Fag stag and fruit fly[1] are slang terms for a heterosexual man who either enjoys or prefers the company of, or simply has numerous friends who are, gay or bisexual people.
Both terms include derogatory terms for homosexuals (fag and fruit).[2][3]
The term, which originated in the United States in the 1990s,[2][4] is the male equivalent of the more common slang term "fag hag",[5] a term which is part of hag-ism: the identification of a person with a group—usually united in terms of sexuality, gender identity, or shared sex—of which he or she is not a member.[6]
The term can be used as a pejorative or as a term of endearment within LGBTQ communities.[7][8][9]
Usage
editThe colloquialism is used, albeit rarely, primarily within the LGBTQ communities.[10][11]
Mainstream shows, such as Queer Eye for the Straight Guy, Queer as Folk, Will & Grace and others, often explore the mainstreaming of friendships where differing sexualities play a complement rather than impediment to friendships and social situations.[5][12][13]
In addition, homophobia has become less prevalent, and efforts to confront violence and hostility towards sexual and gender minorities, such as gay–straight alliance, has helped lift some of the stigma attached to having LGBTQ people as close friends.[5][12]
A 2002 episode of the MTV series Undressed was titled "Fag Stag" and centered on a gay wedding.[14][15]
When Radar magazine debuted, its founder and editor-in-chief, Maer Roshan, called competitor Details' editor-in-chief Dan Peres a "professional fag stag",[16] stating, "Let's get one thing straight, Peres is not gay. But his magazine sure seems to be."[16]
In regards to heterosexual males, the term fag stag is not to be confused with the term gay icon. The term gay icon is used for a celebrity (gay or straight) who is highly regarded by the gay community. While one can be both a fag stag and a gay icon concurrently, the terms are not synonymous.[5][13][17]
See also
edit
Footnotes
edit- ^ Newall, Venetia (1986-01-31). "Folklore and Male Homosexuality". Folklore. 97 (2): 123–147. doi:10.1080/0015587x.1986.9716377. ISSN 0015-587X.
- ^ a b Green, Jonathon (2006). Cassell's Dictionary of Slang: A Major New Edition of the Market-leading Dictionary of Slang. Sterling Publishing Company, Inc. p. 485. ISBN 0-304-36636-6. Retrieved 2008-07-23.
- ^ Peckham, Aaron (2007). Mo' Urban Dictionary: Ridonkulous Street Slang Defined. Andrews McMeel Publishing. p. 100. ISBN 978-0-7407-6875-0. Retrieved 2008-07-23.
- ^ Reuter, Donald F. (2006). Gay-2-zee: A Dictionary of Sex, Subtext, and the Sublime. Macmillan. p. 198. ISBN 0-312-35427-4. Retrieved 2008-07-23.
- ^ a b c d The Single Guy, Jorge (29 June 2006). "Single in the City: Fag Stag". Generation Q Media. Archived from the original on 12 October 2008. Retrieved 2008-07-23.
- ^ Baker, Paul (2004). Fantabulosa: A Dictionary of Polari and Gay Slang. Continuum International Publishing Group. p. 140. ISBN 0-8264-7343-1. Retrieved 2008-07-23.
- ^ Self, Will (2004). Dorian: An Imitation. Grove Press. p. 85. ISBN 0-8264-7343-1. Retrieved 2008-07-23.
- ^ Adams, Kylie (2005). Ex-girlfriends. Kensington Books. p. 204. ISBN 0-7582-1073-6. Retrieved 2008-07-23.
- ^ Ordona, Robert (2008). "State of Gay Unions: The "Fag Stag"". Planet Out Inc. Archived from the original on January 16, 2009. Retrieved 2008-07-23.
- ^ Cohen, Mo (2006). "Deconstructing Fag Hags". Rearguard Monthly Alternative. Retrieved 2008-07-23. [dead link]
- ^ David, Marianne (3 June 2007). "Beyond the Flamboyant Façade, The Flip Side". The Nation. Archived from the original on 2008-05-13. Retrieved 2008-07-24.
- ^ a b Sohn, Amy (13 October 2003). "Mano a Mano: Much has been made about how a "Queer Eye" can benefit a straight guy. But there is no shortage of gay men who would welcome a little straightening out". New York Magazine. Retrieved 2008-07-24.
- ^ a b Heinrich, Karen (22 May 2003). "The Great Gender Bender: Heterosexual men no longer feel the need to keep their gay friends in the closet". The Age. Retrieved 2008-07-24.
- ^ ""Undressed": Girls Interrupted (2002)". IMDb.com, Inc. 2008. Retrieved 2008-07-23.
- ^ "Plot summary for "Undressed"". IMDb.com, Inc. 2008. Retrieved 2008-07-23.
- ^ a b Romenesko, Jim (11 April 2003). "Radar's Roshan says Details is an awfully gay magazine". New York Post. Archived from the original on 2005-12-01. Retrieved 2008-07-24.
- ^ Millar, Iain (5 October 2003). "The Critics: Channel Hopper - Budluck, bareness and other scourges". The Independent on Sunday. Archived from the original on 10 December 2007. Retrieved 2008-07-24.
References
edit- Flynn, Paul (September 2007). "Does Your Gay Friend Fancy You?". Arena. pp. 128–131.