Just when we thought we'd heard the last word on gay slang (which happened about the time our local Religious Rightfolk decided that «eclectic» is secret code for «gay,») a new definition appeared in the Official Gay Dictionary.

(Why yes, Mary. There is one.)

Our Gay News adjective of the day is, «Post Label,» defined as, «A term used to describe individuals that prefer not to label their sexual identity as gay, bisexual or straight. Post-label individuals see sexuality as more fluid than the traditionally rigid interpretations of gay or straight.»

Gender benders rejoice! And, if that's not enough to get you voguing in the streets, here's another snippet of happy news: The most recent example of support for the concept of post label sexuality comes from none other than the hyper-macho world of college football.

You may have seen headlines recently about a study finding that a third of American football players have engaged in gay sex. But that wasn't the point of the study... exactly.

Eric Anderson, sociologist, professor, author of, «In the Game: Gay Athletes and the Cult of Masculinity,» did ask a select group of college football players about their sexual experiences. That part is true. He did discover that boys who don't identify themselves as «gay» have sex with other boys. (Right. We know. You're probably hoping we'll write a piece about grant opportunities so that you too can study this well-known phenomenon.)

The real finding of the study is, as Anderson puts it, «Studies since the '50s have shown that men have had sex with each other without identifying as gay. The key here is that it doesn't threaten their heterosexual identity in the peer culture anymore. They can do this now -- which really isn't anything new -- but the difference is their teammates don't go, 'Oh, you fucking faggot.'

«The question, 'What does it mean to be gay and what does it mean to be straight?' is be becoming increasingly complicated,» says Anderson. «Wonderful thing, in my opinion.»

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