gay church

n. jocularly, a gym. Subjects: English, Gay

Editorial Note: Popularized by, if not originated by, the American television sitcom Will & Grace. Occasionally, in various nonce uses as in the 2004 citation, the term is applied to other places or activities stereotypically associated with homosexuals.

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Citations: 2001 James Burrows Will & Grace (television series) (Dec. 6) “Stakin’ Care of Business”: Don’t lie. Not here. This is a gym. This is—this is gay church. 2001 Usenet: misc.writing (Dec. 11) “Re: Ok, Hugh. You Asked For It. Guns”: The other night on Will & Grace a guy chastized another guy for acting up in the gym. He told him “You can’t do that at a gym. Gym is like gay church.” [2004 Traveling Spotlight (Cleveland, Ohio) (June 14) “I’ve Been Bad…Very Bad!”: But instead of going to Catholic church, I attend the gay church, the hair salon. Hell hath no fury like a hairdresser.] 2005 [Christian] Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Trans Association (Univ. of Nottingham, U.K.) (Feb. 21) “sport?”: Worry not, after all they do call gyms “gay church.” 2005 Christopher Stone AfterElton.com (July 11) “30 Days: A Straight Man Visits the Castro”: Ryan’s first full day starts with a visit to the gym, or “gay church,” as he calls it.

Posted 18 Jul 05 | Permalink | Tell a Friend