"British gay men (though according to Wikipedia it was a slang used by performers and criminals that was later adopted by homosexuals) developed the eclectic, secretive slang at a time when society stigmatised them. Luckily it is no longer needed.
Polari (also spelt Palarie, Parlary, Palare and various other ways) is a form of language that is most commonly associated with gay men (and to a lesser extent lesbians), used in the first two-thirds of the 20th century in British cities that had large and mainly underground gay subcultures.
The language was particularly well known in London and was associated with chorus boys who danced and sang in West End productions, and male prostitutes who drank endless cups of tea in seedy cafes hanging out around Piccadilly ("the dilly") looking for "steamers" (clients)..."
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gr8 article
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