Is anyone else tired of the continual use of the word 'homosexual' to describe people? It is old language that I find to be very clinical, and just a bit pathological. Do you agree that 'gay' is more appropriate in referrence to people reserving 'homosexual' for discussing sexual orientation in isolation?
2006-11-30 00:43:40 · 26 answers · asked by tysonian22 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Cultures & Groups ➔ Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender
Some say the world is progressive, that homophobia no longer runs riot. A quick glance at many of these answers shows that to be untrue.
No wonder so many young gay people are depressed and suicidal.
2006-11-30 00:58:32 · update #1
Oh so many homophobes to report, so little time to do it in...
Well, personally, I think of myself as a person not "homo erectus" lol. Same kind of thing. I'm bi, I'm not half homosexual.
2006-11-30 02:25:36 · answer #1 · answered by IceyFlame 4 · 3⤊ 2⤋
Let's start with the word "homosexual". It looks like an ancient Greek expression, but word and concept are modern inventions: the expression was coined in 1869 by the Hungarian physician Karoly Maria Benkert (1824-1882). It took several decades for the word to become current. In ancient Greece, there never was a word to describe homosexual practices: they were simply part of aphrodisia, love, which included men and women alike
Homosexual is not used to 'describe' people. It is the term used to describe a mans sexual preference for another man. Like Heterosexual is used to determine that a person has sexual preferences for those of the opposite sex.
'Gay', whilst there is nothing wrong with he word describes someone or thing that is 'happy'... not all homosexual people are 'happy' nor are heterosexuals.
Derogatory words such as 'queer', 'poof' etc are not suitable
Perhaps a word such as that of Lesbians... referring to the Greek and the island of Lesbos, the female lesbian poet, Sapphos born in 612 B.C. on the island, would be better suited to the task.
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I don't have a suggestion, but I'm sure that someone can provide a more apt name referring to the male/male relationship ...
2006-11-30 01:01:24 · answer #2 · answered by Boring Old Fart 3 · 3⤊ 0⤋
I always thought homosexual was the one word you could use and be sure of not causing offence, as that is the actual term, although it does sound a bit clinical. I have heard some people suggest that people should stop using the word gay as it has somehow become a word people use when something is bad.
2006-11-30 01:04:15 · answer #3 · answered by donquixotereturns 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Gay = Good As You
Gay really means - happy, jolly, joyful and similar terms.
Homosexual - a term used to describe a person who is attracted to someone of the same sex.
Asexual - lack of sexual attraction or finds sexual behaviour unappealing.
Heterosexual - attraction between the two genders
Transsexual - having the internal identity of one gender whilst being physically of the opposite gender generally in men more so than women.
2006-12-01 05:56:17 · answer #4 · answered by cerys 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Gay hasn't got much style, and the word homosexual is a bit formal isn't it?
I quite liked the old actor friend I had in London....possibly in his 70's.
He was stopped by the police on suspicion of curb-crawling, and completely unphased, he replied, "Well officer, I am sorry to say that you are sadly mistake. You see, "aye" I am wooly-woofter!"
2006-12-01 02:16:31 · answer #5 · answered by musonic 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Homosexual is not a denigrating term and it's clear. Gay means basically 'joyful', so it's more ambiguous; as if people are feeling ashamed to use the proper word 'homosexual', and use 'gay' instead. I think homosexual is the most appropriate word, furthermore I see no reason why people should be ashamed of speaking it.
2006-11-30 00:50:02 · answer #6 · answered by Love_my_Cornish_Knight❤️ 7 · 3⤊ 1⤋
I suppose - in terms of political correctness - the word that is used to describe a person of any sexual orientation should be whatever the person in question feels is the correct term to use to describe them.
2006-11-30 00:50:44 · answer #7 · answered by Clazza 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
it depends on the context of the conversation , and how well you know the person i guess , for example i have a gay friend called david , i never refer to him as either gay or homosexual , i usually just call him david , he doesnt care about what people call him , at the end of the day he is the same person he was before he knew he was gay
2006-11-30 00:50:38 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 1⤋
Gay is short for homosexual
Straight is short for heterosexual
Bi is short for bisexual.
How is the word homosexual detrimental?
2006-11-30 04:05:20 · answer #9 · answered by nemesis 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't know where you get the idea that 'homosexual' is in continual use! I can't see anything wrong with it, it is technically accurate, but boring, which is why it has been replaced in common usage by a plethora of euphemisms - look at the name of this section!
2006-11-30 00:55:00 · answer #10 · answered by Avondrow 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I say "gay". Usually the people who use "homosexual" are the people who have "issues" with "gay" folks. Or the Associated Press. LOL.
2006-11-30 00:49:46 · answer #11 · answered by FL LMT 3 · 2⤊ 1⤋