OPINION: What Is In The Label?

(GayWebSource.com – Gay Media & Press Network) – Posted by Jake Simpson – TheGayUK.com

“You know Charlotte? The girl who can relate anything in life to something that has happened in The OC”

by Callum Joseph | 20th July 2013

What Is In The Label?

Even though we may not want to admit it we all place labels on others. Within every group of friends there are characteristic, personality traits or specific physical features that define someone. Although these are positive ways to describe others, should we define someone because of their sexuality?

You may be an excellent sportsperson or a talented comedian. You could be the next Picasso or your devotion to charitable work stands out to others. Now, what would happen next if someone forgot all about what defines you and just referred to your sexuality?

Who agreed it was acceptable to define an individual based on their sexual preference?

Whilst being surrounded by those with limited views on homosexuality it confused me. I wondered who had made the rules of life where a man had to find a charming princess and why couldn’t I find a prince charming?

After coming out to family and friends I found that although I never changed – the opinions of others changed.

My friends when referring to me with others would use the term “gay”, and I couldn’t understand how the labels that defined me before disappeared.

Gay is merely a synonym for homosexual, which breaks down in Latin to mean same and sex. Since the late 1960s gay has been used in replacement of the label homosexual. Members of the LGBT took the label of gay as it felt more positive than the latter term homosexual which gave a more clinical feel.

Labels define us all in positive and negative ways but why should we allow people to overlook our other qualities just because of sexuality?