Source guides on gender and sexuality

Holy flashpoints, Batman! Religion and the 2026 U.S. midterm elections

In this guide, we provide background, tips and suggestions, newswriting for context and experts and sources for you to turn to as you ramp up your coverage of religion and the 2026 midterms.

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Stylebook entries on gender and sexuality

ex-gay

The movement, mostly found in conservative Christianity, that purports to change the sexual orientation of people from same-sex attraction to opposite-sex. It is also referred to as reparative or conversion therapy. It is highly controversial. Several major medical associations have rejected such therapy when it views homosexuality as a mental disorder or sickness, or assumes that homosexuals’ sexual orientation is something that must be changed. Ex-gay should never be used without explaining the term and the controversy associated with it. See gay.

gay

Term used to describe men who are sexually attracted to other men. For women, lesbian is the preferred term. When referring to both, say gay men and lesbians, though gay is acceptable for referring to both in headlines. Avoid references to a gay, homosexual or alternative “lifestyle.”

homosexual

A person attracted to someone of the same sex. The preferred terms are gay and lesbian.

lesbian

A woman who is sexually attracted to other women. Preferred to gay when referring to women.

LGBT

An acronym for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender. Should not be used without defining it.

More source guides on gender and sexuality