I'm a fairly conservative guy, but I am still flabergasted by people who think gay is a choice

[FalloutJack]

Well, there are those who say they were born gay and that there is no choice. They are what they are. I think, though, that there are those who are not that WANT to be, and so that IS a choice, of sorts. Furthermore, I've actually heard that the door swings both ways. Some gays choose to stop being gay and pursue the other sex instead. This is kind of an odd phenomenon, but basically...it's not to say that there is never a choice. It's just that many ARE and many ARE NOT, and sometimes the ones who know where they stand want to stand differently.

 

[Sarah Frazier]

Sometimes sexual preference IS a choice if only because the person had been so terribly abused and are emotionally repulsed at the thought of intimacy with that gender again. But for the most part it's a less subtle draw one way or the other that they can't fully explain why or when it started.

As for the people who say homosexuality, it's their choice to believe that. The only time I have issues with it is when they attack homosexuals and say "God says it's wrong" or whatever they feel will excuse their poor behavior of other human beings.

 

[Denari]

The only response I have to this thread is this:

If homosexuality is a choice, then does it not stand to reason that heterosexuality is also a choice? Because when choosing one, are you not rejecting the other? So then the real question here is not whether or not homosexuality is a choice, but is sexuality in general a choice? If the answer to this is "yes", then all heterosexuals in the world have at one time or another considered homosexuality as an option and rejected having decided to be heterosexual. But if sexuality truly is a choice, then is it not possible that heterosexuals or homosexuals could at any time decide to switch there sexuality at any time? Furthermore; if this were the case, then the world not be divided into heterosexual or homosexual and instead there would only be bisexual since sexuality is a matter of choice and anyone could be attracted to either gender at any time should they so choose to do so.

I don't believe any of the stuff that I've written. This is just how the "Homosexuality is a choice" argument plays out when fully thought out. Obviously there are a lot of logical holes in it, but its fun to see how the argument looks played out.

 

[Kortney]

This boils my brain.

Literally. Just kidding, but still, it nearly bloody does.

Tell me why, in the year 2010, soon to be 2011 does it matter if being gay is a choice? Why on Earth does it matter if homosexuality is "unnatural"? Please, someone, explain this to me.. We as human beings have the abilitiy to make choices. We as human beings, have the abilitty to do "unnatural" things. Since when has this been an issue? (I'm not even slightly suggesting that homosexuality is a choice here, I'm just saying wondering why it even matters).

It's just pointless bullshit created so that people can suppress other people. It makes me so incredibly angry I have trouble expressing how I feel.

And this is all coming from me, who - for lack of a better word - is pretty darn religious. But since when did any of us have the power to dictate how other people live their life? I swear, some of the people in this thread trying to suppress gay people who call themselves Islamic or Christian ought to be downright ashamed of themselves.

Just because we have a world view does not mean we get to decide who gets to do what. Anyone trying to tell me otherwise is an evil bastard. It doesn't matter what we believe to anyone else.

A philosophical or religious disagreement does not give you leeway to tell others how to live their life. I'm sorry, but it just doesn't. Imagine what kind of World we would live in if everyone had the power to deny other people their wishes because of their personal beliefs? No one would get anything done.

There are plenty of things I disagree with because of my faith. Sex before marriage is one. Good for me! Guess what? That means I wont have sex before marriage. It doesn't mean I get to go around like an arrogant fool condemning people for having sex before marriage, or stopping people from having sex before marriage. This issue of homosexuality is the same thing.

We, as a culture of human beings have lived long enough to realise that, at the end of the day, all people are going to do their own thing. We can't stop that. No matter how many Korans, Bibles or L. Ron Hubbard books we throw at them they are still going to do what they want to do. And if it isn't hurting anyone, why -why- do we want to stop them?

We all have free will and we all have the power to make our own decisions. If these are harmlness decisions, then no one on this planet - or any planet - has the right to stop you.

To any homosexual, trans, bisexual or undecided person reading this post, I may not agree with what you do, but what gives me the right to stop you from marrying someone you love? Because I believe in a God that you don't? Heh. That's hardly a reason.

P.S: And to any religious person who wants to come to me and say "But Kortney! These people are in trouble and if we do not interveen than they will suffer later!" (Which, I may add, is possibly the nicest -most insane- excuse for bigotry I have ever heard) then I will simply reply with the fact that everyone has a choice to follow any faith. They make their choices. Not us.

Remember that.

 

[Shaun Hastings]

I have no clue why I'm a lesbian (other than the fact I like women). All before seventh grade it never came across my mind that sexuality even existed, that there was some kind of difference. It wasn't until I had my first girlfriend that I realised, 'wow, I didn't pick to really like her it just happened'.

So, really, I don't understand how being gay could be a choice. I've tried kissing guys, tried changing my sexuality but it just didn't work. I'm stuck being a lesbian and hey, I have no problem with that.

 

[RhombusHatesYou]

Tell me why, in the year 2010, soon to be 2011 does it matter if being gay is a choice? Why on Earth does it matter if homosexuality is "unnatural"? Please, someone, explain this to me..

It's just pointless bullshit created so that people can suppress other people. It makes me so incredibly angry I have trouble expressing how I feel.

Well... seeing as you answered your own question, I'll just sit here and nod wisely.

 

[Darmort]

It's very possible that people choose to be gay because they're tired of the other sex or quite simply because they want to experiment.
Not all people choose of course, some people are just uncomfortable with who they are and when they find out they're gay, and accept it, then they become comfortable with their lives again.
And yes, granted gays have a lot of problems worldwide, but hell, does that make them any less of a person? Fuck no.
Mind, I live in the UK, and we seem to be more tolerent about gays than America... or the Middle East.

 

[sam42ification]

I would like to say being bi that i always thought gay was a choise but now that i think about it i've known that i liked men as well as women since i was little. I'm not sure, i think one the reasons i am bi is because of the sense that im doing somthing i shouldnt. It's like when you were little sneaking candy or somthign along those lines. It's not so much the candy you were intrested in but the feeling you get knowing you shouldn't be doing it. That sense of rebellion is a big part of being gay. When i was little i used to believe in god and that i thought i was sinning but thats most of fun of it. I think being gay stops being fun when you come out. I think that it's a mixture of both really. I think that your born being gay proberly because of a chemicle imbalance in the brain but in the long run it's choice whether you wan to listen to your self or not.

 

[Hader]

If homosexuality is a choice, then does it not stand to reason that heterosexuality is also a choice? Because when choosing one, are you not rejecting the other? So then the real question here is not whether or not homosexuality is a choice, but is sexuality in general a choice? If the answer to this is "yes", then all heterosexuals in the world have at one time or another considered homosexuality as an option and rejected having decided to be heterosexual. But if sexuality truly is a choice, then is it not possible that heterosexuals or homosexuals could at any time decide to switch there sexuality at any time? Furthermore; if this were the case, then the world not be divided into heterosexual or homosexual and instead there would only be bisexual since sexuality is a matter of choice and anyone could be attracted to either gender at any time should they so choose to do so.

I don't believe any of the stuff that I've written. This is just how the "Homosexuality is a choice" argument plays out when fully thought out. Obviously there are a lot of logical holes in it, but its fun to see how the argument looks played out.

Many people who easily take the stance of 'homosexuality is a choice' fall into the same trap, at least from my standpoint. At least my first instinct when I hear someone taking that stance is to counter them with 'then isn't heterosexuality a choice?'. Always makes for less interesting arguments since I take them completely off guard.

Sorry if that made no sense, but long story short, I agree that there are many holes in the logic, and I am just one of those clever trolls that draws it out and puts it in what limelight I can. At least, I try to. I made a few people ragequit over it... >_>

snip

Brilliant post, mi amice.

Tell me why, in the year 2010, soon to be 2011 does it matter if being gay is a choice? Why on Earth does it matter if homosexuality is "unnatural"?

I ask this question a lot as well; why does it matter if it's a choice? Why does any of it matter, especially to those who cry out against it yet seem to not be affected by it personally in the slightest?

Sometimes, I fear that if I argue with people so against homosexuality, the choice of it, etc., it will only end in me being forced into a facepalm.

Well... seeing as you answered your own question, I'll just sit here and nod wisely.

I thought that was obvious...?

As in, it was all intentional.

And yes, granted gays have a lot of problems worldwide, but hell, does that make them any less of a person? Fuck no.
Mind, I live in the UK, and we seem to be more tolerent about gays than America... or the Middle East.

I would say the US, as a whole at least, it slowly but surely moving towards a better overall tolerance of homosexuality. To me it seems that the whole idea of it (sorry if that sounds like a bad way to put it, but trying to generalize I don't know how else to say it) has been openly present in popular culture long enough to the point where more people just accept it as more normal.

That's just a generalization though. It's hard to say the same for specific parts of the US.

 

[Sikachu]

LOL at what I've highlighted. No point debating with someone who doesn't need evidence.

While it was amusing, the fact that asking 1000 people would yield with few to no "choice" results is evidence in itself. So the diction is amusing, but belies the point.

Although I think there is something to my point as well - all that 1000 people all agreeing that it isn't a choice shows is that people are not aware of a choice. It doesn't mean one definitely didn't happen, particularly on a sub-conscious level. That sort of evidence is what should provide impetus for finding sexuality-programming genes, and if we fail to find those, then seeking alternate explanations, don't you agree?

 

[Something Amyss]

LOL at what I've highlighted. No point debating with someone who doesn't need evidence.

While it was amusing, the fact that asking 1000 people would yield with few to no "choice" results is evidence in itself. So the diction is amusing, but belies the point.

Although I think there is something to my point as well - all that 1000 people all agreeing that it isn't a choice shows is that people are not aware of a choice. It doesn't mean one definitely didn't happen, particularly on a sub-conscious level. That sort of evidence is what should provide impetus for finding sexuality-programming genes, and if we fail to find those, then seeking alternate explanations, don't you agree?

Kind of a reverse-ocam's-razor, eh?

Well, whatever works.

We have found genetic and hormonal markers, and identified homosexuals have different wiring in their brains. Just for the record.

 

[101flyboy]

The people who genuinely believe being gay is a choice are usually bisexuals/gays in denial, who choose to repress their homosexuality. Or, they are simply heterosexuals who have this mistrusting and skeptical attitude of homosexuals, like they choose to stand out so they can get attention and then take over the world and turn everyone gay, basically irrational fear and paranoid, threatened by LGBT people, and these individuals are personality disordered.

Sexual orientation is not a choice. It's not even debatable. And it doesn't matter if it were a choice.

 

[101flyboy]

Homosexuality is completely natural. The definition of natural is what is found in and produced by nature. That includes homosexuality.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7RlTAyNI8WE
http://psychcentral.com/news/2008/06/30/genetics-and-environment-shape-sexual-orientation/2522.html

There is absolutely NOTHING wrong in being gay/bisexual/lesbian/alternative sexualities. Nothing. It's that simple, and any debate on it is ludicrous. These are normal, every day human beings, and we should be treating them accordingly instead of putting this spotlight on them and treating them like lepers.

 

[101flyboy]

Lastly, homosexuality is not a disease. Being a gay/lesbian person does not impair your ability to function adequately in any way whatsoever.

 

[Sikachu]

LOL at what I've highlighted. No point debating with someone who doesn't need evidence.

While it was amusing, the fact that asking 1000 people would yield with few to no "choice" results is evidence in itself. So the diction is amusing, but belies the point.

Although I think there is something to my point as well - all that 1000 people all agreeing that it isn't a choice shows is that people are not aware of a choice. It doesn't mean one definitely didn't happen, particularly on a sub-conscious level. That sort of evidence is what should provide impetus for finding sexuality-programming genes, and if we fail to find those, then seeking alternate explanations, don't you agree?

Kind of a reverse-ocam's-razor, eh?

Well, whatever works.

We have found genetic and hormonal markers, and identified homosexuals have different wiring in their brains. Just for the record.

Well there we are. That's the sort of evidence I was asking for in the first place. If more people gave me that kind of answer instead of 'I DIDN'T MAKE A CHOICE, I AM WHAT I AM!!!111' we'd have a lot more productive conversation. You got any reading you can recommend?

 

[Chairman Miaow]

LOL at what I've highlighted. No point debating with someone who doesn't need evidence.

While it was amusing, the fact that asking 1000 people would yield with few to no "choice" results is evidence in itself. So the diction is amusing, but belies the point.

Although I think there is something to my point as well - all that 1000 people all agreeing that it isn't a choice shows is that people are not aware of a choice. It doesn't mean one definitely didn't happen, particularly on a sub-conscious level. That sort of evidence is what should provide impetus for finding sexuality-programming genes, and if we fail to find those, then seeking alternate explanations, don't you agree?

Kind of a reverse-ocam's-razor, eh?

Well, whatever works.

We have found genetic and hormonal markers, and identified homosexuals have different wiring in their brains. Just for the record.

Well there we are. That's the sort of evidence I was asking for in the first place. If more people gave me that kind of answer instead of 'I DIDN'T MAKE A CHOICE, I AM WHAT I AM!!!111' we'd have a lot more productive conversation. You got any reading you can recommend?

I've also heard this but never actually seen any evidence, I would love to be able to point people to it.