December 2, 2012

Excerpts from the Christian Medical Comment: “The Associated Press has nixed the term ‘homophobia’ from its Style Book. The online Style Book now says that ‘-phobia’, ‘an irrational, uncontrollable fear, often a form of mental illness’ should not be used ‘in political or social contexts’, including ‘homophobia’ because ‘a phobia is a psychiatric or medical term for a severe mental disorder’.”

“AP Deputy Standards Editor Dave Minthorn said that ‘Homophobia especially is just off the mark. It’s ascribing a mental disability to someone, and suggests a knowledge that we don’t have. It seems inaccurate. Instead, we would use something more neutral: anti-gay, or some such, if we had reason to believe that was the case.’ ‘We want to be precise and accurate and neutral in our phrasing,’ he said.” The source for the Christian Medical Comment was an article on the POLITICO website.