Language does matter when it comes to using terms. Take the word "gay" versus the word "homosexual". Not too long ago no one had an issue with referring to a homosexual person as a "homosexual". The reason why is because the term homosexual means someone who is attracted to another of the same gender sexually.
Well, now the politically correct word police are saying that we should not use the word "homosexual' because it connotates negative images of homosexuals.
First, let's look at one online dictionary says about the term:
adjective - homosexual 1. sexually attracted to members of your own sex noun 1. someone who practices homosexuality; having a sexual attraction to persons of the same sex
Yes, a clear and concise definition of the word homosexual that accurately defines people who are homosexuals.
Now let's look at this caveat put about the usage of the word from the same online dictionary.
Usage Note: Many people now avoid using homosexual because of the emphasis this term places on sexuality. Indeed, the words gay and lesbian, which stress cultural and social matters over sex, are frequently better choices. Homosexual is most objectionable when used as a noun; here gay man and gay woman or lesbian and their plural forms are called for. It is generally unobjectionable when used adjectivally, as in a homosexual relationship, although gay, lesbian, or same-sex are also available for adjectival use.
So in other words, if you use the term homosexual and what you mean by it is that the person who has sexual attraction to another of the same sex is homosexual, simply because it refers to sexual behavior, that is now politically incorrect usage of the word homosexual.
And so if you use the words gay and lesbian than that actually detracts from the sexual behavior and is more favorable to the homosexuals because the emphasis is taken off of their sexual desires towards someone of the same gender.
But wait...there's more on this from The New York Blade Online. In the linked article above, we see the homosexual paper throw a hissy fit because the AP used the word homosexual instead of gay.
The AP wrote this...
Christine Quinn is “the first openly homosexual leader of the New York City Council. … She suggested that the Ancient Order of Hibernians [the group that organizes Manhattan’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade] should permit homosexual activists the right to march behind the New York City council banner.”
The homosexual paper The New York Blade Online says this ...
"...Like many news outlets, the New York Blade often relies on the Associated Press for its content. We do edit the stories when needed, sometimes drastically, sometimes not. In this case, we substituted the term “gay” for “homosexual”: the first openly gay leader. Who says “openly homosexual”? In a context such as this, the term is outdated an awkward. You would expect an AP reporter to be savvier. Ditto for the editors who approved the piece."
Why did the New York Blade really edit the story, if you read the rest of the article you'll see they edited it because when people are polled and the use of the word homosexual is used, more people are not willing to give special rights to the homosexuals. On the other hand, when you use the words gay and lesbian more people respond favorably. And of course, there is a negative connotation to the use of the word homosexual because of the "religious right".
The homosexual online site the New York Blade online ends their diatribe this way:
We are not suggesting the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation or the Human Rights Campaign begin condemning people and media who use the word. No one should go into rehab for uttering the H word. Then again … it wouldn’t be bad for mainstream media to be aware of how they use the terms. It would behoove us as LGBT people to pay attention to how words are used to describe us. They can make a difference.Switching the terms “gay” and “homosexual” also influenced the number of people who said they were against equal rights. According to the same Gallup poll mentioned above, in 2005, 7 percent said “gays and lesbians” should not have equal rights in terms of employment. But 11 percent said that “homosexuals” should not have equal rights. That translates to 4 percent change—in favor of LGBT equality—simply because of the terminology.
The bottom line is that the truth is that a person who has sexual attraction to a person of their same gender is a homosexual. It is about sexual desires and what the homosexual activists and media want to tell you is that it has nothing to do with sexual behavior or desires. Don't fall for their language trap by using the word gay or lesbian. Because there is nothing "gay" about being homosexual. And a homosexual is a person who desires to have sexual relations with someone of their same gender.
