I'm the GUEST who originally posted to this thread, and I now understand how wrong I was. I took cheap refuge in mere etymology instead of trying to understand the problems caused by people's irrational hatred of those who don't conform with what they see as "normal behaviour". I now understand that honest love between people has never in itself been the cause of trouble in the world- it is only ever other people's reaction to that love that has caused problems, and that they had no right to make such a judgement.

This thread has served its purpose and can now be closed. Thank you all for your responses.