NationStates Jolt Archive

Would you prefer to be called homosexuals or gays. I've always wondered about that.

How about "people"?

How about "people"?

I hear that.

They prefer "evil sinners"

How about "people"?

Hear Hear!!

I dont much like the word homosexual. It sounds like some kind of disease. "our toothpaste now fights plaque and the gum disease HOMOSEXUALITY" (I love how they say gingevitus :))

I prefer gay when I am with straight or gay people I do not know. When I am with my good straight/gay friends We use the words Queer and Fag. We think that if we use them, it takes the power away from those who yuse them as a put down.

How about "people"?
Agreed here. I was doing some work on stigma, and identifying people by one aspect of themselves- such as homosexuals or schizophrenics, is a key part in the development of stigma. It marks them as "different," from the rest of us and all the bad stuff that can go along with that.

I prefer to be called by who I am, Roger. Nothing else.

Gay, I suppose is ok...but Homo/Queer/F** or anything else will most likely make me very angry. I don't even say any of that around my gay friends because I think they are terrible words in general that no one should use.

I have another question for gays. The Log Cabin Republicans called what they are called becasue Abraham Lincoln was supposedly gay right, or am I way off? Is there any hard evidence besides the fact that his wife was really ugly and he really liked the theater?? Excuse me if everybody already knew this but I first heard someone mention this theory on a talkshow a few weeks ago.

Personally I prefer "gays". "homosexual" sounds so technical and unpersonal while "gay" has this secondary meaning of being happy and cheerful, which I rather want to see associated with the LBGT community :)

Which do you prefer? "heterosexual" or "straight"?

Which do you prefer? "heterosexual" or "straight"?
Don't really care since there aren't negative connotations attached to either word. :)

Don't really care since there aren't negative connotations attached to either word. :)
Hmm to me "heterosexual" sounds technical and sterile aswell.

There is a comedian named carlos something he has a half hour special on comedy central. you should watch it. but he explains why we shouldnt need to fit everyone in one catagory and that our differences make us special or something

Which do I prefer, heterosexual or straight? I think heterosexual sounds so weird, so I guess straight. However to distinguish couples in a discussion where it's necessary, I'll use the abbreviation "hetero". As in "Two guys making out are hot and two girls are just whatever, but when I see hetero couples kissing I actually think it's kind of gross."

Personally, if I were gay (reminds me of the Stephen Lynch song, hehe) I would prefer to be called a godless Sodomite, but that's just me. Guess I'll just have to stick to pinko-commie bastard (despite the fact that I'm not a communist. oh well).

I have another question for gays. The Log Cabin Republicans called what they are called becasue Abraham Lincoln was supposedly gay right, or am I way off? Is there any hard evidence besides the fact that his wife was really ugly and he really liked the theater?? Excuse me if everybody already knew this but I first heard someone mention this theory on a talkshow a few weeks ago.

That's what Michael Savage would have people believe, since "...the gay community is all about sick innuendos and such." I'm pretty sure it's because they're about getting back to the foundations of the Republican party, before all the social conservatives took over. Seems pretty obvious to me...

I'm pretty sure it's because they're about getting back to the foundations of the Republican party, before all the social conservatives took over. Seems pretty obvious to me...
Yeah, the Republicans used to be the socially liberal New Englanders, and the Democrats were the Southern social conservatives.

Yeah, the Republicans used to be the socially liberal New Englanders, and the Democrats were the Southern social conservatives.
That makes sense. I wish I could remember what radio program it was but it deffinitely wasn't Savage, but they said that he lived with a male roomate when he was poor and they wroted tender letters back and forth to each other for years afterwards. It wasn't a homphobic program at all though I don't listen to shit like that.

That makes sense. I wish I could remember what radio program it was but it deffinitely wasn't Savage, but they said that he lived with a male roomate when he was poor and they wroted tender letters back and forth to each other for years afterwards. It wasn't a homphobic program at all though I don't listen to shit like that.

I long for the days when the Republicans actually stood for politicaly conservative principles...and I wish the Libertarians and other such people who should realize what they've become would wake the fuck up.

I've heard theories about a number of prominent people in history...people like to bounce them around, since the closet has always featured prominently in history (if you know what I mean). I'm sure there are theories about Lincoln around. It's not like thing were then like they are today, where every moment of prominent folks' lives are stalked by the press. There's much room for speculation.

What about like on the Simpsons,

Homer- "Hey you guys cant call yourselves fruits! That our word! We neeeeed it!"

Homer- "I mean queer! Queer! Thats what you guys like to be called right?"

and finally

Homer- "did you catch gay?! You didnt catch gay did you?! Ah! You caught gay!" :D

What about like on the Simpsons,

Homer- "Hey you guys cant call yourselves fruits! That our word! We neeeeed it!"

Homer- "I mean queer! Queer! Thats what you guys like to be called right?"

and finally

Homer- "did you catch gay?! You didnt catch gay did you?! Ah! You caught gay!" :D


Family Guy

Quagmire: Hey those chicks are so lonely they're praticing kissing with each other.
Cleveland: I don't think they're practicing...
All: [thoughtfully] Oh.
All: [Excitedly] OH!
All: [dissapointedly] oh

I long for the days when the Republicans actually stood for politicaly conservative principles...and I wish the Libertarians and other such people who should realize what they've become would wake the fuck up.

I've heard theories about a number of prominent people in history...people like to bounce them around, since the closet has always featured prominently in history (if you know what I mean). I'm sure there are theories about Lincoln around. It's not like thing were then like they are today, where every moment of prominent folks' lives are stalked by the press. There's much room for speculation.

Off the top of my head, homosexual men in history include Socrates, Plato, Aristotle, Alexander the great, Julius Caesar, Augustus Caesar, Tchaikovsky, Alexander Hamilton, Sir francis Bacon, Amelia Earhart, Nathaniel Hawthorn, James Dean, Janis Joplin, Susan B. Anthony, hans Christian Anderson, Leonardo da Vinci, and Michelangelo. Well, historical data shows that these people were not solely heterosexual.

Also according to Encyclopedia Britannica; Richard the Lionhearted and Lawrence of Arabia.

How about "people"?
What about by thier actual names?

I don't care.

Though if I were you, I would say "gay" because, you know, it's shorter.

Also, don't get too caught up in the whole no labels thing. Its like asking if someone prefers to be called black or african american, kinda innocuous.

Also, don't get too caught up in the whole no labels thing. Its like asking if someone prefers to be called black or african american, kinda innocuous.

yay voice of reason. Have some pixelized hearts---> <3<3

I have another question for gays. The Log Cabin Republicans called what they are called becasue Abraham Lincoln was supposedly gay right, or am I way off? Is there any hard evidence besides the fact that his wife was really ugly and he really liked the theater?? Excuse me if everybody already knew this but I first heard someone mention this theory on a talkshow a few weeks ago.

The origin of the "Log Cabin Republicans" (name wise) is indeed from the slave-emancipating Republican who grew up in.. guess what? A log cabin. Not that Abraham Lincoln was gay, which he was not, but because of the fact that he was a Republican and emancipated slaves.

I live in one of the 11 states that voted for amendments banning gay marriage, so I guess that I can't be called "gay" or "homosexual" anymore. I believe the proper term is now "second-class citizen."

Off the top of my head, homosexual men in history include Socrates, Plato, Aristotle, Alexander the great, Julius Caesar, Augustus Caesar, Tchaikovsky, Alexander Hamilton, Sir francis Bacon, Amelia Earhart, Nathaniel Hawthorn, James Dean, Janis Joplin, Susan B. Anthony, hans Christian Anderson, Leonardo da Vinci, and Michelangelo. Well, historical data shows that these people were not solely heterosexual.

Slight mistake there.

Also, I should point out that the idea of people having to be gay or straight is a pretty modern one, in the past people tended to be somewhat inclined to go with whoever they thought looked good. To use one of your examples, Alexander the Great had several wives and enjoyed them, but took male lovers as well. Trying to apply modern social concepts to the past does not tend to work well.

As for the original question of the thread, I have always assumed gay was the appropriate term for most conversation, while homosexual was reserved primarily for medical studies, schoolwork, and other such writings that generally do not in any way follow common usage. In practice, I usually find no reason to have to use labels in conversation in the first place.

I thought I deleted the "homosexual men" part, however what I finished with stays true - that the historical data shows that these people were not solely heterosexual.

Heterosexuality has always been a social concept, throughout time. Homosexuality as an orientation and not just pure lust has not, however. But when one person lusts for the sexual gratification from men and women, I do believe that gives them the sexual orientaion of a bisexual, while most likely retaining the affectional orientation of a heterosexual.