Date:  Thu, 18 Jan 1996 22:09:51 -0500

From:  Ronald Butters <amspeech[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]ACPUB.DUKE.EDU>

Subject: Re: Flaming



On Wed, 17 Jan 1996, Kathleen M. O'Neill wrote:



> Anyone know the etymology of the term "flaming"

> as it applies to homosexuals?

>

> Just curious.

>

> ;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;

> ;Kathleen M. O'Neill ... Language Laboratory Technician I  ;

> ;:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::;

> ;University of Illinois at Chicago ... Language Laboratory ;

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The idea of 'heat' is often associated with male homosexual acts, e.g.,

the common German term is SCHWUL, derived (as I recall) from a phrase

meaning 'hot brothers'. It was, I believe, Andy Warhol who made a movie

in the 1960s (?) called FLAMING CREATURES with a queer theme. Bruce

Rodgers in THE QUEENS' VERNACULAR: A GAY LEXICON (1972) does not list

FLAMING, but he does list FLAME (IT UP), which he defines as 'to

overemphasize, often deliberately, . . . the effeminate." He derives it

(or maybe just associates it--it is hard to tell) from/with the phrase

TURN UP THE FLAME (which he dates from 1972; I'm sure FLAME is much

older). He lists CAMP as a synonym.