A new study has identified a small but significant biological factor that influences the sexual identity of males. The study proves that “having one or more older brothers boosts the likelihood of a boy growing up to be gay — an effect due not to social factors, but biological events that occur in their mother’s womb…”
While the study does not provide the ultimate proof that sexual orientation is innate, it does offer definitive evidence that biological forces have a role.
This is significant because, according to a 2003 Pew poll, 42 percent of Americans believe that homosexuality is a lifestyle choice — and it is among this group that we find the conservatives’ consensus of opposition for equal treatment under the law for gay people.
What fascinates me about rightwingers’ belief that sexual orientation is a choice is that, while they project this decision making onto those of us who grew up to be gay, they are apparently blind to the converse decision-making that it implies about themselves.
If homosexuals “decide” to be gay, then the corollary must be true: Heterosexuality must be a lifestyle choice, too.
What this means is that, at some point in their lives, these conservatives seriously considered becoming gay but then decided to pass.
This decision must have been wrenching. And over time, their suppressed desires turned into self-loathing — a disgust which they came to project onto others who, they believe, did not have the fortitude to conquer their attraction for members of their own gender.
This internalized homophobia is like bulimia of the spirit. Its victims starve their psyches by regurgitating their self-loathing.
Truly straight people do not — cannot — make a choice about their sexual orientation, just as gay people don’t, and can’t, choose. People who are comfortable in their own sexual personae are not threatened by the way the sexuality of others is expressed.
I suggest reading the book, “Sex on the Brain.” It explains the many events that happen to a fetus in the womb. The fetus is constantly being washed with hormones. It is an interesting read.
Although your conclusion is valid, your argument is not. The notion that homosexuality is a choice would certainly have the corollary that heterosexuality is a choice, but it would NOT lead to the conclusion that “these conservatives seriously considered becoming gay.” You have a choice of ice cream flavors too, but if you pick chocolate, that doesn’t mean that you seriously considered butter pecan. (Or whatever flavors you think are the best metaphors for sexual orientation!)
Ann,
First, how can a conclusion be valid but the underlying argument not be? I don’t think that’s technically possible.
The underlying truth here is that no one “chooses” their sexuality. While bisexuals do not choose to be bisexuals, they can choose to have partners of either sex.
Conservatives who believe that gay people chose their sexual identity are almost undoubtedly bisexuals who chose to suppress their natural same-sex desires at an early age.
Why else would they — could they — project such decision making on gay people, who, I repeat did not, cannot, choose their sexuality?
How is a lesbian determined then?
A first born female is gay.
That’s strange. I’m the oldest brother in my family and I’m bisexual. Does this mean my younger brother will be either gay or bisexual?
What are you basing your opinion on that homosexuals are born gay? That they felt that way their whole lives? Because of the supposed “gay gene” that Simon LeVay discovered by his flawed methodical studies, the studies which were never replicated? Or are you basing your opinion on people’s feelings, because gays have said that they felt gay their whole lives? I would kindly refer you to http”//www.cwfa.org/images/content/bornorbred.pdf. for the scientific claims. If your answer is for the “feelings” claims, then I would have to point out that pedophiles say they feel naturally attracted to young children-but does it make it right? Were they born a pedophile? Are they able to change their behavior? To answer your question-sure, ALL of sexual behavior is a choice-even for heterosexuals! It is something you DO. Your real question should be-is homosexuality or molestation are moral.
So you chose to be straight, Graceus? Tell us how you came to the decision not to be gay — and don’t scrimp on the details. And if you didn’t — couldn’t — choose to be anything but straight, why on earth do you think gay people could choose to be anything other than who they were born to be?
Another question: Why would anyone choose to be part of a minority so despised that the majority refuses its call for equal rights, and that in many parts of the world can mean a death sentence?
You may feel that people can choose their sexualities, but long standing research shows that sexual identity is arrayed on spectrum. Some people are completely straight, while others are 100 percent gay. In the middle, there are people who have varying degrees of same-sex attraction, of bisexuality. But no one can “choose” where they are on the spectrum — whether to be straight, gay or bisexual — anymore than right-handed people choose to be right-handed, left-handers choose to be southpaws or the ambidextrous choose to be able to write with either hand.
But mainly, you flushed away your credibility here by posting a link to a hate-filled screed by Robert Knight, an infamous bigot, and called it “scientific.” If you are straight but you’re as obsessed with homosexuality as Knight and his ilk are maybe it’s time for a little self-analysis and reflection.
Finally, since arguably 90 percent of pedophiles are straight, we’ll bow to your expertise as a straight person on what makes them tick.
I agree it is a choice and biology too. It’s like eating food. Is eating biological? Well, when your mouth gets wet from the sight and smell of food – it is so strong you just can’t stop salivating….it is literally “turned on” to food. Yet, you can choose to act on it or not. Indeed, then you see people who have diverse food “orientations”: vegans, raw-foodists, vegetarians, etc… some of them choose to completely avoid food in the name of anorexia – and it is all chosen by them….But the choice to not eat meat and eventually to stop salivating at the sight of meet is considered NORMAL “orientation” while “anorexia” is considered NOT NORMAL due to its fatal consequences and therefore is considered mental disorder. I eat all food when I’m hungry, but I can choose to stop eating meat and force myself to be a vegetarian and eventually condition my brain to not get “turned on” at the sight of meet. I’ll become a vegetarian, but no one will consider me mentally sick. But if I’m anorexic – I would need therapy, without which I can die. Again, it is a question of morality – I agree. When it is a question of health:life-and-death question – this becomes an issue of “crime” or “mental disease”. Talking about sexual arousal, if it is healthy and between consenting adults – it should be totally morally right. Being a homosexual , by choice, is the same as heterosexual by choice – under consent should be ok. Why would anyone ever think of it as immoral???? Who will end up fatally sick or die as a consequence?? I don’t get it? I’m straight, I am attracted to opposite sex? What is morally good about that???? It is simply NICE WAY TO SHOW LOVE to me… – as long as I don’t force it on anyone. Forcing sex
on anyone would be considered sexual harassment. And “forcing” (or pressuring) someone to be attracted to someone they are not attracted to really is what should be immoral – it is like sexual harassment….harassing someone about their private lives and telling them who to like…..How can sexual play and intimacy under mutual consent between adults be immoral???? Sexual play under social pressure should be immoral – not under mutual consent!!! Society pressure you to be with someone you don’t want to be – that is immoral! I just don’t get it…. Some people talk about procreation as the reason why -I still don’t get it….what sexual intimacy have to do with procreation? I have never seen homosexuals forbidding anyone to procreate nor teaching anyone about NOT PROCREATING any way….! Hey, I masturbate with a pillow sometimes, and guess what? A pillow cannot procreate with me – does that make me evil? Even two people of opposite sex who use birth control can’t procreate – does it make them evil? Seriously, we are not talking about procreation here AT ALL and it is a wrong argument – a diversion from the topic of personal choice when it comes to private life of any individual……Pedophilia is not under consent because it includes a child who cannot carry a full responsibility for his or her own decisions, and it is in our society immoral. I could never understand why people even think about who does what sexually in their private lives……why on earth would it be their business to think about it???
Homosexuality is moral. Molestation is immoral. Heterosexuality is moral. Forced homosexuality is immoral (THOUGH I never heard of a movement to forcibly convert or to compel heterosexuals into becoming homosexuals though). Similarly, forced heterosexuality is immoral.