Another common meaning of the word gay in the olden days (pre-WWII) was colorful. Songs birds in songs and poetry were referred to as gay. A garden filled full of summer flowers was described as gay. It is thought that during the Edwardian period upperclass homosexual men tended to dress rather more colorfully than their drab heterosexual counterparts. These artistic, flamboyant fellows were referred to as the gays.
Perhaps the word "drab" would be a better alternative word to describe a homesexual. I have never known a person living in the "alternative lifestyle" who did not suffer from serious bouts of anger and depression.