Is homosexuality a lifestyle choice or are people born that way?

Question

Does the fact that the prevalence of homosexuality varies in different cultures suggest it is something people choose.

Answer 1

No it suggests in some cultures people have to hide who they really are.

Answer 2

Most people are born that way, it is a natural thing and you have animals that are 'gay' too. I assume that some people make it a choice but it is not the easier road to take.Many gay people will say that they have been attracted to the same sex as long as they remember. Its no different than being born left -handed. The reason why its more prevalent in some cultures is that in some cultures its not as acceptable and people get ostracised and even murdered. So they hide their natural sexuality and often led unfulfilled lives.

As the culture wars rage over gay rights, a flock of sheep at Oregon State University may help answer a key question behind the controversy: Is homosexuality a matter of choice or biology?

The Corvallis herd includes a group of rams that scientists delicately refer to as "male-oriented." These animals consistently ignore females and bestow all their amorous attentions on members of their own sex.

Researcher Charles Roselli says a decade of study suggests sexual orientation is largely hard-wired into the sheep's brains before birth. Now, he's trying to figure out how that happens, zeroing in on genes and hormones. In a bold test of his ideas, he hopes to engineer the birth of gay rams by altering conditions in the womb.

Sheep aren't people, but the Oregon work adds to a growing body of research that bolsters biological explanations for sexual orientation across species — including humans.

Answer 3

I think people (but I'm no expert) are born that way. The fact that it is more "prevalent" in some cultures is actually because some cultures don't put such a taboo on it. It is more socially acceptable. I believe the percentage of gay people across the world is proportionately the same in all countries and ethnic groups. I'm sure people don't "choose" to be a certain way when they know others will react in a negative manner - fear, hate , offense, disgust. When I was stationed in Saudi, I learned that a young male can choose at puberty whether to have sex with women and be a "breeder" OR have sex with men for pleasure only. The breeders could never return to having sex with men as they were "unclean". The sex with men category could change their minds and breed with women.

Answer 4

well it depends - A long long time ago, most of the entire greek population were male homosexuals... And this was fully acceptable. But people talk about it more now, and it has only been really, since the eighties that it has become less taboo. Even though I dont see a problem with it.
I think that you don't 'choose' to be gay... I think that the way someone has been brought up, the way you feel towards the same sex (fancying) or the way that they have been treated by the opposite sex could be a factor.
Or you could just start fancying the same sex... Is that so hard to believe?? People think that being gay is a defect. Well yes It COULD be genetic, but then how do you explain bisexuality? Is that genetic too? I know someone who was a bisexual since they were 12, was that planned out in her genetics?? you are barely old enough at that age to kiss someone let alone know your sexual orientation. But back then, she didn't have any experience of sexual abuse or any kind of mistreatment by the opposite sex. Nor are the rest of her family gay or bi.
Homosexuality isn't a lifestyle, it's simply and purely your sexuality, the way youve been brought up - or the way you view same or opposite sex - i don't know why people get so hung up about it, I shouldn't even be answering this.... Yes you are trying to find out others opinions, but I dont see anyone asking why humans are prodominately straight.

Answer 5

Where are you getting your prevalence numbers from. If it were a lifestyle choice why would someone go out of their way to choose it? It is biological and exists in humans and other mammals at birth. Recent studies indicate hormonal levels as the fetus develops impacts sexual orientation. It is not a disease or a choice and your cultural prevalence is more likely a reflection of the culture's maturity and civility.

addendum I am amazed by the ignorance of the answers posted here including those who ostracize homosexuals on religious grounds. Get a grip.

Answer 6

Homosexuality is NOT a lifestyle choice, and I speak from my personal experience. As far as I know and remember, I have been always attracted towards men. Recently I came out to my family and had thought about going the str8 way too, but had I done that and decided to get married to a girl, that would have been a "Lifestyle Choice" for me. Thankfully I didnt do that and today I am comfortable and happy with myself AS I AM. My family supports me and are happy for me.

Homosexuality has always been there, some cultures see it as a taboo and hence its 'known occurrence' is less in those cultures. It does not mean that its not there. and this certainly does not suggest that homjosexuality is something people choose.

Answer 7

I doubt very seriously that there is any difference in the actual prevalence of homosexuality in different cultures. It is difficult to be yourself in a place that will kill or mutilate you for doing what you want though.

The many homosexuals I have known all told me that it is something they just became aware of as children, and that it occurered to them very naturally. They just began finding other men, or boys, sexually attractive. They had the regular excitement and feelings of sexual attraction and desire that everyone has, and they were interested in other boys and not girls. This was not by their choosing. It was just the way their minds worked from the start.

As long as they don't become obsessed with sex or nobody abuses them or shames them they actually stand a pretty good chance of growing up into normal, healthy, productive people.

Answer 8

It is most definitely not a choice. Think hard about what makes you attracted to a woman or a man... is that a choice to you? Now, pretend that you like people of the opposite sex and that everyone else you know are attracted to people of the same sex, and some people say what you're feeling is wrong and an abomination. Homosexuals exist in the animal kingdom and it is not a new phenomenon. What is new is that gays are revealing who they really are. A openly gay person, in America, in the 1950s would have been lynched! We still have a long way to go. Being gay is abnormal, but it is not a choice.

Answer 9

I was certainly born this way and did not make a choice to be gay. I do however make a choice to be open and honest about my sexuality rather than try to hide it from myself and others for example by getting married to a man and having children with him like a 'normal' woman. The statistic on homosexuality in other countries are unclear. People in countries with laws against homosexuality are unlikely to be as open as I am fortunate to be, it is also possible that homosexuals (EG gay man and a gay woman) may marry each other in order to protect each other from the society in which they live. You do not reference the source of your statistics although you must have one as you clearly state in your question that there is a difference in the prevalence of homosexuality in different cultures. Please state how you came to this conclusion, I would be very interested in reading your research.

Answer 10

Animals are gay so I suspect it to be something you're born with. I support gay rights but I don't really like most of them haha which is weird. Some seem like they're putting on an act but others seem like they were born that way. One test was done where they took mice. And put the same amount in one big cage and another smaller one. The smaller caged mice starting becoming homosexual. It seems that homosexuality may be a way to decrease over population. Why this happens I don't think they ever figured out.

Answer 11

I think some cultures/society's just hide it better. It would not be safe or smart to "come out of the closet" in certain circles.

I don't think it's ever really a "choice". I think some people are born homosexual and some have experiences such as being molested or abused as a child, which make them this way. But in either case I don't think they "decide" to be attracted to the same sex anymore than straight people "decide" what physical characteristics they find attractive in another individual.