is homosexuality a choice?

[soahc]

Im sure that anyone in 'ANY' of the above sections could 'choose' not to shag his/her partner of choice but it really doesnt change what they were programmed to be.

You can change your sexuality just like you can switch your laptop from Windows Vista to Linux.

Isn't part of the appeal of psychedelics their deprogramming effect?

 

[soahc]

Sexuality is not genetic. It is cultural, conditional.

Since you all love genetic determinism, I wonder how you would feel if people start to give young children 'gene therapy' or start to screen fetuses to abort ones with 'homosexual genes'.

I can't believe you are lumping me in with segregationists considering that I am arguing against classification of people based on genetics. Segregationists were ALL about genetics.

I am saying that genetics have a small role in our behavior. Just like I would not say that black people display lower IQ's because of their genes.

Give me a break. For a bunch of professed psychonauts, you people are incredible closed minded in how you want to fit everything into neat little noun boxes.

Classification of sexuality is pretty new anyways. The words 'hetero' and 'homo' are cultural in and of them selves. Their definitions are not absolute.

I am sure if you sent a card carrying gay man (card carrying meaning one who has never slept with a woman) to an island filled only with beautiful, fertile, horny women, he would change his tune pretty quick.

Similarly, you send a straight man to a penitentiary for life with only male inmates and all of a sudden he can become gay.

 

[HigherAwareness]

Seeing two gays of any kind is cute to me.

depending on gender-role honestly, 2 amazon women would scare me, and 2 barbarian men would scare me.

Well then your gay, don't believe me ask any random garden variety person out there.Your either gay or straight, no in between. 8)

 

[HigherAwareness]

Sexuality is not genetic. It is cultural, conditional.

Since you all love genetic determinism, I wonder how you would feel if people start to give young children 'gene therapy' or start to screen fetuses to abort ones with 'homosexual genes'.

I can't believe you are lumping me in with segregationists considering that I am arguing against classification of people based on genetics. Segregationists were ALL about genetics.

I am saying that genetics have a small role in our behavior. Just like I would not say that black people display lower IQ's because of their genes.

Give me a break. For a bunch of professed psychonauts, you people are incredible closed minded in how you want to fit everything into neat little noun boxes.

Classification of sexuality is pretty new anyways. The words 'hetero' and 'homo' are cultural in and of them selves. Their definitions are not absolute.

I am sure if you sent a card carrying gay man (card carrying meaning one who has never slept with a woman) to an island filled only with beautiful, fertile, horny women, he would change his tune pretty quick.

Similarly, you send a straight man to a penitentiary for life with only male inmates and all of a sudden he can become gay.

Huh? Wut r u some kinda queer?

 

[helium-4]

You'd think he'd get tired of pulling random "facts" out of his ass... apparently not.

 

[HigherAwareness]

what if you are Buddhist and believe in reincarnation, are gay reincarnated as gay again in every life ?

Hmmmmmmm?

 

[soahc]

You'd think he'd get tired of pulling random "facts" out of his ass... apparently not.

Actually I ejaculate facts. Only shit come out of my ass. And nothing goes in.

 

[DrunkardsDream]

I am sure if you sent a card carrying gay man (card carrying meaning one who has never slept with a woman) to an island filled only with beautiful, fertile, horny women, he would change his tune pretty quick.

I'm a gay man and I've never had sex with a woman.

If I were somehow on a desert island with only women I'd just masturbate alone and fantasize about men only.

I have nothing against men who are bisexual and men who are straight but I am neither of these things and I'm not sexually attracted to women at all. Women do not arouse me or any other gay man sexually at all.

Keep pulling facts out of your ass troll or GTFO from this site.

 

[DrunkardsDream]

Well then your gay, don't believe me ask any random garden variety person out there.Your either gay or straight, no in between. 8)

I'm a gay man but yeah it is very possible for men and women to actually be bisexual.

It just means they're sexually attracted to both sexes-men and women. It doesn't mean that they're slutty, promiscious, confused, or want 3 ways.

http://lgbtro.ucsd.edu/What_Does_Biphobia_Look_Like.asp

What Does Biphobia Look Like?

Bisexuality is the capacity for emotional, romantic, and/or physical attraction to more than one gender/sex . A person who self identifies as bisexual affirms this complexity and acknowledges a reality beyond the either/or dualities of heterosexism.



What is Bisexual identity?

A bisexual identity speaks to the potential, not the requirement, for involvement with more than one gender/sex. This involvement may mean sexually, emotionally, in reality, or in fantasy. Monogamy and non-monogamy are relationship choices made independently of sexual identity. Some bisexuals are monogamous, some may have concurrent partners, others may relate to different genders/sexes during different times of their lives. Most bisexuals do not have to be involved with more than one person at a time in order to feel fulfilled.

Identity has nothing to do with sexual behavior or experience. Bisexuals, despite the sexually insatiable stereotype, may or may not be sexually active, may or may not have been sexual with more than one person, or may never have been sexual at all. As with all sexual identities, whom one is, or is not having sex with, or whether one is being sexual or not, has nothing to do with the validity of a self professed identity (i.e. a lesbian is still a lesbian, a gay man is still a gay man, and a heterosexual remains a heterosexual whether they are being, or have ever been sexual, or not).



What is Heterosexism?

The institution of heterosexism is based on a mutually exclusive heterosexual/homosexual framework. This heterosexist paradigm posits two sexual orientations on either side of a "fence" that draws the line where privilege begins and ends. Heterosexuals are on the "normal/good" side and homosexuals are on the "abnormal/evil" side. The line separates and protects "us" from "them," while it assures members of each side of what they are not. This line also effectively marginalizes lesbians and gay men as "other" and is the core of homophobia.

Furthermore, lesbian, gay, and heterosexual people are invested, and find a sense of security in being the "other" to each other, and unite in the fact that they are only attracted to either the "same" or the "opposite" gender/sex. This sets up another "us" vs. "them" dynamic which effectively marginalizes bisexual people as "other." Integral to this dynamic is the automatic assumption people can be defined by the gender/sex of their current or potential romantic interest. For example: two women are assumed to be lesbians in a "lesbian" relationship; two men are assumed to be gay in a "gay" relationship; and a man and woman are assumed to be heterosexual in a "heterosexual" relationship. However, any, or all of these people could be bisexual. And depending upon monogamy and non-monogamy agreements and choices, any, or all of these folks could have sexual behavior with more than one gender/sex whether they identify as bisexual or not.



What is Biphobia?

Bisexual women and men cannot be defined by their partner or potential partner, so are rendered invisible within the either/or heterosexist framework. This invisibility (biphobia) is one of the most challenging aspects of a bisexual identity. Living in a society that is based and thrives on opposition, on the reassurances and "balanced" polarities of dichotomy affects how we see the world, and how we negotiate our own, and other peoples lives to fit "reality."

Most people are unaware of their homosexual or heterosexual assumptions until a bisexual speaks up/comes out and challenges the assumption. Very often bisexuals are then dismissed, and told they are "confused" and "simply have to make up their mind and choose." For bisexually identified people to maintain their integrity in a homo-hating heterosexist society they must have a strong sense of self, and the courage and conviction to live their lives in defiance of what passes for "normal."



What Does Biphobia Look Like?

* Assuming that everyone you meet is either heterosexual or homosexual.
* Supporting and understanding a bisexual identity for young people because you identified "that way" before you came to your "real" lesbian/gay/heterosexual identity.
* Expecting a bisexual to identify as heterosexual when coupled with the "opposite" gender/sex.
* Believing bisexual men spread AIDS/HIV and other STDs to heterosexuals.
* Thinking bisexual people haven't made up their minds.
* Assuming a bisexual person would want to fulfill your sexual fantasies or curiosities.
* Assuming bisexuals would be willing to "pass" as anything other than bisexual.
* Feeling that bisexual people are too outspoken and pushy about their visibility and rights.
* Automatically assuming romantic couplings of two women are lesbian, or two men are gay, or a man and a woman are heterosexual.
* Expecting bisexual people to get services, information and education from heterosexual service agencies for their "heterosexual side" (sic) and then go to gay and/or lesbian service agencies for their "homosexual side" (sic).
* Feeling bisexuals just want to have their cake and eat it too.
* Believing that bisexual women spread AIDS/HIV and other STDs to lesbians.
* Using the terms "phase" or "stage" or "confused" or "fence-sitter" or "bisexual" or "AC/DC" or "switchhitter" as slurs or in an accusatory way.
* Thinking bisexuals only have committed relationships with "opposite" sex/gender partners.
* Looking at a bisexual person and automatically thinking of their sexuality rather than seeing them as a whole, complete person.
* Believing bisexuals are confused about their sexuality.
* Assuming that bisexuals, if given the choice, would prefer to be within an "opposite" gender/sex coupling to reap the social benefits of a "heterosexual" pairing.
* Not confronting a biphobic remark or joke for fear of being identified as bisexual.
* Assuming bisexual means "available."
* Thinking that bisexual people will have their rights when lesbian and gay people win theirs.
* Being gay or lesbian and asking your bisexual friend about their lover only when that lover is the same sex/gender.
* Feeling that you can't trust a bisexual because they aren't really gay or lesbian, or aren't really heterosexual.
* Thinking that people identify as bisexual because it's "trendy".
* Expecting a bisexual to identify as gay or lesbian when coupled with the "same" sex/gender.
* Expecting bisexual activists and organizers to minimize bisexual issues (i.e. HIV/AIDS, violence, basic civil rights, fighting the Right, military, same sex marriage, child custody, adoption, etc.) and to prioritize the visibility of "lesbian and/or gay" issues.
* Avoid mentioning to friends that you are involved with a bisexual or working with a bisexual group because you are afraid they will think you are a bisexual.

 

[soahc]

If I were somehow on a desert island with only women I'd just masturbate alone and fantasize about men only.

Yeah right.

"Greek society did not distinguish sexual desire or behavior by the gender of the participants, but rather by the role that each participant played in the sex act, that of active penetrator or passive penetrated.[5] This active/passive polarization corresponded with dominant and submissive social roles: the active (penetrative) role was associated with masculinity, higher social status, and adulthood, while the passive role was associated with femininity, lower social status, and youth.[5]"

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homosexuality_in_ancient_Greece

Why are self identified straights and gays so afraid of the possibility that sexuality is cultural?

 

[nopipesdfw]

Once I got wood and had my cat lick my dick and it felt great, does that mean I am a felinosexual?

????

 

[morpher001]

What about the whole 'camp' thing, with the lisp and so on. Whats with that, is it an adopted behavior or is it something which comes naturally? Or is it just some gay culture thing?

Please humor me, I don't mean to generalize, I am genuinely curious; in the context of whether homosexuality is any kind of choice in the first place.

 

[college_dropout]

Yeah right.

Yeah because someone who finds this...

...extremely attractive, is really going to jump at the chance for something like this...

Masculinity and femininity are very, very distant in their aesthetic appeal. You might be able to make the jump easily, others can't.

 

[soahc]

Masculinity and femininity are very, very distant in their aesthetic appeal. You might be able to make the jump easily, others can't.

Masculinity and femininity have a lot of crossover. I love black women, with tight, muscular bodies and higher testosterone levels than many white and asian men probably have.

I have been with black women who I wondered if they were trannies, but they gave birth at one point so it couldn't be.

So what of that? I am attracted to masculine women. Lesbians with chips on their shoulders.

I like young girly girls too but it feels kind of lecherous. Like I am their older brother or father. Like I should protect them from guys like myself or something, instead of fucking them.

What about men who are attracted to feminine men? Sometimes I feel attracted to effeminate gay men, but the thought of them having a dick is confusing.

 

[Jert]

Two questions for anyone who thinks homosexuality a choice:

1- Are you straight?
2- When did you decide to be straight?

That should sum up this entire matter.

 

[college_dropout]

Masculinity and femininity have a lot of crossover.

Not in and of themselves they don't. Androgyny is the crossover, which some people dig, but a lot don't. But that's a whole separate category. The point is that if you're attracted to petite slim chicks, it's unlikely you'll be hooking up with a big sweaty hairy buff guy anytime soon and vice versa. And I really doubt that you'd be able to find many gay guys who find bull dykes attractive.

So what of that?

You so badly *need* to realise that your experience isn't applicable to rest of humanity.

 

[Jamshyd]

DAAAeeeeaaaaaUUM!

:D

 

[soahc]

1- Are you straight?

No. Neither am I gay, bi, pansexual or a zoophile.

Is this clear to you yet? You do NOT pose multiple choice questions to other people regarding their sexuality. Sexuality is more than a word. It is something much more powerful and beautiful than a petty label.

 

[soahc]

You so badly *need* to realise that your experience isn't applicable to rest of humanity.

Hey I'm not the one trying to label people. All I am saying is, if you label yourself gay, that's your choice.

And if you don't think environment can effect sexuality, you are probably deluding yourself.

Put those together and it seems logical to me that sexuality is a choice. You choose to apply a label to yourself and you choose to allow your environment influence your sexuality.

Put a macho 'straight' football player on a island full of effeminate gay men and I would bet his voice will change octave. In fact, people have been proven to change the pitch of their voice depending on who they are talking to.

But wait! Voice pitch is GENETIC!

Furthermore, if you are a masculine male, and you start to take estrogen pills, I would wager that the opposite sex might all of a sudden seem less enticing.

So hormones are genetic, though they can be manipulated. A combination of environment and genetic inheritance probably produce sexuality. If you are a high testosterone male and you are not attracted to women, chances are it's environment.

 

[college_dropout]

^I never said sexuality is not environmentally influenced, I just doubt that it's as fluid as you're making it out. At least I think for the majority of the population that once they become settled in a particular sexual attraction, which is likely to have been influenced by a combination of biology and environment, that it is then extraordinarily difficult to alter. I do think that biology is the greater determinant though.