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homophile | Library.LGBT
Dictionary

an alternate term to homosexual or gay that rose to prominence in the early start of the gay rights movement – used as preferred term as homosexual was deemed as too clinical, with connotations of being a psychiatric disorder.

However, it fell out of favour by the early 1970s, when gay, lesbian and bisexual became preferred terminology.

It is seldom used now in the English-speaking word (particularly due to the “phile” having connotations related to words such as paedophile), but in some other languages it continues to be the dominant term.

Originally published: 4th December, 2020
Last modified: 4th December, 2020

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