Our research shows that important differences between the terms “homosexual” and “gay and lesbian” shape public opinion on civil rights policies. For example, more Republicans disapprove of Obamacare than the Affordable Care Act – even though these are two names for the same policy. The words that the media, voters, and policymakers use can drastically change public opinion. They find that compared to “gay and lesbian,” “homosexual” cues certain people to increase their opposition to civil rights policies that benefit gay men and lesbians. Smith and colleagues examines how these words can shape how people feel about civil rights policies. For example, the term “homosexual” is more likely to be used to identify a group who some feel are outside of society, while “gay and lesbian” are much more inclusive terms. Words matter different terms and phrases can be a huge influence on how the public things about important issues.
