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 [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]].

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 [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.

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 [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].

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

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

==Definitions==

==Definitions==

*1: the [[quality]] or state of being homosexual

*1: the [[quality]] or state of being homosexual