A gaychacho is a contemporary term used to describe adult males who are secured about their sexuality, but decide to present themselves otherwise. The gaychachos’ intent is to maintain a level of tension and discomfort among
friends in order to challenge each other’s sexuality, including their sexual preference. The term derives from the words
gay and muchachos, and it is believed to have originated in
2018 from
people of Puerto Rican descent. While the word is not considered to be offensive when used in the right context, some worry about the implications it
may have as it becomes more mainstream. Some members of the LGBT community have endorsed the term and have even used it to describe their heterosexual
friends and counterparts. Those advocating for the term argue that the word could be used to describe any adult male regardless of the person’s sexual orientation, and therefore should not be treated as an offensive word. However, those opposing the term worry about the confusion it
may create among adult males since there are no clear or well defined traits an adult male must have to be considered a gaychacho. They argue that the lack of clarity
may exacerbate the struggle younger males
may face while still defining their sexuality, especially those going through the first years of
college. Nonetheless, the word continues to be adopted by different male groups and gaining a great
deal of interest among middle-age males.