--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Actually, there is no such thing as a…" description: "\"Actually, there is no such thing as a homosexual person, any more than there is such a thing as a heterosexual person. The words are adjectives describ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c0a/gore-vidal-466_adjectives_actually-there-is-no-such-thing-as-a-hom_1210269.jpg" --- # Actually, there is no such thing as a homosexual person… ![“Actually, there is no such thing as a homosexual person, any more than there is such a thing as a heterosexual person. The words are adjectives describing sexual acts, not people. The sexual acts are entirely normal; if they were not, no one would perform them.” quote by Gore Vidal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c0a/gore-vidal-466_adjectives_actually-there-is-no-such-thing-as-a-hom_1210269.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c0a/gore-vidal-466_adjectives_actually-there-is-no-such-thing-as-a-hom_1210269.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c0a/gore-vidal-466_adjectives_actually-there-is-no-such-thing-as-a-hom_1210269.jpg) > “Actually, there is no such thing as a homosexual person, any more than there is such a thing as a heterosexual person. The words are adjectives describing sexual acts, not people. The sexual acts are entirely normal; if they were not, no one would perform them.” [Gore Vidal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gore-vidal/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Sexual orientation labels describe behavior, not inherent identity; people are defined by actions, not categories. **In simple terms:** Labels describe acts, not people. Key Takeaway Focus on actions, not labels. Themes identity language sexuality Mood thoughtful critical Type analytical philosophical When to use this quote - personal relationships - policy discussions - educational curricula - media representation Key Concepts constructionism semantic analysis Questions to Reflect On - How do labels affect personal identity? - Can behavior be fully captured by adjectives? A Different Perspective Labels can obscure personal experiences and social realities. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Adjectives](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adjectives/) [Heterosexual](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heterosexual/) [Heterosexual Person](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heterosexual-person-647345/) [Homosexual](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/homosexual/) [Homosexual Person](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/homosexual-person-941451/) [Homosexuality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/homosexuality/) [Normal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/normal/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Persons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/persons/) [Thing Homosexual](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thing-homosexual-3665005/) ## Related quotes > [There is no such thing as a homosexual or a heterosexual person. There are only homo- or heterosexual acts. Most people are a mixture…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gore-vidal/there-is-no-such-thing-as-a-homosexual-or-a-heterosexual-person-there/) [Gore Vidal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gore-vidal/) > [I deny that there's such a thing as a gay person. I deny there's such a thing as a heterosexual person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gore-vidal/i-deny-that-there-s-such-a-thing-as-a-gay-person-i-deny-there-s-such/) [Gore Vidal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gore-vidal/) > [ “\[T\]here is no such thing as a homosexual or a heterosexual person. There are only homo- or heterosexual acts. Most people are a mixture… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gore-vidal/t-here-is-no-such-thing-as-a-homosexual-or-a-heterosexual-person/) [Gore Vidal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gore-vidal/) > [The word heterosexual is an adjective, the word homosexual is an adjective. They describe an activity. Of course there's a homosexual activity; of course…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gore-vidal/the-word-heterosexual-is-an-adjective-the-word-homosexual-is-an/) [Gore Vidal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gore-vidal/) > [I'm as heterosexual as any person need be. I'm open about my relationships - or lack thereof - in my own life, because I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hal-sparks/i-m-as-heterosexual-as-any-person-need-be-i-m-open-about-my/) [Hal Sparks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hal-sparks/) > [There's no difference between a gay person and a heterosexual person at the end of the day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-payne/there-s-no-difference-between-a-gay-person-and-a-heterosexual-person/) [Tom Payne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-payne/) > [Being gay is something to be ashamed of. That they will never be as good a parent as a heterosexual person. Which is rubbish.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/being-gay-is-something-to-be-ashamed-of-that-they-will-never-be-as/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [There is no conscious choice of heterosexual identity any more than there is a homosexual one. The last person in the world who wants…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-eric-dyson/there-is-no-conscious-choice-of-heterosexual-identity-any-more-than/) [Michael Eric Dyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-eric-dyson/) > [“How is the homosexual person, whom God created in his and her image, supposed to accept this teaching from the Church when their ability…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-benedict/how-is-the-homosexual-person-whom-god-created-in-his-and-her-image/) [Charles Benedict](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-benedict/) > [Although the particular inclination of the homosexual person is not a sin, it is more or less strong tendency ordered to an intrinsic moral…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-benedict-xvi/although-the-particular-inclination-of-the-homosexual-person-is-not-a/) [Pope Benedict XVI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-benedict-xvi/) > [It's imprecise and insufficient, defining the homosexual as a person whose gender expression is at odds with his or her sex.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-bechdel/it-s-imprecise-and-insufficient-defining-the-homosexual-as-a-person/) [Alison Bechdel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alison-bechdel/) > [From the age of 1 to 6 there is a small percentage that is exclusively homosexual, a small percentage heterosexual and there's a wide…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gore-vidal/from-the-age-of-1-to-6-there-is-a-small-percentage-that-is/) [Gore Vidal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gore-vidal/) > [Why you mad If someone calls you a bitch, Are you a female dog? No Why you mad, if someone calls you four eyes,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hiper/why-you-mad-if-someone-calls-you-a-bitch-are-you-a-female-dog-no-why/) [Hiper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hiper/) > [“There is, however, one way of speaking that I've tried to avoid. Rather than refer to someone as "a homosexual," I've taken care always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wesley-hill/there-is-however-one-way-of-speaking-that-i-ve-tried-to-avoid-rather/) [Wesley Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wesley-hill/) > [“During the return flight from Rio de Janeiro I said that if a homosexual person is of goodwill and is in search of God,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/during-the-return-flight-from-rio-de-janeiro-i-said-that-if-a/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) ## More by Gore Vidal > [There is only one party in the United States, the Property Party...and it has two right wings: Republican and Democrat. Republicans are a bit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gore-vidal/there-is-only-one-party-in-the-united-states-the-property-party-and/) [Gore Vidal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gore-vidal/) > [Many people in the United States happen to believe that United States policy is wrong in Vietnam and the Vietcong are correct in wanting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gore-vidal/many-people-in-the-united-states-happen-to-believe-that-united-states/) [Gore Vidal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gore-vidal/) > [“It is curious how little interested we are in the sexual desires of those who do not attract us.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gore-vidal/it-is-curious-how-little-interested-we-are-in-the-sexual-desires-of/) [Gore Vidal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gore-vidal/) > [This separation was absolute in our original Republic. But the sky-godders do not give up easily. In the 1950s they actually got the phrase…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gore-vidal/this-separation-was-absolute-in-our-original-republic-but-the-sky/) [Gore Vidal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gore-vidal/) > [Style is knowing who you are, what you want to say, and not giving a damn.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gore-vidal/style-is-knowing-who-you-are-what-you-want-to-say-and-not-giving-a/) [Gore Vidal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gore-vidal/) > [The oligarchs think that the people are both dangerous and stupid. Their point is moot. But we do know that the oligarchs are a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gore-vidal/the-oligarchs-think-that-the-people-are-both-dangerous-and-stupid/) [Gore Vidal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gore-vidal/) > [It is curious how often one prefers his enemies to his friends.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gore-vidal/it-is-curious-how-often-one-prefers-his-enemies-to-his-friends/) [Gore Vidal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gore-vidal/) > [As societies grow decadent, the language grows decadent, too. Words are used to disguise, not to illuminate, action: you liberate a city by destroying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gore-vidal/as-societies-grow-decadent-the-language-grows-decadent-too-words-are/) [Gore Vidal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gore-vidal/) > [Rome ... at its most decadent, had never thought of hiring an actor to go through the motions of being an emperor while the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gore-vidal/rome-at-its-most-decadent-had-never-thought-of-hiring-an-actor-to-go/) [Gore Vidal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gore-vidal/) > [History is nothing but gossip about the past, with the hope that it might be true.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gore-vidal/history-is-nothing-but-gossip-about-the-past-with-the-hope-that-it/) [Gore Vidal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gore-vidal/) > [The malady of civilized man is his knowledge of death. The good artist, like the wise man, addresses himself to life and invests with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gore-vidal/the-malady-of-civilized-man-is-his-knowledge-of-death-the-good-artist/) [Gore Vidal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gore-vidal/) > [Sex is a continuum. You go through different phases along life's way... and if you don't, you've been sort of cheated.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gore-vidal/sex-is-a-continuum-you-go-through-different-phases-along-life-s-way/) [Gore Vidal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gore-vidal/) > [All I want is that Americans still be able to read the alphabet in a hundred years. I am not very ambitious.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gore-vidal/all-i-want-is-that-americans-still-be-able-to-read-the-alphabet-in-a/) [Gore Vidal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gore-vidal/) > [I do not admire 'the people,' as such. No one really does. Their folk wisdom is usually false, their instincts predatory. Even their sense…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gore-vidal/i-do-not-admire-the-people-as-such-no-one-really-does-their-folk/) [Gore Vidal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gore-vidal/) > [“One of the problems of a society as tightly controlled as ours is that we get so little information about what those of our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gore-vidal/one-of-the-problems-of-a-society-as-tightly-controlled-as-ours-is/) [Gore Vidal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gore-vidal/) [Explore all 539 Gore Vidal quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gore-vidal/) ## More Adjectives quotes > [To write or even speak English is not a science but an art. There are no reliable words… Whoever writes English is involved in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-orwell/to-write-or-even-speak-english-is-not-a-science-but-an-art-there-are/) [George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-orwell/) > [Avoid the ecstatic adjectives that occupy such disproportionate space in every critic's quiver - words like "enthralling" and "luminous."](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-zinsser/avoid-the-ecstatic-adjectives-that-occupy-such-disproportionate-space/) [William Zinsser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-zinsser/) > [In the history of the concept of number has been adjective (three cows, three monads) and noun (three, pure and simple), and now ...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-mazur/in-the-history-of-the-concept-of-number-has-been-adjective-three-cows/) [Barry Mazur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-mazur/) > [In my opinion, using different kinds of epithets and adjectives in connection with the word democracy is a sign of mere hypocrisy, to put…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garry-kasparov/in-my-opinion-using-different-kinds-of-epithets-and-adjectives-in/) [Garry Kasparov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garry-kasparov/) > [But what is memory if not the language of feeling, a dictionary of faces and days and smells which repeat themselves like the verbs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julio-cort-zar/but-what-is-memory-if-not-the-language-of-feeling-a-dictionary-of/) [Julio Cortazar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julio-cort-zar/) > [Eschew all those beastly adjectives...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roald-dahl/eschew-all-those-beastly-adjectives/) [Roald Dahl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roald-dahl/) > [I will give you my definition of a nation, and you can add the adjective 'Jewish.' A Nation is, in my mind, an historical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodor-herzl/i-will-give-you-my-definition-of-a-nation-and-you-can-add-the/) [Theodor Herzl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodor-herzl/) > [The mind that thought of light, heavy, grey, yellow, still, swift, also conceived of magic that would make heavy things light and able to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-r-tolkien-2/the-mind-that-thought-of-light-heavy-grey-yellow-still-swift-also/) [J. R. R. Tolkien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-r-tolkien-2/) > [Whatever you want to say, there is only one word to express it, only one verb to give it movement, only one adjective to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-de-maupassant/whatever-you-want-to-say-there-is-only-one-word-to-express-it-only/) [Guy de Maupassant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-de-maupassant/) > [I notice that you use plain, simple language, short words and brief sentences. That is the way to write English―it is the modern way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/i-notice-that-you-use-plain-simple-language-short-words-and-brief/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [Purity of action guided Janis's behavior. If she was going to be good, she was very, very good. If she was going to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-joplin/purity-of-action-guided-janis-s-behavior-if-she-was-going-to-be-good/) [Laura Joplin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-joplin/) > [I have been called 'Bongshell' the day I stepped into showbiz. So, any adjective coming my way, I take it positively. Sometimes it's also…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bipasha-basu/i-have-been-called-bongshell-the-day-i-stepped-into-showbiz-so-any/) [Bipasha Basu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bipasha-basu/) > [I like that 'Mad Men' is now an adjective I use to describe clothing when I'm shopping: 'I like this top. It's very 'Mad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-brie/i-like-that-mad-men-is-now-an-adjective-i-use-to-describe-clothing/) [Alison Brie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alison-brie/) > [anything being perceived as being superior takes the noun. And everything that isn't, that's judged to be inferior, requires an adjective. So there are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gloria-steinem/anything-being-perceived-as-being-superior-takes-the-noun-and/) [Gloria Steinem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gloria-steinem/) > [The only sort of descriptive adjective or catch phrase for my music would be 'eclectic.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/moby/the-only-sort-of-descriptive-adjective-or-catch-phrase-for-my-music/) [Moby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/moby/) [Browse all 239 Adjectives quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adjectives/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Actually, there is no such thing as a homosexual person, any more than there is such a thing as a heterosexual person. The words are adjectives describing sexual acts, not people. 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