"...used as a cudgel against them for far, far too long."

Yes, it is awkward. It's like negatively describing fellow human beings the way they don't describe or see themselves -- engendering a kind of self-service bigotry. And it gets worse, short of emergency, when Christians nurse this prejudice in the Gospels with little attempt (when among LGBT people) to be tolerant, considerate, and impartial. No secrets here, either!