Changes

==Origin==

==Origin==

The [[word]] ''homosexual'' is a [[Greek]] and [[Latin]] [[hybrid]] with the first element derived from Greek ὁμός ''homos'', 'same' (not related to the Latin ''homo'', 'man', as in ''Homo sapiens''), thus connoting sexual acts and affections between members of the same sex, including lesbianism. Gay generally refers to male homosexuality, but may be used in a broader sense to refer to all [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LGBT LGBT] people. In the [[context]] of [[sexuality]], lesbian refers only to [[female]] homosexuality. The word "lesbian" is derived from the name of the Greek island [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lesbos Lesbos], where the poet [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sappho Sappho] wrote largely about her [[emotional]] [[relationships]] with young [[women]].

The [[word]] ''homosexual'' is a [[Greek]] and [[Latin]] [[hybrid]] with the first element derived from Greek ὁμός ''homos'', 'same' (not related to the Latin ''homo'', 'man', as in ''Homo sapiens''), thus connoting sexual acts and affections between members of the same sex, including lesbianism. Gay generally refers to male homosexuality, but may be used in a broader sense to refer to all [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LGBT LGBT] people. In the [[context]] of [[sexuality]], lesbian refers only to [[female]] homosexuality. The word "lesbian" is derived from the name of the Greek island [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lesbos Lesbos], where the poet [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sappho Sappho] wrote largely about her [[emotional]] [[relationships]] with young [[women]].

<center>For lessons on the [[topic]] of '''''[[Homosexuality]]''''', follow [https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Category:Homosexuality '''''this link'''''].</center>

<center>For lessons on the [[topic]] of '''''[[Homosexuality]]''''', follow [https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Category:Homosexuality '''''this link'''''].</center>

Many modern [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Style_guide style guides] in the U.S. recommend against using homosexual as a noun, instead using gay man or lesbian. Similarly, some recommend completely avoiding usage of homosexual as it has a [[negative]], clinical [[history]] and because the word only refers to one's sexual [[behavior]] (as opposed to [[romantic]] [[feelings]]) and thus it has a negative connotation. Gay and lesbian are the most common alternatives. The first letters are frequently combined to create the initialism LGBT (sometimes written as GLBT), in which B and T refer to [[bisexual]] and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transgender transgender] people.

Many modern [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Style_guide style guides] in the U.S. recommend against using homosexual as a noun, instead using gay man or lesbian. Similarly, some recommend completely avoiding usage of homosexual as it has a [[negative]], clinical [[history]] and because the word only refers to one's sexual [[behavior]] (as opposed to [[romantic]] [[feelings]]) and thus it has a negative connotation. Gay and lesbian are the most common alternatives. The first letters are frequently combined to create the initialism LGBT (sometimes written as GLBT), in which B and T refer to [[bisexual]] and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transgender transgender] people.

The first known appearance of ''homosexual'' in print is found in an 1869 German pamphlet by the Austrian-born novelist [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karl-Maria_Kertbeny Karl-Maria Kertbeny], published anonymously, arguing against a Prussian anti-sodomy law. In 1879, Gustav Jager used Kertbeny's terms in his book, ''Discovery of the Soul'' (1880). In 1886, [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Freiherr_von_Krafft-Ebing Richard von Krafft-Ebing] used the terms homosexual and heterosexual in his book [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psychopathia_Sexualis_(book) ''Psychopathia Sexualis''], probably borrowing them from Jager. Krafft-Ebing's book was so popular among both layman and [[doctors]] that the terms "heterosexual" and "homosexual" became the most widely [[accepted]] terms for sexual orientation.

The first known appearance of ''homosexual'' in print is found in an 1869 German pamphlet by the Austrian-born novelist [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karl-Maria_Kertbeny Karl-Maria Kertbeny], published anonymously, arguing against a Prussian anti-sodomy law. In 1879, Gustav Jager used Kertbeny's terms in his book, ''Discovery of the Soul'' (1880). In 1886, [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Freiherr_von_Krafft-Ebing Richard von Krafft-Ebing] used the terms homosexual and heterosexual in his book [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psychopathia_Sexualis_(book) ''Psychopathia Sexualis''], probably borrowing them from Jager. Krafft-Ebing's book was so popular among both layman and [[doctors]] that the terms "heterosexual" and "homosexual" became the most widely [[accepted]] terms for sexual orientation.

As such, the current use of the term has its [[roots]] in the broader 19th-century tradition of [[personality]] taxonomy.

As such, the current use of the term has its [[roots]] in the broader 19th-century tradition of [[personality]] taxonomy.

Although early [[writers]] also used the adjective ''homosexual'' to refer to any single-sex [[context]] (such as an all-girls' school), today the term is used exclusively in [[reference]] to [[sexual]] attraction, [[activity]], and orientation. The term [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homosocial homosocial] is now used to [[describe]] single-sex [[contexts]] that are not specifically sexual. There is also a [[word]] referring to same-sex love, [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homophilia homophilia].

Although early [[writers]] also used the adjective ''homosexual'' to refer to any single-sex [[context]] (such as an all-girls' school), today the term is used exclusively in [[reference]] to [[sexual]] attraction, [[activity]], and orientation. The term [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homosocial homosocial] is now used to [[describe]] single-sex [[contexts]] that are not specifically sexual. There is also a [[word]] referring to same-sex love, [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homophilia homophilia].

*[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/19th_century 1892]

*[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/19th_century 1892]

==Definitions==

==Definitions==

*2: [[Sex|erotic]] [[activity]] with another of the same [[Gender|sex]]  

*2: [[Sex|erotic]] [[activity]] with another of the same [[Gender|sex]]  

==Description==

==Description==

'''Homosexuality''' is [[romantic]] or sexual [[attraction]] or behavior between members of the same sex or [[gender]]. As a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sexual_orientation sexual orientation], homosexuality refers to "an enduring pattern of or disposition to [[experience]] sexual, affectional, or [[romantic]] attractions" primarily or exclusively to people of the same sex; "it also refers to an [[individual]]'s sense of [[personal]] and [[social]] identity based on those attractions, behaviors expressing them, and membership in a [[community]] of others who share them."

'''Homosexuality''' is [[romantic]] or sexual [[attraction]] or behavior between members of the same sex or [[gender]]. As a [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sexual_orientation sexual orientation], homosexuality refers to "an enduring pattern of or disposition to [[experience]] sexual, affectional, or [[romantic]] attractions" primarily or exclusively to people of the same sex; "it also refers to an [[individual]]'s sense of [[personal]] and [[social]] identity based on those attractions, behaviors expressing them, and membership in a [[community]] of others who share them."

Homosexuality is one of the three main categories of sexual orientation, along with [[bisexuality]] and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heterosexuality heterosexuality], within the heterosexual-homosexual [[continuum]] (with asexuality sometimes considered the fourth). [[Scientific]] and [[medical]] understanding is that sexual orientation is not a [[choice]], but rather a [[complex]] interplay of [[biological]] and [[environmental]] factors. Although some religious sects hold the view that homosexual activity is unnatural or dysfunctional. [[research]] shows that homosexuality is an example of [[normal]] variation in human [[sexuality]] and not a source of negative [[psychological]] effects. [[Prejudice]] and [[discrimination]] against homosexual and bisexual people, however, have been shown to cause [[psychological]] harm.

Homosexuality is one of the three main categories of sexual orientation, along with [[bisexuality]] and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heterosexuality heterosexuality], within the heterosexual-homosexual [[continuum]] (with asexuality sometimes considered the fourth). [[Scientific]] and [[medical]] understanding is that sexual orientation is not a [[choice]], but rather a [[complex]] interplay of [[biological]] and [[environmental]] factors. Although some religious sects hold the view that homosexual activity is unnatural or dysfunctional. [[research]] shows that homosexuality is an example of [[normal]] variation in human [[sexuality]] and not a source of negative [[psychological]] effects. [[Prejudice]] and [[discrimination]] against homosexual and bisexual people, however, have been shown to cause [[psychological]] harm.

The most common terms for homosexual people are [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lesbian lesbian] for women and gay for men, though gay is also used to refer generally to homosexual [[men]] and [[women]]. The number of people who identify as gay or lesbian—and the [[proportion]] of people who have same-sex sexual experiences—are [[difficult]] for researchers to estimate reliably for a variety of reasons. In the [[modern]] [[Occident|West]], according to major studies, 2% to 13% of the [[population]] is homosexual or has had some form of same-sex sexual contact within his or her lifetime. In a 2006 study 20% of respondents anonymously reported some homosexual [[feelings]], although fewer participants identified themselves as homosexual. Homosexual [[behavior]] is also widely observed in animals.

The most common terms for homosexual people are [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lesbian lesbian] for women and gay for men, though gay is also used to refer generally to homosexual [[men]] and [[women]]. The number of people who identify as gay or lesbian—and the [[proportion]] of people who have same-sex sexual experiences—are [[difficult]] for researchers to estimate reliably for a variety of reasons. In the [[modern]] [[Occident|West]], according to major studies, 2% to 13% of the [[population]] is homosexual or has had some form of same-sex sexual contact within his or her lifetime. In a 2006 study 20% of respondents anonymously reported some homosexual [[feelings]], although fewer participants identified themselves as homosexual. Homosexual [[behavior]] is also widely observed in animals.

Many gay and lesbian people are in committed same-sex relationships, though only recently have [[census]] forms and [[political]] conditions facilitated their visibility and enumeration. These [[relationships]] are equivalent to heterosexual relationships in essential [[psychological]] respects. Homosexual relationships and acts have been admired, as well as [[condemned]], throughout recorded [[history]], depending on the form they took and the [[culture]] in which they occurred. Since the end of the 19th century, there has been a [[movement]] towards increased visibility, [[recognition]] and legal rights for homosexual people, including the rights to [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Same-sex_marriage marriage and civil unions], [[adoption]] and [[parenting]], employment, military service, and equal [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Declaration_of_Montreal access to health care].[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homosexuality]

Many gay and lesbian people are in committed same-sex relationships, though only recently have [[census]] forms and [[political]] conditions facilitated their visibility and enumeration. These [[relationships]] are equivalent to heterosexual relationships in essential [[psychological]] respects. Homosexual relationships and acts have been admired, as well as [[condemned]], throughout recorded [[history]], depending on the form they took and the [[culture]] in which they occurred. Since the end of the 19th century, there has been a [[movement]] towards increased visibility, [[recognition]] and legal rights for homosexual people, including the rights to [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Same-sex_marriage marriage and civil unions], [[adoption]] and [[parenting]], employment, military service, and equal [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Declaration_of_Montreal access to health care].[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homosexuality]

==See also==

==See also==

*'''''[[Asexuality]]'''''

*'''''[[Asexuality]]'''''