gay cancer

English

Etymology

From gay (“homosexual”) +‎ cancer (“disease”). From the fact that HIV/AIDS was in its beginnings very disproportionately found in homosexual men. The word “cancer” from the analogy with a suddenly emerging, highly feared and highly lethal disease.

Noun

gay cancer (uncountable)

1. (pathology, obsolete, slang, 1980s) Synonym of AIDS (“acquired immune deficiency syndrome”)

Synonyms

• gay plague
• GRID (gay-related immune deficiency or gay-related immunodeficiency)