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.
