Homosexuality

Since its coining, the term homosexuality has acquired multiple meanings. In the original sense, it refers to a sexual orientation characterized by aesthetic attraction, romantic love, and sexual desire exclusively for members of the same sex or gender identity. It can also refer to the manifestation of that orientation in the identity of an individual, which may or may not be at odds with that person's sexual behavior. Finally, it can refer to sexual relations with another of the same sex regardless of one's sexual orientation, self-identification or gender identity.

Etymology and usage

Main article: Terminology of homosexuality

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The word homosexual translates literally as "of the same sex," being a hybrid of the Greek prefix homo- meaning "same" and the Latin root sex- meaning "sex." The first known appearance of the term homosexual in print is found in an anonymously published 1869 German pamphlet written by the Hungarian Karl-Maria Kertbeny.

Related Topics:
Hybrid - Greek - 1869 - Karl-Maria Kertbeny

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The term homosexual can be used as a noun or adjective to describe persons as well as their sexual orientation, sexual history, or self-identification. Since homosexual places emphasis on sexuality, however, it is to be avoided in non-sexual contexts. Some people also feel the term is too clinical and thus somewhat dehumanizing. Thus, when referring to a person (as opposed to a sexual behavior), the terms gay man and lesbian are generally preferred. Some same-sex oriented persons actually prefer the term homosexual to gay, seeing the former as describing a sexual orientation and the latter as describing a cultural or socio-political group with which they do not identify (see http://www.sataniclust.com/col_homowarlock_1_notgay.htm).

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The term gay may refer to all homosexual people, or only to homosexual men, which is why gay man may be preferred. Lesbian refers to homosexual women.

Related Topics:
Gay - Lesbian

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Although some early writers used the adjective homosexual to refer to any single-gender context (such as an all-girls' school), today the term implies a sexual aspect. The term homosocial is now used to describe single-sex contexts that are not specifically sexual.

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Derogatory terms include fag or faggot, which generally refer to gay men; poof, is used mostly in the United Kingdom; queer, generally inclusive of anyone who is not exclusively heterosexual, but also reclaimed as affirming by many gays and academics; Gay and homo, common terms of abuse among adolescents; and dyke, which refers to lesbians. See Homophobia

Related Topics:
Fag - Faggot - Poof - United Kingdom - Queer - Dyke - Homophobia

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Given how confusing and overloaded various terms can be, when specificity is important new terms are starting to be pressed into service. For example, Men who have sex with men, or MSM for short, is sometimes used in the medical community when specifically discussing sexual behavior (regardless of sexual orientation or self-identification). Same-sex attraction focuses on spontaneous feeling, but de-emphasizes identification with a demographic or cultural group, and also leaves open the possibilty for co-existing opposite-sex attraction. Homoerotic is a synonym for Same-sex attraction, that is used to refer both to personal feelings and works of art. Non-straight is another attempt at neutrality that is gaining currency.

Related Topics:
Men who have sex with men - Same-sex attraction - Homoerotic

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