Do you think most homosexuals are gay by choice

[HagridOfTheDeep]

Lol. People probably aren't "born" gay, but there's no reason to believe it's a "choice". (Apologies for the PR-style scare quotes)

That's a good summation of my thoughts, too.

I mean, at the end of the day, it is a preference. What makes it any different from, say, someone's taste for broccoli? Obviously human society has made it so that "sexuality" is far more important than broccoli, but I don't think either preference is innate. Nature wouldn't hold sexuality up on a pedestal.

That being said, "choice" might not be the best word, either. It's interesting.

Oh, yes it would and does in any creature that uses sexual reproduction. 

The real answer to me is that sexual orientation is complicated.  There's some genetics, some experience, some hormonal and developmental aspects.  But, there's very little conscious choice by an individual. 

I disagree. The functionality of a penis and the mechanics of reproduction don't necessarily go hand-in-hand with attraction. I mean, aren't humans some of the only animals that get pleasure out of sex? Does "attraction" really matter in the natural world? Or is it just about doin' the dirty to make babies, regardless of an imagined "orientation?" I don't know.  I definitely don't think it's as simple as "deciding" to be gay.

Either way, you're definitely right when you say it's complex. It's for that reason that I don't feel confident making an authoritative statement on the matter. I do sometimes think it's convenient to say we are born gay or straight (is there really a way to know that?), but it's not really something that should matter. Even if it's a "choice" (by some strange perversion of the word), there's nothing inherently criminal about being gay. Societies that value freedom and equality shouldn't care why someone is the way they are; they should treat everyone with respect.

[morgieb]

If gays could choose what makes their dick go hard, then I'd imagine we'd have far fewer gays in the world.

[H. Ross Peron]

I believe there's a lot of bisexuals who are heterosexual or homosexual by choice, but no to this question.

[bedstuy]

Lol. People probably aren't "born" gay, but there's no reason to believe it's a "choice". (Apologies for the PR-style scare quotes)

That's a good summation of my thoughts, too.

I mean, at the end of the day, it is a preference. What makes it any different from, say, someone's taste for broccoli? Obviously human society has made it so that "sexuality" is far more important than broccoli, but I don't think either preference is innate. Nature wouldn't hold sexuality up on a pedestal.

That being said, "choice" might not be the best word, either. It's interesting.

Oh, yes it would and does in any creature that uses sexual reproduction. 

The real answer to me is that sexual orientation is complicated.  There's some genetics, some experience, some hormonal and developmental aspects.  But, there's very little conscious choice by an individual. 

I disagree. The functionality of a penis and the mechanics of reproduction don't necessarily go hand-in-hand with attraction. I mean, aren't humans some of the only animals that get pleasure out of sex? Does "attraction" really matter in the natural world? Or is it just about doin' the dirty to make babies, regardless of an imagined "orientation?" I don't know.  I definitely don't think it's as simple as "deciding" to be gay. 

Yeah... You don't understand biology.  Animals have complicated mating rituals and clearly have perceptions of attractiveness.  And, obviously, animals like having sex, that's why they do it.  If it wasn't pleasurable, they would spend time finding food or trying to not get eaten by a predator. 

[Del Tachi]

There are people who do choose to be gay.

Of course, I have no way of knowing how prevalent this is among the GLBT population.

[IceSpear]

There are people who do choose to be gay.

Of course, I have no way of knowing how prevalent this is among the GLBT population.

Give an example, please. I'll be waiting with bated breath.

[Consciously Unconscious]

Of course not.  I don't think it's 100% genetic, but it's still beyond the person's control. 

[Small Business Owner of Any Repute]

The issue is moot, of course, since there's nothing inherently wrong with homosexuality.

[tik 🪀✨]

I think most choices in polls like this are gay (using the third grader definition).

[DevotedDemocrat]

I do believe many lesbians are predatory and angry at their fathers and society and as a result try to seduce straight women, as a way of getting revenge against society's males.

[Antonio the Sixth]

I do believe many lesbians are predatory and angry at their fathers and society and as a result try to seduce straight women, as a way of getting revenge against society's males.

what

[Atlas Has Shrugged]

I do believe many lesbians are predatory and angry at their fathers and society and as a result try to seduce straight women, as a way of getting revenge against society's males.

Lesbians are not the equivalent of the hardcore heterosexual feminists from the 1970s who called themselves "lesbians" as a philosophical stunt.

[Okay, maybe Mike Johnson is a competent parliamentarian.]

I do believe many lesbians are predatory and angry at their fathers and society and as a result try to seduce straight women, as a way of getting revenge against society's males.

Good for them! Also you're wrong. Also what in the world are you talking about.

[Flake]

I do believe many lesbians are predatory and angry at their fathers and society and as a result try to seduce straight women, as a way of getting revenge against society's males.

can you please leave?

maybe you won't leave because you're a predatory troll who's angry at a forum administrator who banned you when you were 12, and as a result you try to make sock accounts, as a way of getting revenge against the internet.

[Cranberry]

I think it's irrelevant why we are how we are, but I can tell you, it's definitely no choice.
As long as I recall, I've always been gay, but I don't know for sure, since I didn't know I was gay, let's say in third grade...

[politicus]

The real answer to me is that sexual orientation is complicated.  There's some genetics, some experience, some hormonal and developmental aspects.  But, there's very extremely little conscious choice by an individual. 

This sums up my view pretty well. If there is an element of conscious choice for some people (which can not be ruled out with 100% certainty with our current amount of knowledge) its so marginal that its not worth considering relative to the other factors.

Also, its pretty clear genetics is the most important element of those above.

[Supersonic]

Correct answer: no. /endthread

[windjammer]

Correct answer: no. /endthread

[Lief 🗽]

A more interesting question is if people would still support gay rights if being gay were a choice.

[Ronnie]

I believe there's a lot of bisexuals who are heterosexual by choice, but no to this question.

They may choose to live with someone of the opposite sex, but that doesn't prevent them from being attracted to the same sex.

[Repub242]

No, I think that they are born that way. Although I have met some homosexuals who claim they didn't have those attractions until later in life.