Why should it matter whether or not gay people are 'born that way'?

Question

Whenever the issue of homosexuality and homophobia comes up, one point keeps being raised: gay people are born that way and can't help the way they are. But why should that matter? If I decided to be gay or bisexual and have sex with men, would people be more justified in hurling abuse or discriminating? Would that be somehow less acceptable than being born gay, or being made gay by some mixture of cultural influences?

Answer 1

I'm gay, but it doesn't really matter to me whether or not I was "born with it." The fact is, that I'm gay, and I've always been gay and I don't ever plan on changing that. Although it may matter to others understandably, it really doesn't matter to me whether I was born gay, or whether it was a mixture of hormones and social conditioning.

Answer 2

The "born that way" argument is very dangerous and it always amazes me that so may gay people take that position.

In Nazi Germany, the government felt the male homosexuals were "born that way" and used that as an argument to put them in concentration camps.

At the SS Medical Research Station at KZ Lager Auchwitz, Dr Josef Mengele came up with a "cure" for homosexuality - he would cut the penises and testicles off of gay men, and surgically transform them into women.

Since the Nazis felt that gay men were born gay, the only way to deal with them was to surgically transform them into women, so they could be in heterosexual relationships with men.

After the war, Swedish doctors used Dr Mengele's techniques to perform the first voluntary sex reassignment surgery in world history (since there were many nazi exiles in Sweeden at the time, it's not suprising that they would use a surgical procedure developed by the SS at Auchwitz)

The point of the story is, if we feel that homosexuality is biological, then some sick bastards out there will try and find a medical "cure".

But, if we view homosexualiy as a personal lifestyle choice, as valid as heterosexuality, and if we further believe that society has no right to judge consensual adult human sexuality, we're on much stronger ideological ground.

Humans should be free to choose our sex partners and, since human sexuality is fluid and is far more complex than narrow political catagories like 'gay', 'lesbian', 'bisexual' or 'straight' that means we should have the right to choose sexual partners of either gender.

That's the reason we should support gay rights - not because of some bogus crypto-nazi sociobiological argument about gays allegedly being "born gay".

Answer 3

It shouldn't matter really, but if asked that you are gay, and you say yes, the follow up question is "When did you know?" and many say they were born that way, but then others say they recently found out, or knew when they were young. I mean, I won't discriminate it at all, and I'm ok with homosexuality. Many who are gay argue that it's the same as you being born the ethnicity you are, when it's actually not. I would think being gay or straight is a preference, because anyone can sleep with a man or woman gay or not, but you can't choose your ethnic background.
I have gay friends and love them dearly.
Nice pics Baby Boy!


Krazy Libra

Answer 4

There isn't a shortage of people who want to re-create the world in their own image.

So whatever the answer as to the originas of gayness, you will find these people rushing forward to be counted.

"I decided to be gay" brings out the homphobes and religious nuts, who reply, "Then change back to being normal" (ie: like they are).

"I was born gay" generates a different response, as the same people look for ways to either "cure" it, or look for ways of modifying this gross anomoly in the genetic pool. (ie: They want everyone to be born like themselves)

These people are the herd animals, who mill around, chewing the cud of life and making no contribution whatsoever to sensible, rational debate and reasoning.

In other words, they are the dross of life.

Answer 5

What is hurtful to gays is that straights seem to think that we do choose to be gay and are therefore second rate citizens. It is therefore important for people to realise that you are born the way you are whether it be the colour of your skin, your race or your sexuality.

Answer 6

gay men usually have bad relationships with their fathers its not their fault it the fathers and they long for approval,which they try to get from the same sex person, sometimes its because of bullying and being robbed of ones sexuality. no one born that way.
Having counselling with a person of the same sex can restore and heal the damage which has been done.

Answer 7

Personally, I feel it's a nature/nurture balance, just like every other preference/activity/behavior, etc in our lives. A little bit of genes, and a little bit of choice.

But yes, regardless of whether it's a choice or not, I do strongly disagree with discrimination. I've never understood why some people find it challenging to say, "Hmm, nope I'm not gay. But it's ok for that guy/girl to be."

Answer 8

Interesting idea. Being 'gay' is still a choice in the end. Its not the same as being born with one leg.

Answer 9

im a lesbian and i dont care if i was born gay or one day turned around to be gay even tho its not like that. People who do care are being ignorant n not being openminded to todays age. just ignore. your better than them

Answer 10

I am not gay but have two friends who are. I do not have a problem with it at all. If I ever needed anyone to turn to for help for either myself, or my wife with a problem, those two friends would be top of my list.