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1. colloq.

From Van Nostrand's Scientific Encyclopedia, 1958.

Homosexuality: Constitutional anamoly in which the sexual inclinations of an individual are directed towards persons of the same sex.

Lesbian: [No listing.]

Transexual: [No listing.]

Transgender: [No listing.]

Wow.  OK, first, you should know that I found this book in my Dad's library.  Judging by the year and the size of the book (1839 pages,) it belonged to him in Medical School or perhaps it was my Mother's for her college work as a medical technician.  In either case, it would have been considered an authoritative source of scientific thinking at that time. 

So, that thinking was that homosexuality represented a "constitutional anamoly."  I suppose it fits with the times - homosexuality was considered a disease, a sickness, or to put it scientifically, an anamoly.  Not normal.  It will be interesting to read (and report here) the layman's definitions for this same year.read more >>

From The American Heritage Dictionary, New College Edition, 1978.

Homosexuality: 1. Sexual desire for others of one's own sex.  2. Sexual activity with another of the same sex.

Lesbian: [all the references to "residents of the island of Lesbos come first]...4. relating to, or characteristic of female homosexuals.

Transexual: [no listing]

Transgender: [no listing]

Observations: Even in 1978, the only real definition was homosexuality.  The definitions of "gay" and "lesbian" simply referred readers to the word homosexuality.  We find it interesting that the actual verb part of the definitions of homosexuality are "sexual desire" and "sexual activity" as opposed to "love" or even "attraction to."read more >>