Fag stag andfruit fly[1] are slang terms for aheterosexual man who either enjoys or prefers the company of, or simply has numerous friends who are,gay orbisexual people.
Both terms include derogatory terms for homosexuals (fag and fruit).[2][3]
The term, which originated in theUnited States in the 1990s,[2][4] is the male equivalent of the more common slang term "fag hag",[5] a term which is part ofhag-ism: the identification of a person with a group—usually united in terms ofsexuality,gender identity, or shared sex—of which they are not a member.[6]
The term can be used as apejorative or as a term of endearment withinLGBTQ communities.[7][8][9]
In addition,homophobia has become less prevalent, and efforts to confront violence and hostility towards sexual and gender minorities, such asgay–straight alliance, has helped lift some of the stigma attached to havingLGBTQ people as close friends.[5][12]
WhenRadar magazine debuted, its founder and editor-in-chief, Maer Roshan, called competitorDetails' editor-in-chief Dan Peres a "professional fag stag",[16] stating, "Let's get one thing straight, Peres is not gay. But his magazine sure seems to be."[16]
In regards to heterosexual males, the term fag stag is not to be confused with the termgay icon. The termgay icon is used for a celebrity (gay or straight) who is highly regarded by the gay community. While one can be both a fag stag and a gay icon concurrently, the terms are not synonymous.[5][13][17]
