It's not just semantics, is it?
Hugh Hollowell published this blog post recently, about how the term "homosexual" is perceived by the gay community. There's a lot of pushback in the comments, some saying that they use the word out of ignorance, or an attempt to be respectful, others saying that it's all individual preference, etc.
I was looking through the news today and noticed this: Kobe Bryant is getting a lot of press for using the word faggot during a game, as an insult. The media is choosing, almost universally, to call this a "gay" slur, not a "homosexual" slur. If the media uses this term, perhaps the rest of us should catch up?
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/04/13/kobe-bryant-gay-slur-acti_n_848906.html
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/early-lead/post/kobe-bryant-words-arent-license-to-degrade-or-embarrass-or-tease-others/2011/04/13/AFh7PoYD_blog.html?hpid=z3
Note: I'm not making a comment about Kobe Bryant's actions or words. I'm just observing that perhaps the word "homosexual" isn't just offensive, it's also outdated.
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