Difference in meaning

[lemont]

Is there a difference in meaning between homo and homosexual ?

[Buddha12]

Is there a difference in meaning between homo and homosexual ?

Yes, one is taken as derogatory, homo, and the other is the proper way to name someone who is a homosexual.

[Fraggle Rocker]

In the USA, use of the word "homo" might automatically be considered "hate speech." If someone complains it could result in prosecution, although the authorities don't give hate speech a high priority.

It also qualifies as "fightin' words." If you're in a bar, and you call a gay man a "homo," and it results in a fight, you would generally be identified as the person who started the fight even if the other man laid the first blow. It's in the same category as a religious or ethnic slur. When the cops come to sort it out you'll be the first one in the paddy wagon.

Yes, one is taken as derogatory, homo, and the other is the proper way to name someone who is a homosexual.

These days in the USA the word "homosexual" is less often used unless one truly means to refer to both homosexual men and women. The more usual terms are "gay" for a man and "lesbian" for a woman. Sometimes "gay" is used for both and sometimes lesbians are called "gay women," but this is from the last century and you probably won't see it in a major newspaper or hear it on network TV.

The movement for civil rights for all people regardless of their sexual orientation is abbreviated LGBT, for "lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender."

For obvious reasons it's difficult to compile statistics on something like this, but 4% of the U.S. population openly identify themselves as one of these four types when queried. The number who conceal their sexual orientation is unknown.

[Buddha12]

These days in the USA the word "homosexual" is less often used unless one truly means to refer to both homosexual men and women.

That was what I was referring to when I made my statement.

[Fraggle Rocker]

That was what I was referring to when I made my statement.

Fair enough. But in the context of the OP, no one ever called a lesbian a "homo." That word was exclusively for men.

Back in the 1950s and 60s, when homogenized milk was still a bit of a newfangled thing, some of the dairy companies printed HOMO MILK in gigantic letters on the side of their cartons. That didn't last too long.

[mathman]

One bit of confusion.

homo (for homosexual) comes from Greek.
homo (homo sapiens) comes from Latin - "man" as human being. Aside in Latin, adult male is vir.

[Fraggle Rocker]

One bit of confusion. homo- (for homosexual) comes from Greek.

It means "same," as in homonym, homogeneous.

homo (Homo sapiens), comes from Latin - "man" as human being.

It's the root of "human," as well as French homme, Italian uomo, etc.

Aside in Latin, adult male is vir.

As in "virile." We have the same Indo-European root in Proto-Germanic, but it only survives in "werewolf," which is properly pronounced WEER-wolf, not WHIR-wolf.

[Fraggle Rocker]

For obvious reasons it's difficult to compile statistics on something like this, but 4% of the U.S. population openly identify themselves as one of these four types when queried. The number who conceal their sexual orientation is unknown.

Update: Younger people are less inhibited about identifying themselves. In 2012 sixteen percent of the students in Washington, DC, public high schools identified themselves as LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender). Thats about one out of every six.

[NightFall]

fraggle- if you buy milk here, your receipt still reads HOMO.. $2.95


I would imagine that number will continue to increase for a while. As the acceptance of alternative lifestyle choices also increases, more adolescents, young adults (and hey, why not every one else too) will continue to explore ideas that may have otherwise not been explored wholly simple to discover true feelings on their own.
I'm sure you've heard the joking phrase "It's not gay if it was in college", used humorously in situations that may have hinted at in innuendo or situation in a light hearted manner. But it still reflects that idea that The "normal" path is o be followed, and if you stray from it some we forgive you, it doesn't change your status. As we move to a greater acceptance of different lifestyles, and that push for "normalcy" is relaxed, I think we will see especially more young people identifying with other sexual orientations as they mature, and feel comfortable to admit being a part of them, even if they change a path later. It is no longer something to be 'forgiven' but accepted as a part of that person's life at some point or in its entirety.