--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There is, however, one way of speaking…" description: "\"“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 to make \"gay\" ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/62a/wesley-hill-47693_christian-living_there-is-however-one-way-of-speaking-tha_1260386.jpg" --- # There is, however, one way of speaking that I've tried to… ![“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 to make "gay" or "homosexual" the adjective, and never the noun, in a longer phrase, such as "gay Christian" or "homosexual person." In this way, I hope to send a…” quote by Wesley Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/62a/wesley-hill-47693_christian-living_there-is-however-one-way-of-speaking-tha_1260386.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/62a/wesley-hill-47693_christian-living_there-is-however-one-way-of-speaking-tha_1260386.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/62a/wesley-hill-47693_christian-living_there-is-however-one-way-of-speaking-tha_1260386.jpg) > ““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 to make "gay" or "homosexual" the adjective, and never the noun, in a longer phrase, such as "gay Christian" or "homosexual person." In this way, I hope to send a subtle linguistic signal that being gay isn't the most important thing about my or any other gay person's identity. I am a Christian before I am anything else. My homosexuality is a part of my makeup, a facet of my personality. One day, I believe, whether in this life or in the resurrection, it will fade away. But my identity as a Christian - someone incorporated into Christ's body by his Spirit - will remain.”” [Wesley Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wesley-hill/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Identity is multifaceted; primary identity is spiritual, not sexual orientation. **In simple terms:** Faith defines self before sexuality. Key Takeaway Focus on core spiritual identity. Themes religion identity sexuality language Mood contemplative respectful Type theological social When to use this quote - faith communities - counseling - public speaking - education Key Concepts theology social linguistics personal identity Questions to Reflect On - How does language shape perception of identity? - Can spiritual identity coexist with sexual identity? A Different Perspective Risk of minimizing lived experiences of LGBTQ+ individuals. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Christian living](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christian-living/) [Homosexuality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/homosexuality/) [Identity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/identity/) ## Related quotes > [The word heterosexual is an adjective, the word homosexual is an adjective. They describe an activity. 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Prepare to be challenged and enlightened, provoked and inspired.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-held-evans/god-and-the-gay-christian-is-a-game-changer-prepare-to-be-challenged/) [Rachel Held Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-held-evans/) > [Just by the nature of making the choice to be true to who I am, I'm political. Sometimes that's all you need to do:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-porter/just-by-the-nature-of-making-the-choice-to-be-true-to-who-i-am-i-m/) [Billy Porter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-porter/) > [Actually, there is no such thing as a homosexual person, any more than there is such a thing as a heterosexual person. 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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/) > [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/) > [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/) > [“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/) ## More by Wesley Hill > [“I once faced a temptation that was so persistent and so overwhelming that I literally believed my whole world would go dark if I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wesley-hill/i-once-faced-a-temptation-that-was-so-persistent-and-so-overwhelming/) [Wesley Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wesley-hill/) > [“I know that whatever the complex origins of my own homosexuality are, there have been conscious choices I've made to indulge - and therefore…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wesley-hill/i-know-that-whatever-the-complex-origins-of-my-own-homosexuality-are/) [Wesley Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wesley-hill/) > [“in some old Teutonic and Scandinavian religions and mythologies there is an ideal of the “fated warrior.” This is the champion who heads into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wesley-hill/in-some-old-teutonic-and-scandinavian-religions-and-mythologies-there/) [Wesley Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wesley-hill/) > [“Rowan Williams, Archbishop of Canterbury, expresses it this way: “To desire my joy is to desire the joy of the one I desire: my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wesley-hill/rowan-williams-archbishop-of-canterbury-expresses-it-this-way-to/) [Wesley Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wesley-hill/) > [“The whole story of creation, incarnation and our incorporation into the fellowship of Christ’s body tells us that God desires us.…We are created so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wesley-hill/the-whole-story-of-creation-incarnation-and-our-incorporation-into/) [Wesley Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wesley-hill/) > [“Washed and waiting. 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