GLAAD opposes term ‘homosexual’ as ‘derogatory and offensive’

It is just one of the many terms deemed unacceptable by GLAAD in its revised Media Reference Guide.

The organization declared homosexual to be an "outdated clinical term," arguing that, because of the clinical history of the word ... it is aggressively used by anti-LGBTQ activists to suggest that people attracted to the same sex are somehow diseased or psychologically/emotionally disordered – notions discredited by the American Psychological Association and the American Psychiatric Association in the 1970s."

"Please avoid using 'homosexual' except in direct quotes," GLAAD advised. "Please also avoid using 'homosexual' as a style variation simply to avoid repeated use of the word 'gay.' Many mainstream news outlets' style guides restrict use of the term 'homosexual'."

GLAAD went on to urge those looking for an alternative to "use gay, lesbian, or when appropriate, bisexual, pansexual, or queer to describe people attracted to people of the same gender or more than one gender," reminding them to "ask people how they describe themselves before labeling their sexual orientation."

The organization also claimed that terms such as "homosexual relations/relationship;" "homosexual couple;" "homosexual sex" should be avoided because they are "frequently used by anti-LGBTQ activists to denigrate LGBTQ people, couples, and relationships."

[GLAAD] has really outdone themselves this time," Gays Against Groomers wrote in a post on X. "An organization whose name literally stands for 'Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation' has now come out and declared the word homosexual to be outdated, derogatory and offensive. They have replaced the term with 'Same-Gender Loving,' completely erasing biological sex, gay people and the decades of progress we fought to achieve in this country."

"Gender ideology is a disease, and our movement is the cure," GAG added. "We will not be silenced or erased by this Orwellian newspeak. You are abhorrent, [GLAAD]."