Dictionary Green's Dictionary of Slang - https://greensdictofslang.com/
giver	Slang for the "active" role during gay sex. The giver/taker binary is now largely acknowledged as artificial and heteronormative.	20th Century-, UK, USA	Moscas de Colores
gold star	Slang for someone who has never had sex with someone of the opposite gender, sometimes including bisexual people of their own gender. Most commonly used in lesbian communities, now widely recognised as biphobic.	20th Century-	Green's Dictionary of Slang - https://greensdictofslang.com/
gonsel gunsel gunshel gunsil	Slang used by incarcerated and unhoused communities in the US to denote a young gay man or boy.	20th Century, USA	Moscas de Colores Green's Dictionary of Slang - https://greensdictofslang.com/
gump	Slang used by incarcerated men in the US to denote a person in the "passive" role in gay sex.	1980s-, USA	Mosca de Colores – Gay Dictionary Green's Dictionary of Slang - https://greensdictofslang.com/
gym rat gym bunny muscle mary	A sports enthusiast; usually one who frequents gyms and training grounds; often used of young gay men obsessed with body building.	1970s-, USA, Scotland	Mosca de Colores – Gay Dictionary Green's Dictionary of Slang - https://greensdictofslang.com/
Harry Hoofter iron hoofter iron hoof iron woolie woofter wooly	Cockney rhyming slang - slur for gay men (rhyming with "poofter" or "poof").	20th Century-	Wikipedia – List of LGBT Slang Terms
hip-hitter	1970s term for "top" gay man.	1970s, USA	Moscas de Colores Green's Dictionary of Slang - https://greensdictofslang.com/
homo	Shortened form of "homosexual." Often derogatory. Always use the full term in description.	1920s-	Moscas de Colores Oxford English Dictionary
jocker	Slang used by incarcerated and unhoused communities in the US to denote an older or "predatory" gay man.	1890s-, USA	Green's Dictionary of Slang - https://greensdictofslang.com/
left-handed	Term used pejoratively in 1930s USA as slang for gay. Offensive to both left-handed and gay people, as the association assumes that both are "wrong."	1930s, USA	Green's Dictionary of Slang - https://greensdictofslang.com/
lipstick lesbian	Usually refers to a lesbian with a feminine gender expression. Can be used in a positive or a derogatory way, depending on who is using it. Is sometimes also used to refer to a lesbian who is seen as automatically "passing" for heterosexual. Only use if someone self-describes in this way, and place in quotation marks to indicate this. The phrase femme lesbian may be more appropriate.	20th Century-	"LGBTQ+ Terminology," Montclair State University [5]
Nancy Nancy boy Nance Mary Mary-Ann Molly Nelly	Women's names have often been appropriated as slurs for gay men, especially for feminine gay men and transfeminine people. "Nancy" is probably the most common, across the 20th Century globally. All are offensive and should not be reproduced in description unless necessary. See 3.1.1 LGBTQIA+ Communities and History, "Molly" for a historically-specific usage of this name.		Mosca de Colores – Gay Dictionary Green's Dictionary of Slang - https://greensdictofslang.com/
prushon	Slang used by unhoused communities in the US to denote a young gay man who travels with an older companion.	1890s-1980s	Moscas de Colores Green's Dictionary of Slang - https://greensdictofslang.com/
punk punker	Originating as a term for sex worker, in the late 19th Century, it came to indicate a gay man, often a "bottom" or someone coerced into gay sex. Originally used by incarcerated and unhoused communities, later as a slur for gay man in African-American communities. "Punk rock" emerged as a musical and political movement in the 1970s.	(as slang for gay) 19th Century-	Oxford English Dictionary
rough trade	Slang for a man who identifies as straight, but sometimes has sex with queer men (usually as a "top").	1960s-	Green's Dictionary of Slang - https://greensdictofslang.com/ Claire Hayward, "Queer Terminology: LGBTQ Histories and the Semantics of Sexuality." [6]
stoke Stoke-on-Trent	Cockney rhyming slang for gay, rhyming with "bent."	1980s-, UK	Green's Dictionary of Slang - https://greensdictofslang.com/
stud	Community term for an African-American and/or Latinx masculine queer woman. Also known as "ag." Only use if someone self-describes in this way, and avoid using for white people, as this is a term specifically developed by and for African-American and Latinx communities.	20th Century-, USA	"LGBTQ+ Terminology," Montclair State University [7]
sugar daddy	Expression of the Black community in the 1920s, to refer to an older, wealthy partner. Over time, this expression became used by the LGBTQIA+ community as well.	1920s-	Mosca de Colores – Gay Dictionary
swings the other way swinging both ways	A euphemistic phrase indicating that someone (of any gender) is gay or bisexual. These phrases are not a slur or especially offensive, and are generally used with a note of humour. However, they are outdated, because the euphemistic reluctance to normalise terms such as "gay," "lesbian," or "bisexual" suggests that LGBTQ+ people should not be openly talked about. Risks blocking discoverability if used instead of more direct terms. Not to be confused with the term "swinging" on its own, which can indicate non-monogamous practices.	1960s-	Green's Dictionary of Slang - https://greensdictofslang.com/
swish swisher swishy	Slang for a feminine gay man, originating from 1930s USA. Not especially offensive, but should still be accompanied by clearer LGBTQ+ terminology to aid discoverability.	1930s-, US	Mosca de Colores – Gay Dictionary Green's Dictionary of Slang [8]
switch vers	LGBTQ+ community slang for someone who "switches" between the "giving" and "receiving" during sex. See also "top" and "bottom." "Vers" is short for "versatile." "Switch" is sometimes also used in a BDSM context, to indicate someone who "switches" between the dominant and submissive roles.	20th Century-	Homosaurus
switch-hitter	USA slang for bisexual, originating from baseball terminology.	20th Century-, US	Moscas de Colores
top	A "top" is an individual who acts as the "giving" partner in sexual encounters. Widely used, but should be enclosed in quotation marks and contextualised if needed in archival description. Sometimes used as a self-descriptor within queer communities, but should be replicated with caution. Sometimes used as a verb ("to top someone"). Offensive if applied to LGBTQ+ individuals from outwith queer communities. See also "bottom" and "switch."		Homosaurus
tranny	Highly offensive slur for a trans person. Originally used to conflate "transsexual" people," "transvestites" and drag queens. Mainly used about transfeminine people, but offensive to all trans people. *reminder - "tranny" is extremely offensive - avoid speaking aloud*	1970s-	Green's Dictionary of Slang [9] Oxford English Dictionary
twink	Slang term widely used in gay communities to describe a young or young-looking man with little or no facial or body hair. Can be pejorative, but can also be a self-descriptor. Always enclose in quotation marks if necessary to use in description, and contextualise.	20th Century-	"LGBTQ+ Terminology," Montclair State University [10]

List of slurs that generally refer to gay and feminine men

All of these terms are offensive and should never be replicated unless a necessary part of a title or other identifier, in which case enclose in quotation marks to indicate this.

arse bandit

ass fucker

booty bandit

brownie

bum bandit

bum boy

butt pirate

bender

bent

bum chum

chi-chi

chutney ferret

cocksucker

effie

flit

flitty

fudge packer

girlyboy

light in the loafers

limp wristed

mincing

pillow biter

ponce

poncy

shirt lifter

shirtlifterish

sissified

sissy

three-letter man

turd burglar

List of slurs that generally refer to lesbians and masculine women

All of these terms are offensive and should never be replicated unless a necessary part of a title or other identifier, in which case enclose in quotation marks to indicate this.

bean flicker

carpet muncher

kitty puncher

lesbo

lezzer

lezzie

lezzy

muff diver

pussy puncher

rug muncher

todger dodger