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Is Homosexuality A Choice?

Is Homosexuality A Choice?

  • Yes

    Votes: 33 15.9%
  • No

    Votes: 136 65.7%
  • Maybe/Don't Know

    Votes: 38 18.4%

  • Total voters
    207

Luke Skywalker

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This isn't about whether one is for or against gay marriage.....

Simply vote and discuss whether you believe that homosexuals have a choice in the matter, or were simply born that way, with no choice whatsoever.

Please be courteous - thanks in advance.
 
There's no poll.

But no, homosexuality isn't a choice. Gays can't just flip over to the other side anymore than a straight person can make himself gay.
 
I can't find the link right now, but I have read how caregivers note that alzheimer patients might forget the names of their friends, loved ones, where they grew up, what work they did......but what they never seem to forget is who they are attracted to.
 
This isn't about whether one is for or against gay marriage.....

Simply vote and discuss whether you believe that homosexuals have a choice in the matter, or were simply born that way, with no choice whatsoever.

Please be courteous - thanks in advance.

There are no genetic markers for homosexuality. There has been considerable research with monozygotic (identical, same DNA) twin databases, and no correlation exists. Ergo, it may be a subliminal choice depending upon circumstances, or a blatant choice. The matter was considered a psychological abnormality at one time and I still think it is, although it goes against the "urban legend" of coordinated media sympathies. I am not a homophobe and don't care who's gay. I don't want gays " influencing " young minds because they will claim genetic without offering positive proof and will cause confusion in my child's developing thought processes. I'm for gay marriage contractually, just like any other legal contract.
 
This isn't about whether one is for or against gay marriage.....

Simply vote and discuss whether you believe that homosexuals have a choice in the matter, or were simply born that way, with no choice whatsoever.

Please be courteous - thanks in advance.

The core of homosexuality is not having sex. It is who are you attracted to. We rarely choice or biological reaction to another human being. Though I love the idea of us getting up on our 16th birthday and saying its time to make a choice. Go out and kick the tires so to speak on both. See which one fits you, as you can't make a real choice if you don't know both.


;)
 
I would think that any heterosexual who believes homosexualty is a choice test out their theory by choosing homosexuality for a little while to see how well that works out for them.

Should be an easy matter if there is anything to their opinion.
 
There are no genetic markers for homosexuality. There has been considerable research with monozygotic (identical, same DNA) twin databases, and no correlation exists. Ergo, it may be a subliminal choice depending upon circumstances, or a blatant choice. The matter was considered a psychological abnormality at one time and I still think it is, although it goes against the "urban legend" of coordinated media sympathies. I am not a homophobe and don't care who's gay. I don't want gays " influencing " young minds because they will claim genetic without offering positive proof and will cause confusion in my child's developing thought processes. I'm for gay marriage contractually, just like any other legal contract.

I think the latest research has found a connection in the some element (escapes me at the moment) between the markers.
 
I selected maybe.


I don't think it is always a clear cut you are born one way or another. I believe that factors other then genetics or brain function probably play a role for some. Environment, life experiences, or other factors may play a part for some.
 
I selected maybe.


I don't think it is always a clear cut you are born one way or another. I believe that factors other then genetics or brain function probably play a role for some. Environment, life experiences, or other factors may play a part for some.

"Maybe" is basically where I stand these days, as well. A lot of factors, imho, could possibly determine it.

I just don't know...
 
No, and I'm struggling to see the significance of the hypothetical discovery that it is a choice. Does the fact that we can bully others into repressing their actual desires alter how they should be treated or viewed from a social or legal viewpoint?
 
I didn't choose to be straight. What reason do I have to believe people choose to be gay?
 
Simply vote and discuss whether you believe that homosexuals have a choice in the matter, or were simply born that way, with no choice whatsoever.

I think in some cases, yes, and in many cases no. The most common type I see, in which I believe there is choice, is in women who have been in bad or dysfunctional relationships with men, then out of a need for intimacy in a relationship, turn to other women, rather than risking another mistake with a man. I tend to think this is the exception rather than the rule. With my niece, who is lesbian, there is absolutely no question in my mind that it was not a choice.
 
I don't believe it's a "choice" in the notion that one can go "I Choose to be homosexual" or "I choose to be straight". I do believe it can manifest itself in a person in ways other than pure genetics, ie that environmental factors can also help to usher in the feelings of attraction
 
I would think that any heterosexual who believes homosexualty is a choice test out their theory by choosing homosexuality for a little while to see how well that works out for them.

Should be an easy matter if there is anything to their opinion.

Go ahead. Go for it. You go right ahead and then let us know how that works out.
 
No, and I'm struggling to see the significance of the hypothetical discovery that it is a choice. Does the fact that we can bully others into repressing their actual desires alter how they should be treated or viewed from a social or legal viewpoint?

Let's hypothetically say that I'm gay :eek: and am struggling to accept myself.

I would answer your question by saying "No, absolutely not. Gays deserve equal treatment under the law and those whom try to bully them should be dealt with under the law." In fact - and this remains hypothetical - I may have a civil case against a few "old fashioned" shrinks I've seen, who have known about my homosexual tendencies and tried to "bury it" by converting me (or trying to, rather) to being straight.

Fact of the matter is, I just don't know if I am or not - and if I have a choice or not. Get me drift?
 
Yes it CAN be a choice, or it can be inherent, depending on the individual. Regardless of choice or not, it should be legal, their committed unions should be recognized as marriage, and they should not be unduly discriminated against. USA is afterall the land of freedom to choose, so long as no harm is done to others, or so it's billed to be. Today we are a step closer to not having to argue about choice or not, but to accept those that feel they have no choice and those that have chosen.
 
I voted no, as in homosexuality is not a choice, but is genetically driven. However, let me add an important qualification:

The history of the pre-Christian Greco-Roman cultures leaves no doubt that bisexuality was considered normal, at least among males. You can Google the sex lives of Solon, Alexander and Caesar on that note, and some authorities would add Socrates and Plato, among others. Even the Gods could be queer: see Zeus and Ganymede. Those historical facts establish that most men possess a significant genetically-driven potential for homosexuality.

That potential can be largely repressed, as it seems to have been among the ancient Jews, who scarcely allude to it in their scriptures. Perhaps the Jews' existence first as a tiny wandering minority and then as small-fry nations depended more than elsewhere on every man doing his exclusive utmost to contribute to high birth rates. In any case, homosexuality came to be considered taboo by all Abrahamic religions. That taboo persisted until the last few decades of the 20th century. It is now being shattered in Christian societies, while persisting nearly as strong as ever in Muslim societies.

Personally I wish the whole issue would just go away, but it has been on an upward curve for my whole adult life, and it does not look like that is going to change any time in the foreseeable future.
 
I didn't choose to be straight. What reason do I have to believe people choose to be gay?

Perhaps everyone hasn't had the life you have experienced. Now Im not trying to advocate one way or they other. I just like to keep an open mind and not paint anything in black and white.

An acquaintance of mine has struggled his entire life with his sexual identity. As a boy from a very early age he was molested by his father, a father that was physically and verbally abusive, a father that never showed any love, affection, or caring for him except when it was time to preform sexual favors. During these times his father showed attention, seemed to care, spoke positively, and was kind (Im sure to get what he wanted). He wanted his father to love and care about him just as any of us do. So he started to relate the molestations with love and almost looked forward to these moments as the rest of the time he was largely ignored or abused in other ways. Eventually these times of love (it seemed to him) began to arouse him possibly for abnormal mental reasons (desire for love and affection as he saw it) and he started to enjoy these molestations.

Once he got older and realized the full extent of what was being done to him he was appalled by it. As you can imagine he had many physiological issues as a result. However one link remained, he saw love as a sexual joining of males. He tried for years to have relationships with women but always felt they could not fill the void that was filled by the sex during his childhood. He eventually proclaimed his homosexuality.

Now does this mean he was not born gay? We have no way of knowing one way or the other but it seems plausible that the events if his life may have influenced his sexual outlook perhaps even to the point of complete reversal.
 
I would think that any heterosexual who believes homosexualty is a choice test out their theory by choosing homosexuality for a little while to see how well that works out for them.

Should be an easy matter if there is anything to their opinion.

Funny thing is that a lot of homosexuals have done just that, including a close relative. Seems to bear out that it is a choice.
 
I don't know if it is a choice or not. I do know it's not genetic according to scientific studies. So who knows where someone's taste in partners come from.

I can say from anecdotal evidence that I have seen people male and female flip flop between being bi, gay and hetero. I have also noticed it more with females by far than males. So I think it might have something to do with men and women dealing with bad or abusive relationships differently among other things. Women (it would seem) appear to be more likely to try alternative sexual partners openly than a male. Again this is anecdotal, so who knows for certain?

All I can say is equal protection under the law is too important. So I don't care if it's a choice or not.
 
This isn't about whether one is for or against gay marriage.....

Simply vote and discuss whether you believe that homosexuals have a choice in the matter, or were simply born that way, with no choice whatsoever.

Please be courteous - thanks in advance.



A singular cause for homosexuality has never been determined. Some researchers in the field believe that it may be a combination of factors, including pre-natal hormone issues, early environment/developmental, adolescent experiences... an inclination does not necessarily neutralize something as being a choice.
 
Perhaps everyone hasn't had the life you have experienced. Now Im not trying to advocate one way or they other. I just like to keep an open mind and not paint anything in black and white.

An acquaintance of mine has struggled his entire life with his sexual identity. As a boy from a very early age he was molested by his father, a father that was physically and verbally abusive, a father that never showed any love, affection, or caring for him except when it was time to preform sexual favors. During these times his father showed attention, seemed to care, spoke positively, and was kind (Im sure to get what he wanted). He wanted his father to love and care about him just as any of us do. So he started to relate the molestations with love and almost looked forward to these moments as the rest of the time he was largely ignored or abused in other ways. Eventually these times of love (it seemed to him) began to arouse him possibly for abnormal mental reasons (desire for love and affection as he saw it) and he started to enjoy these molestations.

Once he got older and realized the full extent of what was being done to him he was appalled by it. As you can imagine he had many physiological issues as a result. However one link remained, he saw love as a sexual joining of males. He tried for years to have relationships with women but always felt they could not fill the void that was filled by the sex during his childhood. He eventually proclaimed his homosexuality.

Now does this mean he was not born gay? We have no way of knowing one way or the other but it seems plausible that the events if his life may have influenced his sexual outlook perhaps even to the point of complete reversal.

I think for at least some homosexuals, it is a rejection of traditional roles and traditional lifestyles. I know for a fact that this was the impetus for a family member.
 
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