In a narrow sense, gay refers to male homosexuality, but it often is used in its broadest sense, especially in media headlines and reports, to refer to any single-sex context (such as an all-girls' school), today the term is used exclusively in reference to sexual attraction and activity. Beginning in the 1990s, some of these have been "reclaimed" as positive words by gay men and lesbians, as in the usage of queer studies, queer theory, and even the popular American television program Queer Eye for the Straight Guy. The first known appearance of homosexual in print is found in an 1869 German pamphlet by the Austrian-born novelist Karl-Maria Kertbeny, published anonymously. Pejorative terms include queer, faggot, fairy, poof, and homo. Similarly, some recommend completely avoiding usage of homosexual as having a negative and discredited clinical history.

Gay Marriage Issue

MARRIAGE DIGEST: Despite rulings, 'Gay marriage' debate not over in Md ...

Town Hall - Mike Miller Jr. said "gay marriage" is an issue "whose time has not yet come," but Del. Heather R. Mizeur, a Democrat and open homosexual, said the issue shouldn't be put on the backburner, either. "The fundamental question in this debate is how do ... Read more...

Candidates stop short on same-sex marriage

Newsday - ... minute interviews by gay rights advocates in Los Angeles last night, Clinton, Barack Obama and John Edwards all vowed to battle for gay, lesbian and transgender rights. But they stopped short of endorsing gay marriage - a hot-button culture-war issue ... Read more...

Gay Marriage Issue

Gay Marriage - Boston.com
Coverage from the Boston Globe and New England Cable News.

President rips SJC on gay marriage - The Boston Globe
In returning to the divisive issue of gay marriage, the president is seeking to also will take up other conservative issues in the coming weeks, including a

Equal rights | The case for gay marriage | Economist.com
earlier ruling that banning gay marriage is contrary to their It can only be a matter of time before this issue arrives at the federal Supreme Court.

Bush urges marriage amendment - Politics - MSNBC.com
.Joe Biden, D-Del.June 4: Sen. to amend the Constitution to define marriage as a union between a man and Biden: Gay marriage issue is politics

Bush Re-Enters Gay Marriage Fight - washingtonpost.com
the emotional debate over same-sex marriage for the first time in his second reelection in 2004, has remained largely silent on the issue since, much to the

Gay Marriage - By Andrew Sullivan and David Frum - Slate Magazine
.The debate over gay marriage, as you say in the introduction to your new reader, Which takes us, as I think you understand, to the heart of the issue

FOXNews.com - Gay Marriage Debate Shifts to Nonresidents - U.S. & World
.Mitt Romney bar the clerks from continuing to issue licenses to out-of-state gay couples.Gay Marriage Debate Shifts to Nonresidents, Massachusetts Gov

CNN.com - Bush calls for ban on same-sex marriages - Feb. 25, 2004
Bush has turned the same-sex marriage issue into a debate over amending the two weeks ago to begin giving marriage licenses to gay and lesbian couples.

GAY MARRIAGE: Did issue help re-elect Bush?
strategy of using gay and lesbian families as wedge issues in this election were related to his decision to issue marriage licenses to gay couples.

Why Bush raised gay marriage issue
Republican Party against one of the nation's most emotional issues, anticipating gay-marriage constitutional amendment, figuring that it's a great