What Does 'If I Miss, I'm Gay' Mean?

Over the past several years, social media has generally become a more gay-friendly place, and this means there are a whole lot more memes and trends being celebrated by the LGBTQ community. One of the latest is the "If I miss, I'm gay" trend that's rapidly taking over TikTok.

But what does this phrase mean, why is everyone missing their trick shots, and why is Madonna involved? Here's everything you need to know about it.

Where Does "If I Miss, I’m Gay" Come From, and What Does It Mean?

If you’re familiar with the pre-2015 internet (or the way elementary school boys annoy one another), you’re probably aware that “gay” used to be a minor derogatory insult. And when a man with a slurred southern drawl uploaded a video claiming he’s "gay as hell" if he misses a dartboard, many assumed the word was being used in that same way — until the last second when an odd silence fills the video and his dart misses the board entirely, lodging itself in drywall.

The phrase "If I miss, I’m gay" began to catch on online in late September and October 2022. The phrase spread quickly following National Coming Out Day on October 11th, with many people on social media using it in videos in which they intentionally missed a given target.

Thus, the phrase "If I miss, I’m gay," actually means "this user is gay, and is using this trend as a socially acceptable opportunity to joke about it."

How Is "If I Miss, I’m Gay" Used Online?

After this phrase became popularized online, it became a huge trend on TikTok. A particular sound became associated with it, and people began to post videos with the caption and sound in which they miss after tossing something at their targets, which are usually trash cans. After they miss, people will react with feigned shock, sadness or exaggerated pride. Often, they’ll do a twirl or walk away in a way that’s perceived as stereotypically gay. It would be impossible to confirm that everyone participating in this trend is actually a member of the LGBTQ community, but it seems like many people are using the trend to either come out or express pride in a fun way online.

Did Madonna Use “If I Miss, I’m Gay” to Come Out?

Well, yes and no. Madonna posted her now-viral TikTok on October 9th, in which she uses the caption and tosses a pair of pink underwear, which land nowhere near her target. Her video earned almost two million likes in twelve days, and the wide responses across social media have caused news outlets to lose anything resembling sanity. Madonna has discussed bisexuality for decades, and her fans have long believed that she’s into women, so when Madonna’s "coming out video" began to trend, many people pointed out that this is just a statement of the obvious.

For the full details on the "If I miss, I’m gay" trend and viral story, be sure to check out our entry on the meme here for even more information.