I am sure that there is some evidence out there - like maybe a clinical research study published in a peer-reviewed jounal, something like that. The reason I am sure that this evidence exists is because of all the people who keep insisting that being gay is a choice and that's why it is a sin. However, so far the only argument I've heard is: "God created Adam & Eve, not Adam & Steve." Which is terribly clever, or was the first time I heard it; but it sort of lacks that certain quality associated with rigorous scientific inquiry.
So, does anyone know where I can find this evidence? Or, if there isn't any actual published data, is there at least some anecdotal evidence? Do you know someone who claims to be gay by choice? For that matter, do you know anyone who is gay?
If you have no evidence, no anecdotes, and don't even personally know anyone who is gay, then where the hell are you getting your information? Did God tell you personally?
2006-09-04 09:59:10 · 40 answers · asked by abram.kelly 4 in Society & Culture ➔ Cultures & Groups ➔ Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender
Joe P: It's too bad you got your information 3rd-hand. If you had read Spitzer's original paper, you would know that he spent a year and a half searching for people who had converted, and was able to find an entire 200 subjects. That is an incredibly small population, considering the number of homosexuals in the country. He was not inferring that anyone could change their sexual orientation, merely documenting the fact that it was technically possible. Incidentally, this study made him the darling of the Conservative Right, a position which he finds abhorrent.
2006-09-04 11:40:23 · update #1
Pegacita: I wish there was a nice way of saying this, but... well, you are an idiot.
2006-09-04 11:45:53 · update #2
I love all your questions. They're always very insightful and bring out the worst in the teeth bearing bible thumpers.
"No....logic...I'm not listening! Nuh-uh, that's not true! The bible is the truth! I'm not listening! Lalalallaala..."
2006-09-04 13:37:15 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 1⤋
I have to agree with the intelligent guys/gals on here who have stated that there is no evidence to prove homosexuality is a choice. I'm sure that there have been various studies and research in to this subject, but as of yet, there has been no evidence to prove this statement.
The statement about adam and eve, and not adam and steve that is often spouted by religious types is very unoriginal now. Firstly, they are quoting two mystical characters from a fairy tale book (bible). Secondly if it were true, then the human race is based on incest - I think you'll find that there would have been more genetic problems and therefore unlikely that more people were born.
I am personally gay and know others that are gay. It is not a choice, its just one of those things that we don't have control over. Just like you didn't chose to be straight.
Therefore, I believe there is no evidence to prove this. And a note to those religious types who claim that homosexuality is a sin, because it says so in the bible. Firstly, the bible is fiction and even if it wasn't, the King James version was edited by someone who dabbled in homosexual activites too, so stop preaching.
2006-09-04 14:27:01 · answer #2 · answered by GayAtheist 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Good luck.
From what I've seen here, the likelihood that you'll actually get an answer that isn't relgiously based, or ignorance based, is damned slim.
Several mamalian and avian species have been studied and found to have nearly the same intances of homosexuality as in the human population. The only difference is that we, as humans, have the ability to make informed choices and to communicate those ideas on a wide scale.
Yes, even to sasiate the religious crowd: God did create Adam and Eve. BUT since we are supposedly ALL GOD"S CHILDREN, then God would have ALSO created Steve, Martha, Rene, Chuck, Bob, Micky, Janet and everyone else. So that argument really negates itself when held under a microscope.
2006-09-04 10:50:52 · answer #3 · answered by DEATH 7 · 5⤊ 1⤋
It is not a choice. It's just to it take longer for some people to discover themselves. Think about our teen years when you didn't have your own personality and didn't know yourself. Many times you tried to be someone else that your were not. Now, its a matter of what you like and what makes you happy. You would not buy a BMW just because I like them right? Don't be confused with asking for an opinion. We only ask for opinions when we can not decide between two things that we like. To answer your question lets do the following: Tomorrow will go to the mall and hook with another guy. You must make it a choice tomorrow because theirs an answer that your are looking for. Let me know if you can make that decision tomorrow. Oh, the the day after tomorrow make sure be turn swoitch back into "straight mode". :-) had put some humor in there. I meant no offence.
2006-09-04 18:38:30 · answer #4 · answered by V 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I'm a 50 year-old gay man.
45 years ago I vividly remember not being able to get my mind off of my T-Ball coach.
Being the age of 5, I'm sure this was not a conscious decision on my part. It just was.
God made me this way.....it was not my choice.
I can't be any straighter than you can be gay.
God also made Adam and Steve.....and Gloria and Jean and Billy.
I have never met any gay person who said they actually chose to be homosexual.
I have met homosexuals who choose not to have sex or be in gay relationships because they are so afraid of the Christian thing. Very unhappy people......trust me.
I think the best advice is for you to answer this question:
When did you decide to be straight?
2006-09-04 15:01:26 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Okay , many people do not look further than the trees on any subject when it involves politics or religion. So here it is. Do straight people choose to be straight? Then how do homosexuals choose? A true homosexual (not "experimenting" or "wondering" or, "hey i will try anything once") has the sexual preference for the same gender and the opposite sex does not excite them sexually. Just like any type of sexual preference (being heterosexual for instance), it is genetic. Any sexual therapist will tell you this. Especially regarding pedophiles, or people that are into beastiality or any type of socially "deviant" sexual desires - they cannot change what turns them on. Fact.
As for the nature aspect. Many people firmly believe that nature tells us to only have sex with the opposite gender, because our main place here is to propogate and ensure our race will continue. Now, a theory i agree to......
Many different species can reproduce by themselves. Through evolution, and an amazing amount of time, the species have actually formed different sex organs in order to propgate without a partner, or spawn clones of itself. In order for this to work correctly a desire for the same sex must be present before the organs to reproduce are. For instance - you must get turned on before you can ejaculate.
It is very perplexing. Because some women have stated "well, i just hate men, is why i am gay". However if they actually enjoy the sex and are attracted to certain things about women, that is called a "sexual preference". The women may say this because they simply do not know what disgusts them about men, or maybe just one man has hurt them bad - who knows.... The mere fact they can enjoy a woman sexually is another aspect of sexual preference. Therefore they do not like men sexually, and are not turned on by men physically or emotionally. Sexual preference includes more than just outward appearances.
Now, they have broke the human genome.. perhaps in years to come they will let out more information on genetics and DNA composite... so maybe one day they can show the "straight gene" or the "homosexual gene". as for proof, well, there is no proof that someone is born straight either.
As for the religious implication that you stated about adam and steve slogan being clever. That is just another way for people to dislike each other. That actually reminds me of school a little - how kids pick on other kids for being different. And probably created by a person that can rhyme - yay. Point in fact is religious people believe god created everyone. I am sure they think of their god as a mighty god, not one that would make mistakes. So why do many religious people think homosexuality is a mistake or a bad thing? Because to me when there is a religious hate crime, or a religious rant about god, those religious people are stating that one of his creations is wrong. They are actually, in turn, making the statement that god did something wrong. That perplexes me more than "is it a choice" question lol.
2006-09-04 12:31:03 · answer #6 · answered by Vita 3 · 3⤊ 2⤋
same crap, different day. the "thumpers" just keep spewing out the same lame so-called reasons over and over.
No! It is NOT a choice! I do not know one single gay/lesbian that CHOSE to be gay. I mean, with so many ignorant, hateful bigots out there...some of whom wish to harm (and actually do sometimes) us, some of which want us to have no rights at all...do you think we'd choose? No! we were born the way we are, just like you! when did you CHOOSE to be STRAIGHT? you didn't, did you? of course not, fools...because you were born that way. some of us, due to the hatred that still exists in society, may suppress who we are, live in denial for years until we can't take lying any more and come out later in life.
people who claim to convert or claim to be able to convert us are nothing but liars and brainwashers. you can't change who you innately are.
I bet a lot of the "haters" have never even met one gay/lesbian in their whole life!
quit hiding your hatred behind a Bible...hate is neither a family nor a Christian value. you claim we're sinners, when most of you are worse sinners than you accuse us of being. you're hypocrites! hatred and intolerance IS a choice....IS a learned behavior. assuming the role of God and passing judgment on others is a sin!
and, of course, I don't say all heteros are like this...because the majority aren't. I have many straight friends, who are all very accepting and open-minded. the haters are in the minority. perhaps if they attempted to educate themselves, actually get to know some of us, open their minds, and realize how evil hate is...some may change. but, of course, I'm only being hopeful.
2006-09-04 14:38:47 · answer #7 · answered by redcatt63 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Dr. Robert Spitzer helped lead the campaign for removing homosexuality from the American Psychological Society's list of mental disorders. This made him a hero the homosexual community.
He also wrote, "Contrary to conventional wisdom, some highly motivated individuals, using a variety of change efforts, can make substantial change in multiple indicators of sexual orientation." Essentially Spitzer wrote that if you have feelings for the same sex, and you're highly motivated to change, you really do have a choice in who you are, who you become, and how you feel about yourself. His conclusions are based on interviews with two hundred men and women who shifted from homosexual to hetrosexual attraction and stayed straight for five years. Three-fourths of the men and half the women were married after giving up a life of homosexual relationships.
2006-09-04 10:59:08 · answer #8 · answered by Joe P 2 · 2⤊ 1⤋
well some animals and humans show signs of homosexuality. No one chooses to be gay.I know homosexuals.. even belong to plenty gay straight alliances..Even heterosexuals say it's not a choice.It's only those who do not accept homosexuals that say it's a choice. everyone says they didn't choose it.they say it's a combination of genetics and hormones or one of those two.They studied twins.. a little boy whose 9 shows signs of being gay since he was the age of 2.it isn't a choice.. I like females and males.. and I never chose to be this way.It's how they're made. Anyone who says it's a choice does not know a thing about homosexuals.Studies prove it's not a choice and not nurture.homosexuality isn't a sin because if it was ,there wouldnt' be homosexuals.
2006-09-04 12:56:06 · answer #9 · answered by no name 1 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Oh Lordy this argument is never going to be settled, so why bother? Even if you shove a peer reviewed journal under my nose telling me I had a choice I would beg to differ.
How do you know when you're cold? You just feel it, right? No one tells you if you are, and you don't have a choice. You just are.
Ask a gay person and they'll tell you there is no choice.
Ask a righteous religious type and they'll swear black and blue it's a choice.
And you know what - if they aren't gay, what do they know?
My "choice" would be to deny my true desires by pretending to be straight - I can guarantee more people would be hurt if I did that.
If people call me a sinner then I can live with that, it's none of their business how I live my life if I'm not hurting them.
But I couldn't live with myself if I tried to be something I'm not. You know why? Because frauds ALWAYS get found out.
So there!
2006-09-04 11:50:47 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 2⤋
well one day when I was about 11 or 12 I decided that I wanted to become someone other people despised, and that I would have to worship a god that thinks I'm an abomination, and that I really wanted to be discriminated against and belittled for who I am. I also chose to a good portion of my life in secret , have a nervous breakdown when I was younger...even tried to commit sucide...It's not easy being gay.....But anyway that's when I decided that I wanted to give it a try and I've never been able to turn it off..I didn't even have to be recruited by someone older..I learned it all on my own. That's why I made my choice to be gay...it was such an easy thing to do. Seriously..you even think choice is a option?
2006-09-04 11:04:44 · answer #11 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 2⤋