'Homosexual' is a barbarously hybrid word, and I claim no responsibility for it

'Homosexual' is a barbarously hybrid word, and I claim no responsibility for it

Havelock Ellis, a pioneering sexologist and psychologist, made the statement “'Homosexual' is a barbarously hybrid word, and I claim no responsibility for it” in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. This quote reflects Ellis’ rejection of the term “homosexual” as a label for individuals who are attracted to the same sex. Instead, Ellis preferred to use more neutral and scientific terms to describe human sexuality.

Ellis was a key figure in the study of human sexuality and was one of the first to challenge prevailing beliefs about homosexuality. At a time when homosexuality was widely stigmatized and criminalized, Ellis sought to understand and destigmatize same-sex attraction. He believed that sexuality was a complex and diverse aspect of human nature, and that individuals should not be judged or discriminated against based on their sexual orientation.