# Is there a proper term for a male homosexual?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-proper-term-for-a-male-homosexual/128479>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [September 15, 2002, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-proper-term-for-a-male-homosexual/128479 "2002-09-15T01:41:52Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 7\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![Speaker\_for\_the\_Dead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c77e96/32.png) [@Speaker\_for\_the\_Dead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Speaker_for_the_Dead)\
**Post date:** [September 15, 2002, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-proper-term-for-a-male-homosexual/128479/21 "2002-09-15T21:56:33Z")

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I propose the word “Gnork” (pronounce Guh-nork) to refer to male homosexuals.

Advantages: It is not really a word right now. It sounds cool. And it doesn’t really _sound_ offensive to me.

That alright with all ya lesbians and gnorks?

😃

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**Author:** ![Rhapsody](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9de0a6/32.png) [@Rhapsody](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhapsody)\
**Post date:** [September 16, 2002, 3:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-proper-term-for-a-male-homosexual/128479/22 "2002-09-16T03:06:53Z")

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sexually retarded pillow biter comes to mind…

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**Author:** ![Lamia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Lamia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamia)\
**Post date:** [September 16, 2002, 3:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-proper-term-for-a-male-homosexual/128479/23 "2002-09-16T03:18:09Z")

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> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by Rhapsody \*  
> \*\*sexually retarded pillow biter comes to mind… \*\*

Well, it certainly just came into _my_ mind. Why don’t you get back in the Pit?

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**Author:** ![mazzer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eada6e/32.png) [@mazzer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mazzer)\
**Post date:** [September 16, 2002, 3:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-proper-term-for-a-male-homosexual/128479/24 "2002-09-16T03:19:18Z")

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Please close this thread.

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**Author:** ![John\_Kentzel-Griffin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ccd318/32.png) [@John\_Kentzel-Griffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Kentzel-Griffin)\
**Post date:** [September 16, 2002, 4:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-proper-term-for-a-male-homosexual/128479/25 "2002-09-16T04:13:28Z")

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**Rhapsody**

Your post is totally inappropriate. We do not allow hateful language outside the BBQ Pit.

Do NOT do this again.

**DrMatrix** - General Questions Moderator

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**Author:** ![Esprix](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/esprix/32/7899_2.png) [@Esprix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Esprix)\
**Post date:** [September 16, 2002, 7:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-proper-term-for-a-male-homosexual/128479/26 "2002-09-16T07:08:27Z")

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(Oh, like this was his first warning? Sheesh.)

“Gay men and lesbians” is usually the grouping I’ve heard.

Esprix

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**Author:** ![Sternvogel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bc79bd/32.png) [@Sternvogel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sternvogel)\
**Post date:** [September 20, 2002, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-proper-term-for-a-male-homosexual/128479/27 "2002-09-20T03:27:34Z")

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In 1864, openly homosexual German jurist Karl Ulrichs coined the term “urning”, which obviously never caught on as he hoped.

[http://www.gayhistory.com/rev2/words/urning.htm](http://www.gayhistory.com/rev2/words/urning.htm)

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