gay paree US

As I’m off to Paris tomorrow, whenever I think of going, I think of the expression “I’m off to Gay Paris” or “Gay Paree” as is the correct spelling. I decided to go surfing for the origins of this expression, and this interesting little snippet popped up in a search.
“Another clue to the origin of the phrase comes in an article at “Mental Floss“. It’s not quite clear when “gay” began to mean more than just happy. As early as the 18th century, the word was used to describe a person or place of looser-than-the-standard morals. “Gay Paree” and “gay divorcee” were common phrases of the time, which described the uninhibited fun had in the City of Lights and by recently unentangled folks. By the 1800s, a “gay house” had become a synonym for a brothel. In the early 1920s, both Gertrude Stein and Noel Coward had used the word “gay” to imply a homosexual in their prose, but the references were pretty much lost on anyone outside of the literary intelligentsia of that time. ”
In fact in 2002, “Gay Paree” was used as an advertising campaign to woo gay travellers to Paris. Then, Paris Mayor Bertrand Delanoe, became the city’s first openly gay mayor and was proud to lead that Summer’s Gay Pride Parade.
I then found another definition on artandrchitecture.com which read “ ’Gay Paree’ was a term that originated as the Belle Epoque reached its zenith at the turn of the nineteenth into the twentieth century, but it may be said to have been conceived in the year 1880, when the liberal government, elected into power over the preceding couple of years, and succeeding the particularly puritanical ministry of M MacMahon,

introduced a raft of reforms. The Marseillaise became the national anthem, July 14 became a national holiday, public meetings were allowed without official authorization, and the freedom of the press was promulgated by the abolition of “crimes of opinion”.

The cafés of Paris, previously regarded as hotbeds of sedition, multiplied and flourished.” I then found a very funny piece in the Weekly World News from 1998, stating “French Officials want to banish the phrase “Gay Paree” from books, magazines and newspapers, for fear foreigners will think Paris is a city of Sissies…” The article goes on to be very derogatory about homosexuals, so I shall stop right there!
And lastly, but not least… it seems to be related to Toulouse Lautrec…
“The dictionaries tell us that ‘gay’ is derived from the French ‘gai’. It has apparently been in our language since Middle English times, but I suspect that its meaning, or at least its connotations, have been refreshed constantly from (where else?) Gay Paree. It was a tired word when I was growing up, associated with Toulouse Lautrec and girls in frilly knickers doing the Can-Can. It was not a word we would ever have used other than when quoting the title of Cole Porter’s musical. So, when I first heard it in its new sense, it struck me that this change in meaning couldn’t have happened to a more appropriate word.”

Another highlight of our day was the awesome Musee du Moyen Age, situated in the remains of the 12th century Cluny Abbey, which is itself built on top of ruined Roman Baths. Oh the swords, the chain mail, the tapestries.... We then had just enough time to wander over to the Ile de la Cite and Notre Dame, (to light a candle for Mikko and send a message of peace to the world on behalf of Anthony's new nephew, Lachlan), visit a patisserie and collect souvenirs (a tshirt from our fave cafe for Ants, and a jaunty hat for me) before it was time to board the train home.

In order to survive you need to know basic gay Paris etiquette so here are a few tips.

1. ALWAYS say "Bonjour Monsieur" and/or "Bonjour Madame" when entering a Paris store or Paris restaurant, or first speaking to someone (i.e. waiter, cashier etc.). Even if you just intend to browse around a Paris store on your own for 30 seconds.
2. When leaving don't forget to say goodbye, "au revoir Monsieur" and/or "au revoir madame."
3. Expect to be misunderstood, but use what French you can, whenever you can. Just go with the flow, and do your best to speak as much French as possible.