Do you believe gay people are self-proclaimed, made or born?

Question

I told my mum I'd ask this here.

Answer 1

most are born that way, some go through experiences that make them somewhat afraid of dislike the opposite sex, so it really depends on the person. I ask why anyone would choose to have a lifestyle or preference that often gets them persecuted? I don't think it is a choice 99% of the time!

Answer 2

Born. The evidence becomes more overwhelming every year.

Two things in particular I'm going to point to. A number of major studies have been done of animals. All the species studied had homosexual behavior -- and all the species that had pair bonds at all had homosexual pair bonding TO THE EXCLUSION OF MATING WITH THE OPPOSITE SEX IN HEAT. Explain how that is even possible as a choice for animals? (the best book in this particular field is probably Dr. Bruce Bagemihl's book "Biological Exuberance" from St. Martin's Press -- from its bibliography you can find many others, and you can easily find other studies that look at the same phenomena.)

2nd -- the Fruit-fly study. The results for fruit-flies can't be denied (link among those given below). People are trying to say that just because it applies to fruit-flies it doesn't have to to people. Alright, while I accept that the genetic mechanism is much more complex among humans -- why on earth would something like homosexuality be completely genetic in simple species and not genetic at all in the most complex species? It makes no sense, particularly given that no gay person I know EVER remembers being attracted to a female. Bisexuals are attracted to both. Gays are only attracted to same sex. So -- how is that a choice? Isn't it just the opposite of what straight people feel? An inborn automatic response. Period.

Standing against science, common sense, and logic -- you have a bronze age book that people keep telling each other is divine, but which says the earth has corners (Isaiah 11:12), sits on pillars (I Samuel 2:8), and is on top of the water (Psalms 24:1-2). The book says beetles have 4 legs not 6 (Leviticus 11: 21-23) and states that rabbits chew cuds (which they do NOT) (Deuteronomy 14:7). Given that choice, despite the emotional benefits that I'm sure some people gain from believing that the bronze age book is correct on this, just like it is on the corners -- I'll go with the logic, science and common sense.

Regards,

Reynolds Jones
Schenectady, NY-- USA
http://www.rebuff.org

Answer 3

Self-proclaimed

Answer 4

I think it depends on the person.

Speaking personally, it is not based on birth or genes. I was completely straight until high school. Then I became attracted to both male and female. Some people would say that is when I came out of denial and admitted it, but that is not true because I wasn't attracted to females before. I think they can also be "made", because this was around the time I had a bi friend and her interests affected mine as well.


And I very very much disagree with those who say people who were raped turn out gay. I think that it would make sense if one would want to avoid the sex of the person who raped/abused them. But being gay is not wrong as rape is, so they have no correlation.

Answer 5

I would ask the same question in reverse. Are straight people self proclaimed, made or born? That answers it for me.

Answer 6

Like any other personality trait, it's a combination of both. Most homosexuals I've known have been abused (physically, mentally or sexually) by their parent of the opposite sex (girls by their dads and boys by their moms). People faced with that treatment react in different ways based on the personality defined by their genetics AND early (infant/toddler) experiences. Some become abusers themselves (following examples), or are abused by partners, some become overly permissive parents (the opposite of what they knew), some choose to remain alone (due to fear of ending up in the same situation again), or look for affection anywhere they can find it (promiscuity), and some become homosexual to avoid facing that situation again. None of these reactions are concious decisions. No one says "I think I'll be gay so I can get my butt-kicked walking downt the street."

Answer 7

Gay people are born that way. They can choose to proclaim it, they can choose to be in the closet, or they can choose to go against their own sexual attraction and attempt to lead a straight life (which often is unsuccessful). Many scientific studies have confirmed that homosexuality is biologic in nature and not a choice.

Answer 8

This question has been asked so many times, that it is getting boring. Try reading some of the old questions.

The scientific community thinks that gay people are born gay.
The gay community and its supporters think that gay people are born gay.

The religious bible thumpers say that we choose this way of life- that we are sinners.

Please contact pflag.org-- it's a national group that promotes education, advocacy, and support for all lebian, gay, bisexual, transgendered people and their families and friends. You will get wonderful information from them.

To rainchaser, you are definitely exaggerating. Most of the glbt people I've met (I'm 57) have not been sexually abused.

Answer 9

It depends. Some are self-proclamed, some are born like that, and some are told it's right/made like that. So, it's all 3, in my opinon. But that's biased. Someone else may think the exact opposite of me, or maybe even the exact same.

Etcetera etcetera etcetera, long story short, blah blah blah, it's usually, however, Self-Proclaimed.

Answer 10

we are all predisposed to be gay/lesbian/bi or straight. none of the reasons that bigots "claim" cause people to "turn" gay are true. you can't change your sexuality anymore than you can change your race. I have never been attracted to men, only women. I don't hate men at all, I have lots of male friends. I was not raped/molested or abused. I was born to straight parents who were married 29 years until my father passed away. I didn't know or meet anyone gay until long after I realized I was. no one "chooses" to be gay! considering how rampant bigotry still is in this world, why would anyone choose to be someone that so many people still hate?