As a matter of fact, *I* dislike the word 'gay'... just as I dislike cute euphemisms for other things...such as body parts and acts...I suspect that it was begun to avoid public use of the more opprobrious terms- in order to make references about it.

.... but 'gay' has the virtue of being short, and IS better than 'queer', which was a stupid euphemism of another sort. (Although for a time, some groups of 'gay' folk used 'queer' as a sort of in-your-face dare.)

The word itself has been co-opted...and I hate the background snickering when someone says "I feel gay today.".... but it is, for the foreseeable future, the common term, and *I* adjust to it. The point is not about the word, but rather about the rights of people who happen to be 'that way', no matter what you choose to call it.

(who me? Cynical?.....nawwwwww...)