Talk:Christopher Rice

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homosexual is the proper term

Why is this place only allowing the term "gay" while homosexual is the proper term?

'Homosexual' is considered offensive by many people, myself included. The Wikipedia:Manual of style says to prefer 'gay'. Morwen - Talk 18:42, 15 Jul 2004 (UTC)

Really now? i always figured it to be the proper term. i always figured Gay to be offensive since it was used as if to say "all homosexuals are happy". a crude stereotype based on the fact that some fashion designers and such are homosexual

Now do you understand my point?

I do. However, you might want to read, say, our article on homosexuality, which includes the note:

"In particular the description of individuals as homosexual may be offensive, partially because of the negative clinical association of the word stemming from its use in describing same-sex attraction as a pathological state before homosexuality was removed from the American Psychiatric Association's list of mental disorders in 1973. " Morwen - Talk 18:46, 15 Jul 2004 (UTC)

edit:i've read the manual of style and understand your point. this site has silly rules. while some may find gay offesnive and others will find homosexual offensive. i guess u should just call it "of different sexual orientation"

There are a number different sexual orientations and "of different sexual orientation" does not specify which one. It also implies that one type of sexual orientation is "normal". Personally, I think it's absolutely ridiculous to get up in arms over either the terms "gay" or "homosexual", both are commonly accepted terms.


This discussion is foolish - you are both right (and wrong). I am gay/homosexual, and find neither term offensive. Depending on the context, they are both perfectly acceptable terms. If you're gay and are offended by the term "homosexual," it is YOU who are guilty of perpetuating its negative conotation. Simply put, homosexual is a clinical term for a gay person. Being scientific, it's neither positive or negative - it just is.

And the fact that they removed it from the DSM is '73 is irrelavent. When it was removed, it ceased to be considered a mental disorder - it did NOT cease to be an acceptable and useful clinical term. The term "homosexual" remains perfectly appropriate in the context of discussing psychology, sociology, genetics, etc. On the other hand, when used in a biographical context, it is more appropriate to refer to someone as being "gay" - not just because the term is now universally accepted, but because it is most likely how the person in question would identify themself, or prefer to be described (assuming they are not in the closet, of course!).

Simply put, there's nothing at all wrong or incorrect about the word "homosexual," but in this context, it would be more courteous to use the word "gay."

Gay/homosexual are interchangeable for most people and neither is considered offensive. Those claiming otherwise are injecting a personal view. One slight difference in perception that has been noted recently is the idea that "gay" can refer to a wider cultural, social, and aesthetic view, while homosexual can be used to assure a more narrow focus on sexual orientation. Tors10 04:40, 19 March 2007 (UTC)

I know this an old and probably defunct argument here, but I did want to note that GLAAD does note "homosexual" as the term not preferred in their Offensive Terminology to Avoid. While I am personally not offended by either and GLAAD is just one organization, it is the most notable/successful gay media "watchdog" group, and their accomplishments and experience suggest that they know what they're talking about. TAnthony 03:50, 9 April 2007 (UTC)
Beating an old and very dead horse: some consider 'homosexual' offensive because the word seems to imply an identity based soley on the 'sexual' act while the term 'gay' does not place that limit and implies a complete way of being in the world. I have never met any male who preferred being called 'homosexual' to 'gay' and the only ones I have met who were offended by being called 'gay' were those who identified as 'queer' or 'bisexual'. Women, on the other hand are often offended by being called 'gay' - many (but not all) prefer to be called 'lesbian'.207.69.137.26 03:39, 7 September 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Where does he live?

While copyediting this article, it is mentioned that Christopher lives in Houston, TX and also in Hollywood. Which is it, or is it both? Please clarify. Galena11 21:15, 26 December 2006 (UTC)

[edit] I have a picture of Christopher

I have a great picture of Christopher that I took tonight at a book signing - How do I upload it for the wikiusers?