The H-Word

The Decline and Fall of the ‘H’ Word 

For Manys Gays and Lesbians, the Term ‘Homosexual’ Is Flinch-Worthy 

My pal Jeremy Peters' look at the decline and fall of the word "homosexual" is worth a read, especially since it ran in a paper that once insisted on calling us that until its homophobic executive stepped down in the late '80s.

The word’s power depends, of course, on who is using it. In the late 1970s, Anita Bryant’s “Save Our Children” campaign was centered on the notion of “homosexual recruitment,” the belief that gays and lesbians tried to woo unsuspecting children into their ranks. Gerry E. Studds, the first openly gay member of Congress, once recalled how someone confronted him about whether he was still a “practicing homosexual.” He shot back: “No. As a matter of fact, I think I’m very good at it.” 

 Read HERE.