Homophiles

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. Individuals who have a strong affinity or attraction for those of the same sex or gender; people who advocate for LGBTQ+ rights and support sexual and gender diversity; those who identify as part of a community that fosters same-sex love and relationships among peers
2. Persons who share a preference for romantic or sexual connections with others of the same gender; activists promoting acceptance and equal rights for sexual minorities; members of a social group that emphasizes love and support for LGBTQ+ individuals
3. Those who express a love or strong affinity towards members of their own sex; proponents of inclusivity and equality for same-gender relationships; participants in a collective that uplifts same-sex love and advocates for LGBTQ+ issues

Etymology: Built from Greek "homos," meaning "same," and "philos," meaning "loving" or "friend," this term follows the pattern of "homosexual," coined a few decades earlier. The second element was likely chosen to stress affection and friendship rather than sexual behaviour. In the 1950s and 1960s, American groups such as the Mattachine Society, founded in 1950, and the Daughters of Bilitis, founded in 1955, adopted the term to describe their goals. Their activism became known as the homophile movement, and its participants were called homophiles. The label fell out of favour in the 1970s, when many activists preferred "gay" and, later, "gay and lesbian."