HoYay

n. originally an interjection (of approval) used when encountering accidental or actual homoeroticism in television or movies; now the homoeroticism itself. Subjects: English, Media, Sex & Sexuality

Etymological Note: This term originated in the discussion forums of the web site Mighty Big TV, now called Television Without Pity. This information on the origins of the term seems reliable.

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Citations: 2001 [Lejo] Usenet: alt.tv.buffy-v-slayer.creative (May 27) “Re: Call Waiting 6”: “He’s a complicated man And no one understands him but his Wesley…CHARLES GUNN! Bwa-hahaha!” “The Ho-Yay! thread’s corrupted you too!” 2001 [Mike Zeares] Usenet: alt.tv.buffy-v-slayer (June 28) “Re: New writer joins BUFFY staff”: This should really help the HoYay! quotient on BtVS, which was largely lacking in S5, Willow and Tara notwithstanding (it’s not as much fun if it’s *text*). 2002 Cary Darling Miami Herald (Dec. 9) “New superhero RAGEs out of the closet”: The TV-fan site http://www.televisionwithoutpity.com, on its Smallville pages, even casts a rainbow spotlight on Superman’s youth with a board devoted to the show’s alleged gay undertones or “HoYay!,” shorthand for “homoeroticism, yay!” 2004 Ellen K. Hursh Usenet: alt.tv.er (Oct. 16) “Re: Night Of The Crazy Interns”: Either that, or she’d simply start having sex with Neela. (Hey, the Ho!Yay! was already out there on the table…I can hardly be blamed for taking a bite out of it.) 2005 Ramin Setoodeh Newsweek/MSNBC (Jan. 20) “Television: Having a Gay Old Time”: A phrase has even sprung up in the blogosphere—“HoYay!” meaning “Homoeroticism Yay!”—to describe awkward glances or sexually ambiguous dialogue between guys. “The director sets up a soap opera—two male characters clenching their jaws—and you’re totally thinking to yourself, “Just kiss already!’ ” says Sarah Bunting of TelevisionWithoutPity.com. “It’s almost funnier when the writers aren’t aware.”

Posted 2 Feb 05 | Permalink | Tell a Friend