Defining "homosexual"

[Timidity]

The term “homosexual” gets bantied around a lot, but it never quite gets defined. When we talk about homosexuals, who are we talking about?

It’s quite clear that a person who is only attracted to the same sex and particpates in sexual activity with people of the same sex is clearly homosexual. It is equally clear that the person who is only attracted to the opposite sex and only participates in sexual activity with members of the opposite sex is cleary not homosexual.

But what about the whole range of people in between those two extremes? Are they included in our conversational use of the term?

The most obvious example are the people who are attracted exclusively to the same sex, but who don’t act on their temptations. Are they homosexual for purposes of our conversations?

What if they try not to act, but occassionally fall. Are they homosexuals?

What about the people who have no real attraction for the same sex, but “experimented” a bit in their younger days? Are they homosexual?

What about the people who have no real attraction for the same sex, but who are currently “experimenting”? Are they homosexual?

And, of course, what about the people who are attracted to both sexes? Do we define them by their attractions, or their actions? And are past and current actions given equal weight?

And just to state it clearly, so the coversation doesn’t go off on a tangent: all sex outside of marriage is sinful, and there’s (morally) no such thing as a same-sex “marriage”. The purpose of this conversation is to decide how broad the brush is.

 

[trailblazer]

I think of people who are sexually attracted to the same sex as homosexual or bi-sexual. However, I break these down into practicing homosexual(ingaging in sexual activities with the same sex) vs non-practicing homosexual. Catholic faith supports people of any sexual orientation who abstain from sexual activity outside the sacrament of marriage between a male and female. Any activity, whether hetero or homosexual, outside marriage is sinful. We as Catholics should embrace the homosexual community better. I am amazed at the lack of knowledge/ acceptance of true Catholic teachings and the prejudice from Catholics towards homosexuals (yet I do not see such actions towards adulterers or fornicators). Such prejudice, just drives them further away from the Church. As part of the marginalized of our society, Jesus would minister to these men and women. So must we.

 

[Laurel]

trailblazer:

I think of people who are sexually attracted to the same sex as homosexual or bi-sexual. However, I break these down into practicing homosexual(ingaging in sexual activities with the same sex) vs non-practicing homosexual. Catholic faith supports people of any sexual orientation who abstain from sexual activity outside the sacrament of marriage between a male and female. Any activity, whether hetero or homosexual, outside marriage is sinful. We as Catholics should embrace the homosexual community better. I am amazed at the lack of knowledge/ acceptance of true Catholic teachings and the prejudice from Catholics towards homosexuals (yet I do not see such actions towards adulterers or fornicators). Such prejudice, just drives them further away from the Church. As part of the marginalized of our society, Jesus would minister to these men and women. So must we.

Wow…well said and so true. I wish I could add more but that sums it up for me too.

 

[LoneRanger]

in MY mind? It is the sexual attraction of two same gender persons for one another.

 

[Timidity]

LoneRanger:

in MY mind? It is the sexual attraction of two same gender persons for one another.

Has to be more than the attraction. I know of people who have neither an attraction or repulsion of members of the same sex, but are willing to do anything that feels good at the moment.