The DL or The Down Low, like many terms and phrases in the American culture, can attribute their
genesis to the
Gay and Urban Black community, The, "DL" has evolved to be used universally to refer to activities conducted secretly and behind the scenes. The DL can also refer to behavior described as slick or deceptive.
The term has truly evolved. In recent times DL has gone from being used exclusively to describe covert male
homosexual behavior of a man fronting (portraying himself), as a heterosexual but in reality is actually a closet Gay man, to now refer to any behavior, action, or behavior that can be described as secretive or deceptive.
Etymology
DL or “Down Low”, attributes its
genesis from the Inner City Black and
Sub Culture. The Black community was slow to accept the male
homosexual in their community so Black
Men were maintaining a cover, by acting as they were only into the Ladies. Their homosexuality was secret and thus adopted the term, “Down Low” to refer to a man that is a closet
homosexual or a man that engages in sexual relations with both male and female partners. The term evolved to identify such
men as their female partners were discovering that their Man was subversively engaging in sexual relations with another man on the side, (on the DL) while their female partner was unaware of his behavior and sexual preference. Prior to the Homosexual descriptive, the term was used to describe: any kind of secretive, slick, and/or deceptive behavior.
None Sexual Reference:
Steve is moonlighting as a Bartender on the DL so his friends don't go to the
bar and harass him while on the
job.
Sexual Reference: Mike is seeing His Girl's BF on the DL hoping she won't bust him out.
