Politically correct term for homosexuals?

No such thing exists as a "politically correct" term for homosexuals because anyone could be offended by anything. Nevertheless, to answer your question, the terms "gay" and "homosexual" do not imply an intent to insult homosexuals. Thus, you ought to have no problem using the terms "gay" and/or "homosexual."

Personal opinion is that I hate the word homosexual. It is so scientific. It was used to describe the mental illness that gay people had. In a research paper though it may have a place and I wouldn't automatically be offended by its use.

Gay is great. We do talk about gay marriage, gay couples adopting etc. It would be completely appropriate. You can use the whole "gay men" "lesbian" thing but I find that less appropriate just because of the fact that it separates gay men from gay women. We are all discriminated against and when you are talking about a community I don't find it useful to split us into groups. Now if you specifically want to point out the different ways in which we are discriminated against then gay vs lesbian could be ok again.

If you are speaking specifically on same sex rights then stay away from the word queer. It is an identity for some and a catch all term for others. "gay people" would be a much better term. On that note if you are want to include the trans experience and bisexual, pansexual etc all in one "queer" would be the perfect word to describe the LGBT community as a group. I used that word plenty in papers I wrote for gender/sexuality studies classes in college. Just make sure you define it so your reader knows exactly what you mean by queer and whether you are referring to gender, sexuality, or both.

Of course no matter what word(s) you use someone will be offended. Your best bet is to use words that go with the flow of your paper. If you aren't saying something with a derogatory tone then it is hard to really go wrong. I've even heard d*ke and f*ggot/f*g used in situations that were completely non-offensive. Though those words are a little more dangerous.

Well, technically, "gay rights" are same sex rights (world isn't black and white, people aren't just straight or gay, etc).

Homosexual is seen as the sometimes offensive (depending on context, of course) clinical term, gay is seen as the more relaxed and common term, and can be used to refer to lesbians too (as far as I know, that's not offensive since gay simply means attraction to the same sex only, that would include lesbian people). Queer -can- be insulting, but again it depends on context, and nowdays is used more or less as a catch all or umbrella term for anything other than straight, and can also meaning just gay people.

In other words, gay, lesbian, queer and LGBT are probably the more commonly used and neutral or otherwise good terms, and I'd say they're also ok to use in an academic paper (assuming this is like homework or an assignment, if it's actual research for the scientific community then homosexual is usually used to refer to both men and women).

Gay is a unisex term, men and women can both be gay. It's more common to call homosexual males gay and homosexual females lesbians, but just saying "gay" will work if "gay and lesbian" is too cumbersome. As for "queer", I've heard this used as a blanket term for anyone with a sexual orientation or gender identity different from the heterosexual/cisgendered norm, or for exclusively gay people, or even as a slur, so I would avoid it in an academic paper because it doesn't have a clear meaning. Another thing I would also avoid is using "gay" as a noun, as in "gays", because this can come off kind of rude. "Gay people" is better.

When others (straight people) talk about us, I like it when they use Gay, and I find it fine to use to both describe men and women (unless of course you are specifically talking about women, then use lesbians). Queer, I find kind of like the 'N' word. I find it super offensive when others say it, but I use it all the time. If for some reason I am talking scientifically (which I rarely do) then I would use homosexuals, however in every day language I do not like it because it makes us sound more like lab experiments than people. fag and ******, are pushing it. even I don't use it, even when joking around with other gays, I hate those words.

I also try to refer to Gay with a capital G, to show it with a culture spin, as opposed to just a thing

thing is the gay language evolves so fast, if you asked this question five years ago it would terrible to call a guy man queer or a gay woman dyke but those words are beginning to be "reclaimed" by us. still, if you're straight its better to stay away from those words because they could very easily be misconstrued as you intending to be offensive.

personally (as a les) i don't particularly like the word "homosexual" it seems far to clinical and because its used so much by people who don't like us its become almost negative in my mind. i'd stick with gay, i just love the word. for both men and women, that's how its used in the community.

I'm not offended by "Gay" for men or women, but some women prefer Lesbian. Even if they DO, I don't know any lesbians who are offended by being called "Gay women".

Don't forget Bisexual men and Bisexual women ether!

They aren't Politically Correct terms so much as plain old accurate!

Politically correct terms change with the times. If you can't figure out which way the wind is blowing, it's always a good idea to stick to the most official terms you can find.

in case you call people by using the valid call they have been given, with out which means it in an offensive way, i don't take it offensively. I actually have a mentally retarded brother. he's mentally retarded. it is not mean. it is the call of it. I won't call him mentally challenged considering the indisputable fact that provides people the impact that he can get greater useful, and he won't. in case you call people by using their technical meanings, with out which means it in a harsh way, or making relaxing of people, such as calling somebody retarded or gay to intend stupid. Then no it is not offensive. in the event that they take it offensively, it is their situation. additionally, somebody with dwarfism is a dwarf. it is the call for it. easily, i may well be greater indignant to be talked approximately as slightly guy or woman. i might somewhat be talked approximately as by using what the technical call for it is. superb of luck, Emily. (:

Errr,I'd just say homosexuals as a whole.and when talking about a specific gender you can say gay ot lesbian.