Suggested usage of homosexual terms
in articles, essays, reports, etc. 

	that "homosexuals account for half the murders in large cities." (It is not clear whether gays and lesbians are victims or perpetrators of the homicides).
	homosexuals account for only 1 to 2% of the population of the U.S.
	homosexuals are responsible for 50% of the suicides.
	the media age at death of gay men is 42; that of lesbians is 45.
	homosexuals are 19 times as likely to die in a traffic accident than the average person.
	part of the gay agenda is to turn people away from Christianity.

None of these "facts" are believed to represent reality.

Sexual feelings; a homosexual is a person who is sexually attracted to members of the same gender. This is the meaning generally used by gays, lesbians, mental health professionals, medical professionals, religious liberals, etc.

or to:

Sexual behavior; a homosexual is one who engages in sexual activities with a member of the same gender. This is the meaning generally used by religious conservatives

Sometimes an author will switch between meanings in the same article. This causes a great deal of confusion. A person can be considered a homosexual due to feelings of sexual attraction that they have exclusively to members of the same gender. But they may not act on those feelings and engage in homosexual behavior.

The solution is to always qualify the word "homosexual" with either "orientation" or "behavior."

Religious conservatives generally talk about "homosexual preference" in order to reinforce their assertion that sexual behavior is a choice, and that (through prayer or therapy) one can change from preferring sexual activity with one gender to another.

Others refer to "homosexual orientation" to reinforce their assertion that sexual behavior is fixed and not chosen. Evidence seems to indicate that for the vast majority of adults (perhaps all), their orientation cannot be changed. Many, perhaps most, bisexuals do have a preferred gender that they find sexually attractive; for them, the term "preference" makes sense. However, they comprise a small minority in society, perhaps on the order of 2%.

Since the available evidence seems to point towards orientation being fixed, we recommend against the use of the term "preference." According to Focus on the Family, a Fundamentalist Christian organization,

Gays, lesbians, sociologists, psychologists, researchers into human sexuality, members of liberal and some mainline faith groups, etc. normally view homosexual orientation as normal, natural, permanent and unchosen. It is defined as feelings of attraction exclusively to members of the same gender.  It is believed to be caused by an interaction of genetic and environmental factors. Studies on identical twins separated at birth and raised independently have confirmed these beliefs. Pedigree studies of the sexual orientation of ancestors of gays have added support. Anatomical and similar studies have been inconclusive.

Religious conservatives tend to view homosexual behavior as an abnormal, unnatural, changeable and chosen preference for sexual activity with persons of the same gender. It is often viewed as having been caused by poor parenting. A very small percentage of mental health professionals agree with this position.

We recommend following the lead of most physical and mental health professionals, and consider homosexuality to be an unchosen and fixed sexual orientation that is normal, natural for a minority of adults.

Gays, lesbians, and their supporters in various religious communities often refer to their quest for equal rights for homosexuals. This would give gays and lesbians the same type of protection against assault and discrimination as has been already guaranteed to other groups, on the basis of their gender, race, age, nationality, ability level, etc. They sometimes draw comparisons between the 1960's civil rights movement for racial integration and their present anti-discrimination movement which seeks to extend anti-discrimination laws to include sexual orientation as a protected class.

Some Conservative Christian groups believe that comparing race with sexual orientation is not valid. Anti-discrimination laws guarantee protection for groups on the basis of characteristics that they cannot change: race, gender, age, etc. They feel that to extend this list of protected classes to include homosexuals is to give them special rights - rights based on their behavioral choices, not on a factor that is beyond their control.

Both "special rights" and "equal rights" are hot-button terms. They should be used with care. We recommend a phrase such as "equal rights for persons of all sexual orientations," as preferable to either term. 

Conservative Christians include three groups among the "Ex-gays," persons who have "left the homosexual lifestyle:"   Persons who have permanently changed from a homosexual orientation to either bisexual or heterosexual. Few studies are available on this; what little data is available indicates that this is either extremely rare or impossible. Bisexuals who have decided to engage in relationships only with members of the opposite gender; this is a choice open to all bisexuals. Homosexuals who have made a decision to remain celibate. Unfortunately, much of their advertising and writing subtlety implies that therapy is largely successful in changing persons with a homosexual orientation into heterosexuals.

Others acknowledge that Bisexuals can choose either homosexual or heterosexual behavior, and that everyone can choose to be celibate. But they stress that a person with a homosexual orientation can never (or almost never) become an "ex-gay" in the sense of becoming sexually attracted to individuals of the opposite gender.

We recommend that writers be clear and specific when describing a person who is no longer sexually active with member(s) of the same gender: Has a miracle or near miracle occurred, and they have changed from a homosexual to a heterosexual orientation? Are they a bisexual who has decided to have a relationship with member of the opposite gender? Do they remain with a homosexual orientation, while deciding to be celibate?

On the basis of many passages in English translations of the Bible, that God hates homosexuality.

Others conclude that: 

On the basis of the original Hebrew and Greek texts, that God hates homosexual rape, homosexual prostitution, homosexual sex in Pagan temples, men sexually abusing boys, and heterosexuals engaging in homosexual sex. They conclude that the Bible is silent on consensual homosexual sex in committed, monogamous relationships.

This difference in interpretation causes much conflict.

	In the Netherlands, gays and lesbian citizens and people with residency permits were earlier allowed to register as partners. They were given the right to marry in the year 2001. A bill allowing same-sex couples "the right to marriage and all the trappings" passed the lower house on 2000-SEP-12 and was subsequently passed by the upper house. 3 This was the first political jurisdiction in the world to allow same-sex couples to marry and receive full benefits that have been routinely given to opposite-sex married couples for years.
	Belgium followed the lead of the Netherlands.
	In a few states, like Vermont and Connecticut, same-sex couples, either residents or visitors, can enter a civil union. Residents of California can register as domestic partners. These are not marriages. However, both are equivalent (or almost equivalent) to marriage in terms of rights, privileges, and obligations granted by the state. It does not yet include the over 1,000 federal benefits that heterosexual married couples enjoy.
	In some jurisdictions couples can register their relationships and obtain some of the benefits granted to heterosexual married couples. This includes the Scandinavian countries, and a few states in the U.S. such as Hawaii and Alaska.
	Canadian law originally granted same-sex partners equal rights and privileges with common-law heterosexual couples. However, a senior court in the Province of Ontario ordered the province to start issuing marriage licenses in mid 2003. Since then, the federal government changed the marriage laws. As of 2005-JUL, all couples can marry -- both same-sex and opposite-sex, except for certain relationship and age restrictions.

The public is generally unaware of the precise meaning of terms like: civil unions, domestic partners, registered same-sex partners, etc. We recommend that writers take care to use the correct term, and define the rights and privileges that it brings to the same-sex couple. Marriage in the state of Massachusetts, or a civil union in Vermont gives the couple the full set of state benefits and obligations of marriage. However couples do not receive any of the federal benefits given to opposite-sex married couples.

The use of the term "same-sex marriage" eliminates this problem.

Another concern with "gay marriage" and "homosexual marriage" is that some gays and lesbians object to the terms. They do not typically regard themselves as entering into a "gay marriage." They are simply getting married. They generally do not differentiate between a same-sex marriage and an opposite-sex marriage.

Site navigation: Home > "Hot" topics > Homosexuality > Basic data > here