YMCA本来是指The Young Men's Christian Association ，基督教青年会。“The Young Men's Christian Association (YMCA), founded in London in 1844 and brought to the United States in 1851, began as an effort to protect vulnerable men from the dangers of the city. By the early twentieth century, YMCAs had become popular havens for men who sought sex with other men.” (该组织1844年在伦敦成立，1851年引进至美国，原本旨在保护城市中弱势年轻男性。但是，从20世纪早期开始，YMCA变成了男同性恋者寻欢作乐的集中地。)
于是这首同名歌一发行就成为了男同性恋社区的代表曲，受到男同性恋者的追捧。
2007年，The Village People乐队的主唱和成立者Victor Willis在接受采访时表示 :“the lyrics in Y.M.C.A. were not meant to be innuendo about gay cruising but about hanging out with your straight buddies.”（Y.M.C.A.的歌词不是暗指同性恋间的寻欢作乐，而是指直男之间的普通玩乐。）
