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Meaning of gayola | Babel Free

Noun CEFR B1

Definitions

The practice of American police departments extorting bribes from gay bars, especially in the 1950s and 60s, in return for not raiding them; such a bribe.

historical, uncountable

Examples

Every one of the bars that testified against the police department during the gayola inquiry was shut down.”
Policing power over gay bars was thus shifted from the SFPD's beat officers to the mayor and the chief of police. In the wake of the gayola scandal Mayor Christopher launched an offensive against homosexual drinking establishments.”
One reporter asked the attorneys involved in one of the gayola prosecutions whethergay barswere acceptable.”

CEFR level

B1
Intermediate
This word is part of the CEFR B1 vocabulary — intermediate level.
See all B1 English words →

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