Luke Blaidd
Recently, I posted this image (below) on my Prosiect Llyfr Enfys social media accounts:
This is an infographic which I made on a whim after noticing that Jac L. Williams’ Geiriadur Termau turned 50 years old this year. I came to realise that by extension, so had the terms ‘lesbiad’ and ‘deuryw’, which were included in Williams’ dictionary. Since starting Prosiect Llyfr Enfys, I have amassed over 100 records of Welsh LGBTQIA+ terminology in dictionaries spanning 1604 to 2018! Naturally, I had to have a look for any more term anniversaries I could find. I hope you enjoy this list of term anniversaries- feel free to use the data however you like!
1960s
‘Cyfunrhywiol’ (homosexual) is the acceptable, formal term for homosexuality in Welsh. Its counterpart, ‘gwrywgydiol’, is considered offensive. In 1963, ‘cyfunrhywiol’ was printed in Y Geiriadur Mawr for the first time. ‘Cyfunrhywiol’ therefore is 60 years old this year!
1970s
‘Lesbiad’ (lesbian) and ‘deuryw’ (bisexual) both can be traced back to first appearing in Jac L. Williams’ Geiriadur Termau in 1973. This makes both terms 50 years old!
1980s
‘Trawsrywiol’ (transsexual) was included for the first time in Y Geiriadur Cymraeg Cyfoes, making ‘the term 42 years old this year.
In 1985, ‘hoyw’ (gay) made an appearance in Geiriadur Esperanto~Kimra Vortaro, making the term 38 years old this year.
In 1986, ‘anrhywiol’ (asexual) was used for the first time in a medical journal to refer to asexuality, making it 27 years old this year.
1990s
No new terminology is known to have originated in this decade.
2000s
In 2004, the term ‘androgynedd’ (androgyny) appeared for the first time in Geiriadur Termau Seicoleg.
In 2007, ‘rhyngryw’ (intersex) emerged as the acceptable word for intersex in Welsh.
2010s
Either in or prior to 2018, ‘panrywiol’ (pansexual) emerged in the Welsh language. Stonewall Cymru’s Geirfa page lists the term. The oldest preserved version of the page dates to the 29th of January 2018 on Wayback Machine.