"I'll be off to do some more homosexualizing..."

So many jokes to be made, so little time. I'll have to homosexualize on that one.

There's a whole niche of adult website all about homosexualizing the troops.

Lots of pitfalls here for writers, methinks. I've always tried to avoid the use of "gay" as a noun: "a gay," "the gays." Better as an adjective, with the noun being "gay man" (and less often, "gay woman").

Similarly, "transgenders" is offensive to many, but "transgender man (woman)" is acceptable. "Lesbian," however, is both a noun and an adjective. I'm less certain about "bisexual." Definitely an adjective - but does it have an acceptable noun use: "Jane is a bisexual"; "The bisexuals are having a picnic"?

Ah, I just love the internet and the power of Google.

THanks to this article I was off on an adventure that took me to the lands of Florence Henderson and "Wessonality".

Yes Waymon, I know, way before your time! And why this article created an urge in me to explore this arcane term is way beyond me. But that's the power of your writing; it sends others off on voyages of exploration.

OK! I can finally post my comment after 2 hours of trying to get this comp to work! Here goes (feel free to laugh out loud, laugh your ass off, or roll on the floor laughing your ass off, as the situation demands):

Homosexually? Reminds me of the Family Guy:

Excuse me, is your refrigerator running? Because if it is, it probably runs like you, very homosexually.

I wouldn't mind homosexualizing some troops, though....

Earlier today when I was talking to a doctor about my son and his history and family life I used the term queer. I told her that he had grown up with lots of queer people in his life. She was offended right off that I would use the term and I had to explain the use that it has been put too since she left college, her being of a certain age.
She was surprised that any of us would use the term for ourselves.
As for the term homosexual I never use it as a noun and only use it to describe behavior. Since I am a bi person I use homosexual and heterosexual only in the context of describing things and not categorizing people. Since I have a history of hetero and homo relationships and behaviors the terms in and of themselves only describe a quality of action.

Maybe it's like the drive-by transgendering we hear so much about... (That will always be my favorite way to explain why you don't say "transgendered.")

The idea of homosexualizing is actually an old meme from the history of the construction of Western gay identity. Originally, it was believed that any man could be led astray, rather than our current idea that there is a subpopulation with a different sexual orientation. As with any social discourse, it is one of a series of competing memes that are continually shifting. This isn't a new idea; it's a very hoary, very old idea that is being peddled. It's a idea that appeals only to people who also believe in goblins and vampires.

Homosexual is a clinical term to me.

The phrase that bugs me is when some "understanding and tolerant" straight person allows that he/she has never criticized my "life choice."

That is when I reach for a cocktail and can open ten letters with my tongue!!!