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 from being used to describe convert
male homosexual behavior of a man Fronting (portraying himself), as a heterosexual and in relative 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 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 Down Low 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 Down Low hoping she won't find out.
