Is homosexuality inspired by the media or the general public's interpretation of being gay?

Question

I do not think that if you look at the same sex and see something appealing that you are automatically attracted to that person. Same as if you have a friend that you care for so much and love, it does not mean that you have to marry them.

I think that the media and the public's interpretation of being gay has gone waay out of bounds. Now, if a guy enjoys dancing or painting or singing in an accapella group he is labeled as 'gay'. So when these men hear of all this, they explore their curiosity and get their mind set that they are attracted to the same sex.

i just want to hear your theories on how homosexuality comes along. This is mainly directed at male homosexuality.

Answer 1

It really goes back to the basics....you are born either straight or gay...regardless of media hype, etc. We all know what we are attracted to at an early age. Experimentation does not count. Even experimenting, the participants know what they will like. There seems to be a big hoop te do about all this lately...I have no idea why...nothing has changed in reality, you just see more people stating what sexuality they are, no more, no less. Trust me, a straight guy cannot suddenly decide to become Gay, and vice versa. Good luck

Answer 2

um... no. being gay means being attracted to the same sex. there is no other interpretation to this. maybe some things that men do are considered as "feminine", which is a WHOLE DIFFERENT THING. also, no one who just does something for fun also decides to "explore the gay world" if any person on the street says that it's a gay activity.

the media cannot effect homosexuality. forget it. homosexuality is a preference. it's something you feel ON THE INSIDE. it's how you were born. it's who you are. the reason why people decided that there are "more" gay people now, is that people are less ashamed to come out about their true tendencies. many people feel they don't have to live in fear anymore.

and that's the bloody difference. if you have a friend you "really really care for", that does not equal gay marriage. that is absurd. however, if you have a friend you would like to have sex with or spend the rest of your life with, well, then, you're a fully-pledged homosexual.

homosexuality is NOT like loving your good friend of the same sex. it's like loving your husband, your wife, your boyfriend, girlfriend, **** buddy - whatever.

Answer 3

"this is mainly directed at male homosexuality" Of course it is. That's all anyone ever cares about because that's what freaks out the straights the most. ::sigh::

I think that you point out a very big problem in society, from the inverse perspective. Fact is, there are perfectly straight boys who love dancing, painting, singing, and acting. Some of them will have to face their own socialized homophobic views in order to do so. Some of them never will get involved in them, regardless of any passion or desire, simply for fear of being labelled. It's not these things that make people gay; it's society's fear of gay people that keeps many straight people out of these fields, thus increasing the proportion of gay men to straight men.

My theory as to "how homosexuality comes along" is that it may very well be different for different people. I'm sure in many there's biological factors, and I wouldn't be surprised to find cognitive and social factors involved as well. In a very few, I would accept an argument of "choice", but I really don't think that happens all too often.

Answer 4

HOmosexuality has always existed. It predates the media, and it does not depend on it. However, I can see that some people may be inclined to explore sexuality because of the picture portrayed by media. This does not necessarily mean that the people who experiment will become gay or will discover that they are gay. Maybe they'll fool around out of curiosity and find that it's not their preference.
As for the labels, those predate media too. Actually, if you think about it, there are activities that have always been considered femenine, which leads to stereotypification of the males who desire to pursue them. The media is simply picking up on something that society believes anyway, and exploiting it.

Answer 5

If you want a general public opinion, why would you ask in a gay place. You should be asking in a place where the users are a reasonable representation of the community over all. I believe that the majority of people do not support same sex marriage. I also believe that as in the past many social changes have happened without the majority support. Here are just a few. Years ago the public saw no problem with: Children as young a 4 working 12 hours shifts in underground mine. - black slaves. - women not having the right to vote. - the ban on mixed marriage. And the list goes on. Yet in other religions, they permit such things as more than one wife and abuse of the wife etc. What if these religions wanted to force their beliefs onto you? You see this is the problem with your bible quotes. None of us are attempting to tell you how to live, yet you show no respect for this. I can assure you that the gay community will not tolerate this imbalance for ever. In the near future when we in the gay community decide to stand up and do as you do, that is go to your youth and start preaching our beliefs. That is using lies and deception, do and say what ever it takes to get them to come across, just remember, you brought this on your self as you drove the gay community to a point where we had to take a stand against the endless attacks from religions.

Answer 6

The MAJOR flaw with your theory is that if people were influenced in the manner you suggest, there wouldn't have been any Gay Men simply because that before the late 70's early 80's there were very few if any depictions of gay men on TV or in the Media. Without them existing at all, there would be little to no emphasis to include them on TV or Media.

Gay men DO look at the same sex and see something appealing and are automatically attracted. Sorry to burst your bubble.

Answer 7

I disagree.
I believe the media has only opened the doors to more openness about being gay/lesbian/bi/trans.

There have always been GLBT's in the world, and I'm pretty sure its always been about the same percentage of the population. I believe that only in recent decades has the media helped those of us in hiding to feel more comfortable about coming out and not living a lie.
People don't just turn gay overnight. I really have a hard time believing anyone would ever CHOOSE to be something that would cause them public and familial ridicule, stigmatization and ostrisization, as well as physical endangerment even death...

Answer 8

I don't believe I agree 100%. However, there is some truth to this. In order to blame the media on the increase of homosexuality you'd have to explore other areas the media has glamorized and be able to force blame on this as well. The reason why I disagree is because as a lesbian I know for a fact that its the way I was created. No TV show or person manipulated my way of thinking and forced me to be attracted to another woman. Before TV for me, I was already aware of this. I think the increase you may see in people being homosexual or exploring their homosexual curiosity is because of the increasing acceptance in the media. Its uncommon for a lot of people to turn to a television channel and watch a show bashing homosexuals without the show being either insanely religious or just ridiculously ridiculous. Now when people are bashing gay people on television they're not exactly shown as being very bright, educated, or articulate. And there basis is usually the same "because its not normal" which now sounds a lot like the ignorant excuse our country used for suppressing a lot of the thing in the past that we now accept as "normal" (like interracial relationships or women voting).

So has the media made being a homosexual more acceptable? Of course! However is that making people become homosexual? I don't think so. It's just a lot easier to stand up and say your gay proudly or explore the possibility that you just might be because of feelings you have towards the same sex (and not because you want to dance on Broadway or you're a tomboy) without the fear of stones being thrown at you.

Answer 9

Are you actually saying that the media is making people gay? That men (because you said nothing about women in your post) are turning into homosexuals because the media shows homosexual men? You've got to be kidding me... homosexuality existed LONG before the advent of the media upon society. There are gay people in countries where they don't even watch television.

So, to answer your question... NO.

Answer 10

I've always thought the best way to answer questions like these is to ask the asker, "when did you choose to be straight"?

If you chose to be straight, say, on February 12, 1997 at 8:00am, then I'll tell you that I chose to be gay on the day of my birth.
Both are ridiculous, right?

You are a God-loving person. That means you have a brain.
Use it. Read up about the subject. The only answers you'll find to your question from the gay community is "we were born that way".

It's not because our parents were horrible or we were molested as children.
It's not because something on the outside happened to us.
It's inherent.....like your skin color.