Art byJoe Sinness

How gay men became “faggots”

“Faggot” originally meant “bundle of sticks.” From these humble beginnings the word transitioned in the late 16th century to a derogatory term for old women who collected the faggots — meaning “old, useless and rude.” By the 19th century “faggot” applied to any woman viewed as contemptible. In 1914 “faggot” appeared as a synonym for “drag queen” in Jackson and Hellyer’s A Vocabulary of Criminal Slang. During the 20th century “faggot” became a derogatory term for all gay men — arguably the most inflammatory thing you can call a gay man in the United States.

Myth Buster: Although many believe that gay men are called “faggots” because they were burnt at the stake, there is no historical evidence to support this.