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November 29, 2012

AP’s ban on word ‘homophobia’ is discouraging

Rev Irene Monroe says Associated Press have got it wrong with their decision to drop journalistic use of the word ‘homophobia’ as it is not a medical condition

The editors at the Associated Press Stylebook have announced that they are ‘discouraging’ use of the word ‘homophobia’. The AP Stylebook is the widely used guide that media use to standardize terms and general usage.

Why should the LGBTQ community be in a kerfuffle about it? Because the editors made their decision without consultation with leading LGBTQ organizations, leaders, activists, and newspapers. That is a problem.

November 27, 2012

Associated Press bans the word ‘homophobia’

AP says calling anti-gay hate a ‘phobia’ is inaccurate but word’s inventor says it is needed and ‘hard won’

The Associated Press (AP) has banned its journalists from using words like ‘homophobia’ and ‘transphobia’.

Its new Stylebook, which dictates the language reporters must use, also scraps the word ‘Islamophobia’ and the phrase ‘ethnic cleansing’ which it says is a euphemism.

American newswire service AP has 3,400 employees, scattered in bureaus around the world. But its guide is even more influential as many other publications use it rather than create their own.