Poll: Thought experiment: What if homosexuality COULD be "cured" medically?

[Vault101]

If the drug was announced as being a "Cure for the gay", then yes, a lot of people would be pissed. It would be the same as offering a "Cure for the White" which sounds like medical genocide or a "Cure for the Gamer" which sounds like culture-o-cide. <- Needs revision.

That sounds like the deaf people that don't want children to have their hearing restored.

being deaf is a serious disabilty

Why? You are "born that way", just like you are born gay.

being gay? how is that any worse than say..being turned on by bondage or robots or feet? should we "cure" those people too because god forbid what people get up to in their bedrooms should be of great concerin to us "normal" people

So what's so wrong with being deaf? They have their own languages, cultures, what's intrinsically different about deaf and gay? Deaf people often argue that hearing people calling them disabled is offensive and its no more a medical condition/disability than being gay is.

theres nothing wrong with being deaf, but Im not comfortable with the Idea of parents making such a choice on their childs behalf...

Interesting. Did you know that the only even partial cure available to give hearing only works if the operation happens as a child? (Otherwise the brain has never wired for sound until it is too hard wired to accept the new input). So, either the parent decides, or the child stays deaf for life. Still feel the same way?

what I ment was Im not comforable with the Idea of a parent deciding NOT to give thier child a chance at hearing because of spme moral standing, its thier child not a representation of their belives

like somone already said being gay "shouldnt" affect your life aside from the child rearing thing (which wouldnt be such as in issue if peopel would let them adpot)

it wpuld just be easyer if we were all bi-sexual...where the pill for that?

It doesn't matter if it shouldn't, it DOES. And the fact that you think a child should get medical treatment to be "normal" when it comes to hearing but not "normal" when it comes to sexuality only peaks to you asking on YOUR own biases. Either both are ok to "fix" or neither are.

unless you make it a vital part of your identity and boradcast it to everyone then I dont see why it should, you can still do watever you capable of/set out to do...and if need be its sotmhing you can hide...to me its like aying being into bondage is going to hold you back in life..not if you let it

deafness means adapting to a world made for people who can hear, and sure some do it fine..but the fact is its there...it affects what you can do MORE than being gay

deafness and being gay are not the same thing

I'm still waiting for a reason that isn't your personal opinion.

being gay also means adapting to a world made for people who are straight.

reason for what?

I dont think comparing being gay and being deaf is fair....

 

[rednose1]

Had a couple of people in the navy that were gay (not openly of course, this was back during don't ask days) and they were as normal as could be. Got over alot of hang ups (which would be true for just about every sterotype I would imagine). So yea, whatever they want to do with/to themselves, fine by me.

On the subject of gay people in general, they're just awesome. If it's two dudes, then thats two guys out of the mating competition, which is always nice, and if it's two chicks, well, then they're lesbians, and if you don't like lesbians, then you have some issues you gotta deal with.

 

[BishopofAges]

To be honest I read the thread title and my mind immediately twisted the arm of the topic behind its back, as to say my mind is warped.

If sexuality could be 'cured' or 'changed' with medical science, then in my mind, it wouldn't be a stigma, it would become a trend. Celebrities would set this trend by 'going gay' for the spring, or maybe straight, but as seasons change so will sexuality. It would be beyond rediculous and hilarious at the same time, the conversations to be had, "You going to be gay this spring?" "My, no. That is too goash, you see I was gay in the winter so spring shall be straight!"

My post is ment to be read in hilarity and good humor, not in any other way.

 

[Vault101]

Had a couple of people in the navy that were gay (not openly of course, this was back during don't ask days) and they were as normal as could be. Got over alot of hang ups (which would be true for just about every sterotype I would imagine). So yea, whatever they want to do with/to themselves, fine by me.

On the subject of gay people in general, they're just awesome. If it's two dudes, then thats two guys out of the mating competition, which is always nice, and if it's two chicks, well, then they're lesbians, and if you don't like lesbians, then you have some issues you gotta deal with.

everyone likes lesbians as long as they are "hot" non feminine lesbians are everyones favorite target of ridicule...but then again its like alot of other things I supsoe *shrug*

 

[Jegsimmons]

I would, because that implies its no longer choice but an illness.
That's also why i hate the gay gene argument when everyone knows its just a fetish.

Personally, if its truly a choice, GREAT, more power bro! But if its something that can be "cured" than whats the point?

 

[00slash00]

i also thought of xmen when i read this. id see this as both a good and bad thing...but probably mostly bad. on the one hand, i believe freedom is the most important thing and that people should live however they want. additionally, for those who just cant live with the prejudice, getting a prescription would certainly be a whole lot better than suicide.

on the other hand, the fact that people could take a drug to "cure" their homosexuality could also lead to depression and self-loathing, especially amongst people who couldnt afford it. make them feel like something was wrong with them that needed to be fixed. this could also lead to increased prejudice against homosexuals and a huge step back for the glbt movement. i mean, we already have too many people on the right claiming that homosexuality is a choice, i dont think we need to give them more fuel

 

[Tommeh Brownleh]

Why would they invent a pill to spread the disease of heterosexuality? Why would we make a pill that would enable and encourage more children to be born?

But back on topic: Homophobes would beg for it to be required to get anywhere in life, the gays themselves would be pissed, the closet homosexuals would take it in a heartbeat, etc.

 

[Arkzism]

probably not, i like the men... as much as i like the ladies

 

[Grouchy Imp_v1legacy]

WAIT!!! Before you immediately vote "no" because "homosexuality is not a disease, you homophobe!" I just want you to think about it for a minute.

This is just a hypothetical scenario in which say, scientists have discovered homosexuality is caused by some sort of chemical brain chi something or other and they've developed a pill that could make gay people straight. First, would you support it if it were utterly painless with no real side-effects? Second, what do you think the reaction would be from the masses? The gay community? Please try and keep discussion civil.

Where's the 'OP is talking crap' option in the poll? Seriously, you have based your hypothetical scenario on a totally false premise. And basing a proposition on a knowingly false argument is beyond messed up. People feel how they feel, and it is not for society to dictate otherwise. To chemically induce someone to live a life other than that which they want is wrong - full stop.

And even if such a 'cure' were available (I hate myself for even using that term) would you force it on others? Impose your values on those who live differently to you?

What are you, American? /JOKE

 

[Elementary - Dear Watson]

If it can be removed then it could be added...

1) Create underground 'sexual orientation changing' cult...
2) Kidknap all popular 'fit' guys and change them... [footnote]Especially the really weird looking one who I can't work out why the gurls like him... heres looking at you Taylor Lautner!![/footnote]
3) Get all the girls...!

 

[Yopaz]

Well if they wanted to I could hardly deny them, so their choice. But I don't think it should be encouraged at all. And hopefully no one would really want to.

I imagine the LGBT community would not be pleased at all. It would definitely have negative social effects for them I think.

I imagine that this would make those who discriminate the gay community today would discriminate them even more. Right now the best defense they got is that they were born that way and they can't control it. If it's actually in their control and they still don't do anything about it then they are wide open.
It might not matter though, I hardly think evidence or facts affect the anti-gay community one way or the other...

 

[Vault101]

If the drug was announced as being a "Cure for the gay", then yes, a lot of people would be pissed. It would be the same as offering a "Cure for the White" which sounds like medical genocide or a "Cure for the Gamer" which sounds like culture-o-cide. <- Needs revision.

That sounds like the deaf people that don't want children to have their hearing restored.

being deaf is a serious disabilty

Why? You are "born that way", just like you are born gay.

being gay? how is that any worse than say..being turned on by bondage or robots or feet? should we "cure" those people too because god forbid what people get up to in their bedrooms should be of great concerin to us "normal" people

So what's so wrong with being deaf? They have their own languages, cultures, what's intrinsically different about deaf and gay? Deaf people often argue that hearing people calling them disabled is offensive and its no more a medical condition/disability than being gay is.

theres nothing wrong with being deaf, but Im not comfortable with the Idea of parents making such a choice on their childs behalf...

Interesting. Did you know that the only even partial cure available to give hearing only works if the operation happens as a child? (Otherwise the brain has never wired for sound until it is too hard wired to accept the new input). So, either the parent decides, or the child stays deaf for life. Still feel the same way?

what I ment was Im not comforable with the Idea of a parent deciding NOT to give thier child a chance at hearing because of spme moral standing, its thier child not a representation of their belives

like somone already said being gay "shouldnt" affect your life aside from the child rearing thing (which wouldnt be such as in issue if peopel would let them adpot)

it wpuld just be easyer if we were all bi-sexual...where the pill for that?

It doesn't matter if it shouldn't, it DOES. And the fact that you think a child should get medical treatment to be "normal" when it comes to hearing but not "normal" when it comes to sexuality only peaks to you asking on YOUR own biases. Either both are ok to "fix" or neither are.

unless you make it a vital part of your identity and boradcast it to everyone then I dont see why it should, you can still do watever you capable of/set out to do...and if need be its sotmhing you can hide...to me its like aying being into bondage is going to hold you back in life..not if you let it

deafness means adapting to a world made for people who can hear, and sure some do it fine..but the fact is its there...it affects what you can do MORE than being gay

deafness and being gay are not the same thing

I'm still waiting for a reason that isn't your personal opinion.

being gay also means adapting to a world made for people who are straight.

reason for what?

I dont think comparing being gay and being deaf is fair....

Once again, your personal opinion. You may not feel like you want to compare them, but they potentially are the same thing. Either its ok to adjust people to be "normal" or you should accept people for how they were born, right?

of coarse somone who is born deaf if "accepted" as that being the way they are, but the way I see it is WHY deny that child the chance to be able to hear? hearing is a great thing, why deny that?

being deaf is a disability..a disabiliity alot of peopel mange and overcome yes

gayness is who you choose to fuck, its not a medical "condition" or a disability...its more line with somones soft drink preference or what colur they like

 

[Glass Joe]

reason for what?

I dont think comparing being gay and being deaf is fair....

As a heterosexual person, I believe that that comparison is not fair. My argument is that being deaf hinders your other non-hearing functions while being gay doesn't.

If you're gay then that's what you should be. It might be difficult at times, but we have to live up to our own standards. Better to live well while being a homosexual than to ruin who you are out of fear or perceived hopelessness.

 

[Twilight_guy]

Considering that it's a pill that can change your personality, it might either be treated like most anti-psychotics and praised or treated like mind controlling drugs and scorned. Who feels which way depends on their social context at the time. Personally I don't see being gay as a detrimental mental deficiency like say schizophrenia, which I feel should be medicated, so I think the drug would be altering someone's mind for your own ends (which admittedly lots of drugs do but with better reasoning).

 

[Glass Joe]

Well if they wanted to I could hardly deny them, so their choice. But I don't think it should be encouraged at all. And hopefully no one would really want to.

I imagine the LGBT community would not be pleased at all. It would definitely have negative social effects for them I think.

I imagine that this would make those who discriminate the gay community today would discriminate them even more. Right now the best defense they got is that they were born that way and they can't control it. If it's actually in their control and they still don't do anything about it then they are wide open.
It might not matter though, I hardly think evidence or facts affect the anti-gay community one way or the other...

That's what I meant by negative social effects. People might harp on the fact that they can change, which might convince some people discrimination is more okay against them.

The LBGT community doesn't defend themselves by saying they're born that way and can't change. They say we're here we're queer get used to it. As in, why should we change who we are?