Actually, there is no such thing as a homosexual person, any more than there is such a thing as a heterosexual person. The words are adjectives describing sexual acts, not people. The sexual acts are entirely normal; if they were not, no one would perform them.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Sexual labels describe acts, not identities, and all acts are normal if performed.
- In plain terms
- Words like homosexual describe what people do, not who they are.
- What can you take from it?
- Avoid categorizing people based on their sexual actions.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- Is sexuality a behavior or identity?
- Do labels help or hurt?
Another view
Many people find identity labels helpful for community and self-understanding.
More from Gore Vidal
Religions are manipulated in order to serve those who govern society and not the other way around.
Permalink to quote #14 The reason no one has yet been able to come up with a good word to describe the homosexualist (sometimes known as gay, fag, queer, etc.) is because he does not…
Permalink to quote #16 Television is a great leveler. You always end up sounding like the people who ask the questions.
Permalink to quote #13
Related quotes
The Macedonian language is actually an artifact produced for primarily political reasons.
Vittore PisaniVittore Pisani quote #1 I hate the whole reluctant sex-symbol thing. It's such bull. You see these dudes greased up, in their underwear, talking about how they don't want to be a sex …
Ben AffleckBen Affleck quote #1 She taught us Hygiene. And you know what that meant: s-x, pr-cr-ation and p-r--ds.
Maureen LipmanMaureen Lipman quote #2