Why do anti-gay people insist it's a choice?

Question

There's more evidence against it being a choice than there is for it. There are common genetic markers, showing evidence (albeit inconclusive) in favour of a genetic cause, and all correlations between upbringing and sexuality have been disproven.

Yet most people who oppose homosexuality (and transgenders as well, like we're the same thing) insist that it's something we choose. Why is that?

For the record, I'm actually interested in hearing from the anti-gay people on this... but with something more than just "because it is."

Someone brought up genetics and reproduction...
But not all genes express themselves completely when they show up. Some require a matching set, others require complementary genes to express a certain characteristic. And quite often, homosexual people suppress themselves for varying lengths of time and pretend to be straight in order to avoid social ostracization, even marrying and having children. Any of these factors would allow a 'gay gene' or set of genes to pass along through reproduction.

Answer 1

I oppose it and always will. If it isnt a choice and it isnt something that God condones, then how can you be born that way? If you believe in God how can you say you were just born gay? I dont get it and I oppose rights for gay marriage and any other rights as a couple. Its not my choice to be against it, I was just born that way.

Answer 2

Most anti gay stands are on "religious" grounds and relate to a time when the tribe needed children to survive. The nomadic tribes had many losses to animals, disease, droughts, war, etc...and needed to always refill the numbers. So breeders were very important.

That is not the case today as the population of the planet threatens to bury us. We will see Nature solve the problems of "over-population" in many ways. Social strife, diseases, and many breeding "stoppers", because of our use of chemicals, that cause the DNA to mutate and cause all kinds of breeding irregularities. Homosexuality is but one way of limiting population.

Many do not and/or can not reproduce so get into adoption and assisting the planet by doing societal work in the worse areas of the world where the population is suffering the most.

Because "homosexuality", as a life-style has been seen historically as a sin, it has to be through a "choice" because a "sin" is only possible if there is "consciousness" of sinning. An animal cannot sin, nor can a "mentally challenged" person. If it is only tried once, it is a "mistake" or a "venial sin".

Now we all see that their interpretation is "regressive" and they (the relgious anti-gays) should "praise their GOD, (what I call the ONE), for the Gays and Lesbians, but their HOLY BOOKS call it a sin and it gives them an "ENEMY" which the leaders need to keep the "flock" tied to and dependent on the "shepherd". If there are no LIONS in the wilderness, the SHEEP will all scatter. The Gays make the perfect "sinner" and thus become the perfect "Enemy" as they are not "like us", who are the norm.

So they take the word norm and rather that saying that homosexuality is "ab-normal" as in "not the norm", they change it to "un-natural" as if Nature or God (what I call the ONE) does not create HOMOSEXUALITY even though 450 species of animals practice it and even historically, many elevated societies such as the ancient Greek wrote about it in existing in many sectors of their society such as the military, navy, religion, politics, and among the philosophers, and the elite etc...

It is a very "un-enlightened" view that will fall with the advent of the "INTERNET" and the cross fertilization of ideas and philosophies.

You are just the Pioneers ...things will change soon....The Galactic GODS are coming into view with their higher energy frequencies and logic, and the Solar System minor gods of jealousy, bigotry, anger, war, strife etc...are heading for the hills. These are their "death throes"....these are very interesting times...Enjoy them and record them with your words and your actions. You will be proud of yourself...

Cyril Borg, the Cyborg

Answer 3

They hate what they don't understand. They could have repressed feelings that they are too scared to come to terms with as well.

Here's a story...

Growing up I had 2 friends. Lets call them Brad and Jeff. Brad always had gay tendancies, and him and Jeff always hung out. Jeff was VERY religous, and had an actual "To Do" list that said "Bring Brad back from the verge of homosexuality". Well Brad and Jeff lived together for a while, and years later (after Brad came out of the closet), I learned from Brad that all the while they had been having a secret affair. Jeff still remained very religous, and extremely against homosexuality. He went on to go to school to become a Pastor, and married a woman.

Jeff was extremely homophobic, but all the while was repressing his feelings. It's sad really, because I can see how those ministers become child molesters.

Answer 4

1) Because many of them feel they are 100% heterosexual and cannot imagine feeling an attraction towards their own sex. Same goes for transgenderism/transsexualism- they feel 100% completely in their own gender and cannot imagine feeling the dissonance that TG/TS feel. It comes down to a lack of empathy and imagination- if you do not experience it, it must not be possible except as something someone chooses to feel and act on.

2) They are not 100% straight or secure in their gender identity and, frightened of the implications (religious, societal, whatever), lash out insisting that it is a choice, which gives them the ability to not choose what they don't want to become (while simultaneously bashing that, often).

3) The religious implications boggle their brains. If the Bible (God) condemns homosexuality, then why or how would He create individuals who were genetically homosexual? It is a paradox, hence, in order to maintain consistency, the Bible is chosen as being right and hence homosexuality is seen as a choice one can make- a sin that can be rejected.

4) It makes hatred impossible. Today, the only way one can be a "true" racist is by equating color of one's skin to universal traits. We see that as unfair because one wasn't able to help being born that way, so why are they deserving of the hatred? Same argument for/against homosexuality. As long as it's a choice, we can condemn those who choose it.

5) It's just a myth that keeps on getting perpetuated, so we continue to believe it. Also, when gays do insist they are "born that way", it often sounds like an attempt to stop hatred, rather than true feelings, despite it actual being their sincere belief. It's the sort of say whatever you will to 'get them off our backs' sort of thing. It doesn't help that the science is, as you said, inconclusive.

6) Homosexuality often isn't seen as a sexual orientation, but merely an act, generally one of perversion. Hence people are not sexually attracted to their same gender, but they do decide to do nasty things with them- the choice aspect comes into play.

7) The ever-changing relationships of a gay or bisexual individual (often coming about because of societal pressures) make it seem like they just 'choose' to be with whomever they want, eventually deciding they want the same sex. Examples of this are married men who come out of the closet, gays who have had opposite-sex relationships in the past, etc.. Though many people understand the truth that the relationships were not fully fulfilling, a lot of people think they have just eschewed straight life for some gay fun.

8) For TG/TS, a lot of the circumstances make it seem like it is a choice in living one's life easier. This has been accused by the gay community as well- that lesbians cannot handle their homosexuality (internalized homophobia) and hence transition to men in order to be straight (vice-versa for straight MtF's). Or even just to get the 'privileges of male life'. Of course this does not make sense, but people still believe it.

There are many other reasons, but this is the core of it, I think.

By the way, I don't believe homosexuality (or any sexuality) is genetic, but I am not anti-gay (I'm pro-everyone!), and I don't think you can choose what you like.

Answer 5

I'll say this to all the peeps that say it isn't a choice. they said the same thing about alcoholics that it's passed down. well my grandfather is an alcoholic and i don't even drink nor does my father that much for that matter... and also if it wasn't a choice there would be no bisexual people out their.

but for the people that are born with both sexes I'll give u that. they could be born like that but those people only make up 1% of the community. so to say all gays are born like that is wrong, u have to remember the people that are doing these studies are the scientist that were saying that cows produce more milk while listening to Elvis

Answer 6

Why do you insist on stealing the word 'gay'? it originally meant to be happy and care free. Once again I must say this. If there are genetic markers, then how do homosexuals reproduce? Trans genders eventually make a CHOICE in changing their little winkers into vagina's or their vagina's into little winkers. Why do homosexuals always say that even Heterosexuals have homosexual fantasies sometimes, but will not admit their hetero phobia, and admit that they have hetero fantasies? Why do they say 'how do you know if you don't try it? Why do young lesbians threaten to kill themselves when a strait breeder rejects them? If it is so natural, then why is the suicide rate higher in homosexuals than straight breeders, even when they live in an environment of accepting straight breeders or in communities that are predominantly homosexual? Why do homosexual men die younger than breeder men, even if they are non tobacco users that do not drink and have no std's? Why is there a rise in HPV among lesbians, and it is rising higher than the breeder women's rate? And, last of all, why are there so many homosexuals that are registering Republican? Man, that is truly unnatural.

Answer 7

We all like to think that anyone who is "different" is like that solely out of choice. What gay-bashers and anti-gay sorts can't (or won't) understand is that who you are does not necessarily predict what you do. However, anti-gay sorts, upset that gays aren't "like everyone else" feel the need to villify out of immense fear.
It's a long and complex issue but, for anyone who dislikes homosexuals and homosexuality, consider this:
If being different from you is a choice, then what about people whose skin colour is different or whose height is different? Are they like that "by choice"? Then, go and hit your head against the wall several times until some kindness and sensitivity enters your big fat skull!

Answer 8

because that is what they were taught by their narrowminded parents when they were growing up- my daughters friend that lives down the street is the same way- she thinks being gay is evil and a choice that was made- she is getting better about having biggoted ideas though since she is over a lot and she knows I will not tolerate bigotry and she has more enlightening discussions here where the focus is not on what is spotlighted in religion and small minded beliefs


straight but not narrow- good question

Answer 9

Good question. I am a straight male who, after puberty, looked at a girl and was attracted to her. I don't remember making a choice about boys or girls, I just knew I wanted that hot girl over there. I think it's the same for gay people. It's not like you wake up and choose to be gay, it doesn't happen overnight. My girlfriend's little brother, came out of the closet recently, and he thought it would be a big shock to everyone, but we all knew. I knew him since he was eight years old, and he would run around singing Mariah Carey, Maddonna, and Cher even at that age, and he loved musicals and hated sports. I knew that kid would grow up to be gay...I am working off stereotypes but when he came out of the closet at the age of 19, no one was really suprised.

Answer 10

I think it's because many of them are coming from a conservative religious viewpoint. If they were to acknowledge the reality, they would have to believe that God created homosexuals they way they are. Then the Bible shouldn't be preaching hatred against them, because God created them the way they are, so must love them.
So they'd have to believe that either God created something flawed, or that the Bible isn't the all-encompassing truth. Too much for most of them, I'm afraid.

Answer 11

For some people, "issues" like this stem from people having pre-conceived ideas that stem from deep-rooted beliefs (usually conservative/fundamentalist religious beliefs), where there is a perceived need for explanations to be given that will allow reality to be fit into the belief system.

Or to put it more simply, some people believe that it has to be a choice because they think its wrong (and therefore think that people ought to have a way to choose "right").

And on a more personal note, it is truly unfortunate that some peopple feel the need to do this.