Page "Shipping (fandom)" Paragraph 21

The term " Slash " itself predates the use of " shipping " by at least some 20 years.

It was originally coined as a term to describe Kirk / Spock ( or " K / S "; sometimes spoken " Kirk-slash-Spock ", whence " Slash ") homosexual fan fiction.

For a time in the late 1970s and early 1980s, both " K / S " and " Slash " were used to describe such fan fiction, regardless of whether or not they were related to Star Trek.

But as homosexuality became more accepted in society, so too did the terms lose their derogatory connotation.

Thus " Slash " became a universal term to describe all homosexual themed fan works.