homosexual socialy correct?

[ostap77]

Can I substitute "a male homosexual" for a gay and "a female homosexual" for a lesbian?

 

[riquecohen]

Can I substitute "a male homosexual" for a gay and "a female homosexual" for a lesbian?

Yes.

 

[birdeen's call]

Can't "a gay" be a woman too?

 

[bhaisahab]

Can't "a gay" be a woman too?

Yes.

 

[Mehrgan]

Can't "a gay" be a woman too?

It's used to refer to female ones too.

 

[Barb_D]

I suggest you not use gay as a noun in any case.

 

[TheParser]

Can I substitute "a male homosexual" for a gay and "a female homosexual" for a lesbian?

***** NOT A TEACHER *****


Ostap,

(1) You have asked a very sensitive and delicate question that must be

answered in a very careful manner.

(2) If you wish to be "socially correct," I believe that people now refer

to the GLBT community, i.e., gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender

community.

(3) Here in the United States, I believe, people who wish to be

"socially" correct refer to someone as being "gay" or "a gay." I agree with

the other posters that the word can apply to both males and females.

(4) If you come to the United States and keep referring to people as

"homosexual," some people would interpret that as meaning that you

do not approve of that particular orientation. For example, there are

some organizations and individuals that oppose that orientation and

refuse to use the word "gay." They feel that using the word would

show approval of that particular orientation. They often criticize the

"homosexual lifestyle" or "homosexual agenda."

Bottom line: If you do not wish to hurt anyone's feelings or

anger anyone, you should stay with the noun/adjective gay.

P.S. Of course, in medical or psychological literature, it would

not be an insult to use the word homosexual (if, for example, the

writer were also referring to heterosexuals).

 

[birdeen's call]

I suggest you not use gay as a noun in any case.

Why is it better? I think "gay" as an adjective is much more often used, but I've seen "a gay" too. Does is sound wrong to you?

 

[riquecohen]

Why is it better? I think "gay" as an adjective is much more often used, but I've seen "a gay" too. Does is sound wrong to you?

As Barb implied in post #6, it is preferable to use "gay" as an adjective. "A gay man" rather than "a gay."

 

[Coolfootluke]

Why is it better? I think "gay" as an adjective is much more often used, but I've seen "a gay" too. Does is sound wrong to you?

I am not a teacher.

It's political correctness, but of a rather benevolent kind. The idea is to not turn people into things (There's a split infinitive for ya.). Once he becomes "a gay" rather than "a human being", we can treat him like an object, and we have defined him narrowly. All he is now is this thing that is other than us, and we have put him at a distance. A "gay man" remains a man. Sometimes I sound like a teacher or preacher.

 

[probus]

I suggest you not use gay as a noun in any case.

Hmm. I'll admit that gay as a noun is not usually heard in the singular, but the plural is different. The phrase "gays and lesbians" is extremely common.

 

[Barb_D]

You're sure right about that. I was reacting to the "a gay" post.

 

[Tdol]

(4) If you come to the United States and keep referring to people as

"homosexual," some people would interpret that as meaning that you

do not approve of that particular orientation. For example, there are

some organizations and individuals that oppose that orientation and

refuse to use the word "gay." They feel that using the word would

show approval of that particular orientation. They often criticize the

"homosexual lifestyle" or "homosexual agenda."

I'd say that this holds true for the UK too.

 

[BobK]

I am not a teacher.

It's political correctness, but of a rather benevolent kind. The idea is to not turn people into things (There's a split infinitive for ya.). Once he becomes "a gay" rather than "a human being", we can treat him like an object, and we have defined him narrowly. All he is now is this thing that is other than us, and we have put him at a distance. A "gay man" remains a man. Sometimes I sound like a teacher or preacher.

:up: The same sort of consideration affects many nouns relating to minorities, especially in the area of health. When I was a boy it was quite normal to speak of a disabled person as 'a cripple', but today - except when used as a verb - it's a term of abuse.

b