'gay-focused' originates from Modern English as a compound of 'gay' (Modern English) and 'focused' (Modern English). 'Gay' comes from Old French 'gai', where the root meant 'joyful' or 'bright'; 'focused' comes from Latin 'focus', where 'focus' meant 'hearth' (later 'center/point of attention').

'gay' changed from Old French 'gai' into Middle English 'gai' and then into Modern English 'gay', while 'focus' came from Latin 'focus', entered scientific/English usage in the 17th century and produced the verb 'to focus' and adjective 'focused'; these elements combined in Modern English to form the compound 'gay-focused'.

Initially, 'gay' meant 'joyful' and 'focus' referred to a central point or hearth; over time 'gay' acquired the modern sense 'homosexual' and 'focused' came to mean 'directed at' or 'concentrated on', so 'gay-focused' now means 'directed at or emphasizing gay people or issues'.