Where did the term "Gaydar" originate?

[Orsorum]

Is it from Futurama?

 

[yllus]

I don't know, but I can tell you that I invented and own the copyright on the exclamation point.

 

[jagec]

no...most cartoons would never try to introduce a term that people don't already know. You're trying to entertain them, not confuse them.

I don't know where or when it first came into common usage, but it certainly predates the Futurama reference.

 

[Spikesoldier]

i think it might have originated from the flash cartoon series Queer Duck, which was on icebox.com back in its prime (before the rights to queer duck was sold to cinemax)

but for some reason i dont think it was from futurama, and its definately older than 2001.

 

[Ryan]

I think it predates the 90's all together.

 

[Kelemvor]

Gaydar is from way back to the early 90's and before. Was just used to describe how Gay people can detect other Gay people without actually knowing they are Gay.

 

[parody]

I remember the daily show had a thing on a guy that invented actual gadar. basically two electronic devices that beep when they get close to each other.

 

[ElFenix]

castro street

 

[paulney]

It's the last name of a soviet writer who wrote for kids.

 

[AdamSnow]

It came from you standing still moving your head side to side...

 

[jimikim]

Originally posted by: FrankyJunior
Gaydar is from way back to the early 90's and before. Was just used to describe how Gay people can detect other Gay people without actually knowing they are Gay.

Why are you capitalizing the "G" in "gaydar"?

 

[paulney]

Originally posted by: jimikim

Originally posted by: FrankyJunior
Gaydar is from way back to the early 90's and before. Was just used to describe how Gay people can detect other Gay people without actually knowing they are Gay.

Why are you capitalizing the "G" in "gaydar"?

Because Gay people are closer to G-d.

 

[jimikim]

How do you make it so you could click on my icon and see my profile?

 

[nakedfrog]

Hm... interesting question. The etymology of gaydar. I would be willing to guess it goes back to the 60s or 70s. I first heard it in the early 90s.

 

[Kyteland]

Originally posted by: jimikim
How do you make it so you could click on my icon and see my profile?

Thread hijack?

Click on the profile button (top right of the screen) and enable your profile.

 

[MBony]

More information on term gaydar

 

[jimikim]

I filled everything on my profile, but i don't see an "enable" option...sorry for thread hijack...

 

[jjones]

I made it up. If you wish to use it, please paypal me in the amount of $4.50 per use. You can purchase them in lots of 10 for $40.00; they make good Christmas gifts and are available in gift certificate form.

 

[Bootprint]

Starts showing up in Usenet in 1990, so it seems to have started in the gay community during, at least the 80's

 

[Pepsi90919]

Originally posted by: jimikim

Originally posted by: FrankyJunior
Gaydar is from way back to the early 90's and before. Was just used to describe how Gay people can detect other Gay people without actually knowing they are Gay.

Why are you capitalizing the "G" in "gaydar"?

because it's the start of the sentence?

 

[neonerd]

Originally posted by: jimikim

Originally posted by: FrankyJunior
Gaydar is from way back to the early 90's and before. Was just used to describe how Gay people can detect other Gay people without actually knowing they are Gay.

Why are you capitalizing the "G" in "gaydar"?

because it's at the beginning of the sentence?

EDIT: Pepsi beat me to it

 

[tk149]

The first time I heard the term was from a gay guy in 1991.

 

[Colt45]

It's been around since a week after radar was developed.

it's only one letter off. that pretty much guarantees it is ancient public domain.