The Associated Press recently removed ‘homophobia’ from its style guide, due to its (alleged) imprecision (what exactly does it mean?) and often derisive application (basically name-calling).
See the following link from First Thoughts (a blog on the website of the journal First Things): http://www.firstthings.com/blogs/firstthoughts/2012/11/29/ap-removes-homophobia-from-stylebook/
What do you think? Is homophobia a helpful term or a hindrance to genuine dialogue?
I find this frustratingly difficult. Do we stop using words that get hijacked by incorrect use? The term itself is laden with meaning, but its derisive use has obscured that meaning. I think that it still has great value for a more academic audience, but for colloquial use it holds about as much meaning as calling someone a “fag,” and it’s just as classy.
Whether or not it’s been hijacked (or whether it has ever been useful) is, I guess, part of the question. What is / was its correct use?