Gay or homosexual?

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.

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 ...

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.

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.

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!"

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.

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.

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

Gay is short for homosexual

Straight is short for heterosexual

Bi is short for bisexual.

How is the word homosexual detrimental?

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!

I say "gay". Usually the people who use "homosexual" are the people who have "issues" with "gay" folks. Or the Associated Press. LOL.