Originally Posted by Chase

Well, I'm in an older generation, too. I've never used "queer" to address anyone. It's grossly impolite, but maybe politeness is a generation thing, as well.

"Homosexual" is the only descriptive term I've ever used when necessary to refer to someone's same-sex preferences.

Gay means "happy," "merry," "lighthearted"--something homosexuals don't have a lock on, so the term is at least a misnomer, if not pejorative.