Gay men facts for kids

This symbol, with two interlocked Mars symbols, is sometimes used to represent gay men.

Gay men are men who are attracted to other men. The word "gay" is often used to describe people who are attracted to others of the same gender. While "lesbian" specifically refers to women attracted to women, "gay men" refers to men attracted to men.

Understanding the Term "Gay"

For a while, the word "gay" was used to describe anything related to men who were attracted to other men. However, by the end of the 20th century, groups supporting LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender) people suggested using "gay" more broadly. They recommended it for anyone attracted to the same gender. At the same time, "lesbian" became the specific term for women attracted to women, and "gay men" became the specific term for men attracted to men.

See also

• LGBT
• Lesbian