Are people born homosexual or is it a matter of choice?

Question

I tend to think it's the latter. Please explain your position either way. I'm interested to see what other people think.

Answer 1

It depends on how you word it.

If you're talking about which gender you prefer: that's not a choice, I can't choose to all of a sudden become a lesbian, nor can they choose to become straight. It's not a hard concept.

Now if you are saying what gender they end up with, of course that's a choice but they might not like it or feel right with it.

Answer 2

So many studies have been done that all but prove that persons are born homosexual. To think otherwise is ignorant. Do the research. I don't like to think of it as a birth 'defect' but more an anomoly like being albino or whatever. Something happened or didn't happen in the complex process of conception that caused the cells and messages to develop differently. There are those who are of ambiguous gender....there is a visual, a tangible affect of a difference in the mix... homosexuality is just the same kind of difference except in the hormonal and brain function of an individual. In my psychology and human development courses I learned that studies found that in brains studied of those that died from AIDS, of which a high percentage were homosexual...the hypothalimus (hormone central in the brain) of the gay man more resembled that of a straight woman than a straight man. Hence some of the stereotypical traits of gay men, femininity, interests in traditionally female roles, etc.
So, we're all born who and what we are.

Answer 3

Born homosexuals. Because there society is still pretty much against homosexuality and many parents of homosexuals are against the sexual preference, many homosexuals agonize for years over their preference and try extremely hard to be straight. Many even go as far as committing suicide because of shame over their homosexual tendencies. That said, if they had a choice in the matter, most would choose to be straight and not go through all the hardships that come along with being homosexual.

Answer 4

whats this b*s all about? why are some people poor and other people rich? why are we on this planet? That question has about the same depth as yours. And who's able to tell all the secrets of the human existence? and if there is somebody who is, do you think he or she is gonna reveal it all to you for free?

Think what you want, but don't judge, because only he who is in his shoes knows what exactly is going on, you form the outside, you have absolutely nothing to say about homosexuality, so you better get usec to it and accept the fact that 1) there has always been homosexuality on this planet 2) homosexuality is accepted nowadays in our society and hopefully will always be and 3) mind your own business instead of asking questions that can't be answered with one word or one sentence.

And 4) gimme those 10 points, because you won't get a better answer than this one.

and 5) if you don't give me the 10 points forget it I'm used to be the idiot.

Answer 5

I believe you are born homosexual. Too many people speak of knowing from a very young age. I am a straight female but have many gay friends. One couple said to me...why would we choose to be this way? We are discriminated against, shunned and made to feel like we don't belong. One of them was married for 17 years and had a 16 year old daughter. He said he did what he was "supposed to do" and was totally miserable.

I think that we are who we are and need to be accepted and loved unconditionally.

Answer 6

Look, if someone was depressed why of ALL things would they choose to be homosexual? It only causes more heartache and pain and suffering for the person.

For the record I am gay, I have come to terms with this and would not change it if given the option it is part of who I am. Would I have chosen this attraction to men? No, it is a pain in the *** and I am sick and tired of catching hell for it everywhere I go.

The causes of homosexuality are muddled and not as simple as you present here, it is not an either or case. Nothing in life is that simple. While yes there have been studies that show little to no correlation to heredity, they also show little to no correlation to any sort of environmental factors, and with homosexuals (and bisexuals and transgendered people and intersexed people and queer people and pansexuals and all the others out there I have forgotten) being persecuted and hated by many people why in the name of all things bright and beautiful would anyone choose to be homosexual??

I am no depressed, my parents were divorced but I am well adjusted. I am not feminine nor do I wish to be a woman. I am not choosing to be part of an oppressed minority group, I simply am a man who happens to like men.

These are reasons why I believe that your question is poorly worded, it is a false dichotomy, nothing is as simple as an either or choice. I believe it is a combination of factors both biological and environmental that lead to this, and I also believe that we may not know the firm cause in my lifetime.

Answer 7

What heterosexuals do not tend to be aware of is that there is unconscious oppression for homosexuals growing up. Ask a gay person and most if not all will tell you about the societal shame (unrelated to any particular religion) they felt growing up as a gay person.

That important so I'll repeat it. Heterosexuals cannot understand this oppression as they have never experienced it.

Gay people have higher incidences of suicide than their heterosexual peers, and higher rates of clinical depression also. Additionally, many people who have tried to change their sexuality have failed and comitted suicide as a result.
If it was a choice, most people would choose to avoid oppression, and thus would choose to be straight.

Ask a dozen gay people about the society oppression and shame (again, unrelated to any particular religion) and they'll tell you no one would choose that.

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How to find out for youself? Try this simple study

1. Ask gay people
2. Don't dismiss their answers just because you disagree

Keep these points in mind during your study
*You can't ask your straight friends and family
*You must believe peoples' answers

That's important so I'll repeat it.

Ask gay people only, not your straight friends and family.
Don't dismiss the answers once they tell you

Answer 8

It's def. a matter of choice. I don't think you can be born "gay"
Because it's a lifestyle! Most homos- were hurt by someone or abused as a child-and so on and so forth. Sometimes it's simply because, of lust. Sometimes they feel more connected to the same gender. It's several reasons. I could go on and on but def. not born that way. Everything is a state of mind...

Answer 9

I have had some family members who have become homosexual... one brother and one nephew... they were not born that way, nor were they taught that type of lifestyle in their homes... I also know that there are many temptations in this world... we have choices to make with the temptations... if we choose we have consequences with the results of those choices...I do not believe that anyone will ever convince me that there is a homosexual baby or that the tendency or sexual preference is given at birth! That goes against nature, babies are pure and innocent without any tendencies toward choices in their world... they are raised a certain way by parents, or whatever circumstance they are born into... we are somewhat influenced by our enviornment... but it does not take away our agency to choose one way or another!

Answer 10

Various societies throughout history have had different
levels of acceptance of homosexuals...
Varying from complete acceptance to outright rejection..
It has only been in the past 10 yrs. that we have actually
scientifically known that Homosexuality, for the most part
is an anomaly / birth defect....No more a personal choice
than Heterosexuality...Except in the case of "Bi" women
which is a cultural phenomenon.
Of course anti-gays do not want to accept that it is a birth
defect because they want it to be a matter of personal choice
so they can condemn them as perverts and Gays do not want
to admit it is a birth defect because the don't want to be thought of as "defective"...So very few accept it, for biased personal reasons, and the animosity continues within our society.
Sheeeeesh, get over it, A tempest in a teapot is what it is...