Dictionary.com Adds More LGBT+ Words, But Will Use “Homosexuality” Less

Dictionary.com has announced that it has revised LGBT+ definitions while adding many more. The website boasts over 20,000 revisions or additions to its database.

According to ‘LGBTQ Nation’, some changes that were made include replacing the word “homosexual” and “homosexuality” with “gay,” “gay man,” “gay woman” or “gay sexual orientation,” based on discussions with GLAAD and in accordance with American Psychological Association guidelines.

Dictionary.com said it made these changes to avoid implying or suggesting that being gay or bi is a pathology.

“For example, we now define ‘gayness’ as ‘gay or lesbian sexual orientation or behaviour’ compared to the outmoded gloss of ‘homosexuality.’ These changes alone affect over 50 entries,” they wrote in their update for September.

“The previously used terms – homosexual and homosexuality – originated as clinical language, and dictionaries have historically perceived such language as scientific and unbiased. But ‘homosexual’ and ‘homosexuality’ are now associated with pathology, mental illness, and criminality, and so imply that being gay – a normal way of being – is sick, diseased, or wrong,” they added.

The website also changed the definition of words with the -sexual suffix, updating “the phrasing of ‘romantically or sexually attracted to’ to ‘romantically, emotionally, or sexually attracted to.’”

“Not only do these revisions help eliminate heterosexual bias in language, but they also help better convey the diversity and richness of – and take Pride with a capital P in – human sexual experience and identity,” Dictionary.com explained, also saying that they added a new entry for the word “Pride” that refers to “events” or “recognition” of LGBTQ people.

Other LGBT+ terms that were added or updated include ace, ambisextrous, biromantic, deadname, and trans+.

The website announced these updates alongside many changes, most notably its decision to capitalise ‘Black’ when referring to people’s racial identity. They also added language to define or redefine support animals, addiction climate change, identity, technology, pop culture, and political terms.

Read related myGwork articles here:

Merriam-Webster Dictionary Has Updated ‘They’ To Include Nonbinary Pronoun

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