Flamer

Flamer is slang for a gay man who is conspicuously, and often entertainingly, flamboyant in dress, mannerism, or personality. It comes from the same root as calling someone flaming, meaning openly and unmistakably showy about their queerness. Like many such words, its meaning depends heavily on who says it and how. Within the community it can be used with warmth, humor, or pride, while from outside it usually reads as a pejorative or a way to mock gender nonconformity. Some people embrace it as a badge of visibility, while others find it demeaning. Context, tone, and relationship all shape whether the word stings or celebrates.