Gay: choice or not? - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

mwood · #1 09-07-2008, 06:29 PM

I was following a thread on another forum about whether being gay is a choice or a person is born gay. I was surprised by how many people think it is a choice. I'm a straight male and can't imagine that any straight person could choose to become gay. Even in a situation like being in prison where there are no members of the opposite sex I don't think straight men are changing to homosexuality. They may be having gay sex, but I don't think they continue when released. What are the thoughts of the members here?

kerry · #2 09-07-2008, 06:51 PM

Since there are non-human species that have straight and gay individuals, and it seems highly unlikely something like a dog makes a choice to be gay, I don't think the majority of human homosexuals make a choice to be gay.
Of course this raises the broader question of whether humans make free choices at all.
What's odd about the debate as far as the religious right goes, is that most of them think that gays choose to be gay. Yet the predominant strand of Christian thought holds that all humans are born sinful and can make no free choice to be good. So I don't see why most Baptists, Presbyterians, Episcopalians, Catholics etc focus on the choice to be gay since nobody has a choice not to be sinful.

djugurba · #3 09-07-2008, 06:54 PM

I think that it shouldn't matter. The idea that it's NOT a choice is often used as an apology for what is deemed deviant behavior. There has been some interesting research lately regarding differences in brain structures in persons of various sexualities.

However, even if it is eventually decided to be merely a choice, it won't matter to me one drip. Consenting adults can have relationships with/sex with each other in whatever combinations they desire. There is no slippery slope to relationships/sex with children or animals as contended by some whack jobs.

It seems to me that sexuality is more of a spectrum than an either/or. There are many instances in history during which men especially have found sexual pleasure in each others arms while outwardly hetero. It's not uncommon today on the "down low." Sparta is another example, though it as somewhat ignored in the 300 movie...

BrierS · #4 09-07-2008, 08:37 PM

Both close friends and family members that are gay and they say it is not by choice. I have to take their word for it.

RichC · #5 09-07-2008, 08:41 PM

.

I think sexuality is a continuum.

Everybody fits on the scale between 1 to 10 somewhere.

Everyone that I know figured out their sexuality around puberty.

RichC

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kerry · #6 09-07-2008, 08:57 PM

I think in some ways, it's more interesting to ask whether sexuality could become a choice.
Religion is an interesting example. Most members of our species had no choice in their religion but nowadays it's pretty common for us to think that religion is a choice. Sexuality seems to be more physiologically deep than religion but if society began encouraging children at puberty to experiment with different kinds of sexuality, it might become more of a choice.

Ara T. · #7 09-07-2008, 09:01 PM

There have been some experiments done on that kerry. There was a kid who was born with "ambiguous genitalia" and the doctors took the easy way out obviously and snipped the penis, making the choice for the family that this was now a girl. SO they bought the kid barbies and dresses and such but by puberty he was starting to dress like a boy because he didn't feel right as a girl.

I can't remember the doctor's name but it was in Australia and I watched the documentary on it in a sociology class. It was interesting.

mwood · #8 09-07-2008, 09:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ara T.

There have been some experiments done on that kerry. There was a kid who was born with "ambiguous genitalia" and the doctors took the easy way out obviously and snipped the penis, making the choice for the family that this was now a girl. SO they bought the kid barbies and dresses and such but by puberty he was starting to dress like a boy because he didn't feel right as a girl.

I can't remember the doctor's name but it was in Australia and I watched the documentary on it in a sociology class. It was interesting.

But did he like boys or girls? That case is sexual identity, not sexual perference.

kerry · #9 09-07-2008, 09:09 PM

Yes, some of those changes have turned out tragically. But those kids had no conscious choice in that process. Is homosexuality different than gender switching when it comes to the extent to which desire can be redirected?

vwbuge · #10 09-07-2008, 09:18 PM

I kind of think it is the 'nature, nurture' thing. I think part of it is being born that way but a majority of it is upbringing.

A good friend of mine who I work with and hang out with is gay. Everyone knows it and everyone accepts it. Him and his boyfriend are actually pretty righteous dudes. They are not "flamers". We often have the discussion about "flamers" and they both claim to hate them. If you met them on the street you wouldn't guess they are gay.

It is kind of fun throwing out gay jokes with two gay people. They are cool in my book and don't bother me a bit.

I have pretty freaky sexual fetishes (non-gay) so I can't hold the next guys fetishes against him.

To each his own.

vwbuge · #11 09-07-2008, 09:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mwood

But did he like boys or girls? That case is sexual identity, not sexual perference.

I think you may have it wrong. I just watched that not too long ago. The boy had a botched circumcision when he was a baby. The result was an "amputated" penis from the infection. They were put in contact with a pysch doctor to help the boy deal with it. It was the doctors idea to start to dress him like a girl. The doctor shortly thereafter published a paper claiming the "experiment" was a success. The dude couldn't handle it and knew inside he wasn't a girl. He now lives as a boy deals with it.

I remember the guy because he had awful teeth. He was from England I believe. (no joke intended) The doctor has since died.

Emmerich · #12 09-07-2008, 09:34 PM

So are pedophiles born that way or choose? Almost all pedophiles are gay. What about sheep sodomizers? Choice or by birth?

AdvisorGuy · #13 09-07-2008, 09:42 PM

Being gay is neither a choice or a "lifestyle". As a heterosexual, ask yourself this question: Did I choose attraction to the opposite sex or did it just happen ?"

Boating is a lifestyle. Camping is a lifestyle.

Rock Chalk · #14 09-07-2008, 09:42 PM

I am a behavioral psychologist, and I can tell you for an absolute fact that homosexuality is a choice! The idea that it is somehow inherited is a cop out for those that do not want to admit that their behavior is aberrant.

Stoney · #15 09-07-2008, 09:44 PM

If you look at the human race as a pie chart, the percentage of schitzoids, homosexuals, manic depressives, etc is constant.
This would indicate that it is a genetic derevation.
of all the gay and lesbian people I have known, none have chosen to be what they were. Most realized they were gay or had homosexual tendencies at puberty. Some buried it and tried to live the "normal" life and later went with their genetic drive.

Quote:

Originally Posted by mwood

I was following a thread on another forum about whether being gay is a choice or a person is born gay. I was surprised by how many people think it is a choice. I'm a straight male and can't imagine that any straight person could choose to become gay. Even in a situation like being in prison where there are no members of the opposite sex I don't think straight men are changing to homosexuality. They may be having gay sex, but I don't think they continue when released. What are the thoughts of the members here?