Swish (slang)

Status after the Stonewall riots

Although being butch was viewed as deviant and socially unacceptable by gay male society, being swish has since lost its mainstream gay status post-Stonewall, and in addition to being used occasionally by mainstream culture is now most often derogatory even when used by gay men. Though it may be assumed that most post-Stonewall gay men view acting swish as internalized homophobia, a concession to stereotypes of gay men as less than manly. However, the Castro clone, a hyper-masculine, macho standard and ideal behaviour that replaced swish, adapted many camp elements such as dishing (gossip).

Thus while clones could view swish as embodying anti-gay stereotypes, being swish was a way of indicating and performing one's identity, indicating that anti-gay stereotypes could be derived from gay identities. Further, one could turn swish on or off, as described in Gay Macho: The Life and Death of the Homosexual Clone:

Just look at all these clones dear. With their pumped up bodies and thick moustaches, they all look so 'butch.' But I remember when everyone was 'nelly'. What a joke! [...] Over the last few years I have watched many of these girls change as the times changed. A couple of years ago, they had puny bodies, lisping voices, and elegant clothes. At parties or [Tea dance (gay event)

Tea Dance]]s, they came in dresses, swooning over [[Greta Garbo

Modern LGBT rights movement

Most recently, Swish has taken on an empowering and action-oriented meaning within the [LGBT rights movement, in part thanks to an organization by the same name. From this point of view, to swish indicates a form of activism that is uplifting, rewarding and fun, and creates opportunities for straight allies to become active in the LGBT civil rights movement.

References

References

1. "swish definition, meaning". Cambridge Dictionaries Online.
2. "swish - Gay Slang Dictionary".
3. Stanley, J. P. (1974) "When We Say 'Out of the Closets!'" ''College English'', 36, 7.
4. Kleinberg, Seymour. "unknown article." ''Christopher Street'', March 1978. Cited in Levine 1998.
5. "Definition of "Nelly" by Oxford Dictionaries Online". Oxford Dictionaries Online.
6. Sonenschein 1969; cited in Levine 1998
7. Tripp 1975, 180-182; cited in Levine 1998
8. (1998). "Gay Macho: The Life and Death of the Homosexual Clone". New York University Press.
9. (Henry, 1955, p. 291, cited in Levine 1998)
10. (Warren 1972, 1974; Helmer 1963, both cited in Levine 1998)
11. Loftin, Craig M. "Unacceptable mannerisms: Gender anxieties, homosexual activism, and swish in the United States, 1945-1965." Journal of Social History 40, no. 3 (2007): 577-596.
12. "Straight Gals Dish on Why Gays make Great Pals".