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Old 29-01-2007, 06:58 AM   #20 (permalink)
Tony Bennett
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Default Actively is an adverb. Homosexual is an adjective

Phagocyte wrote: "Also, I'd like to know what you mean by "actively" homosexual. Homosexuality isn't a verb".

REPLY: Homosexuality is a noun, as you quite correctly point out. Homosexual is an adjective (as well as a noun), which I qualified with an adverb. 'Actively' means engaging in sex, rather than just having an 'orientation' towards other males/females.

The following terms are all grammatically correct:

1. Active homosexuality

2. Active homosexual (noun)

3. Actively homosexual (adjective).

You will probably be aware that this is a distinction that the Church of England (and I do not say their position is correct) makes about its clergy. It says that to have an orienation towards other males/females is permissible for its clergy, but that to actively express that orientation sexually is not permissible.

It is not something it is willing to enforce in practice anyway

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