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Gay by Choice? (Or by Birth?)
Christian Post ^ | 02/13/2012 | Charles Colson

Posted on 02/13/2012 6:27:02 PM PST by SeekAndFind

For years we have been told that homosexuality is something people are born with - like the color of one's skin - and that it can't be changed. Gay-rights activists insist this is so, because, they say, if people don't choose to be gay, it would be wrong to discriminate against them in things like marriage, adoption, and legal benefits.

And heaven help those who disagree. Just ask actress Cynthia Nixon, who in a recent New York Times Magazine article, had the gall to admit that she chose to be gay.

Nixon, who played one of the characters on the old "Sex in the City" television series, was involved in 15-year relationship with a man that produced two children. Now, however, Nixon has moved on to a so-called "gay" relationship with a woman. In the article, Nixon is quoted about her sexual life, "For me, it is a choice. I understand that for many people it's not, but for me it's a choice, and you don't get to define my gayness for me."

Curiously, gay activists, who in almost any other instance would celebrate a "woman's choice," are really upset. "Cynthia did not put adequate thought into the ramifications of her words," said Wayne Besen, founder of Truth Wins Out, which opposes programs that seek to cure people of homosexuality. "When people say it's a choice," Besen added, "they are green-lighting an enormous amount of abuse."

No, what Nixon is green-lighting is the dangerous idea that people make choices about their sexual lifestyle. And that's a clear and present danger to the agenda of the gay-rights movement. That agenda seeks to prove that the gay lifestyle is natural and inevitable. But friends, there is absolutely no proof, and there'll probably never be any proof, that people are "born gay."

University of California, Davis, psychologist Gregory Herek, an "expert on anti-gay prejudice," admits, "The nature vs. nurture debate really is passé. The debate," he said, "is not really an either/or debate in the vast majority of cases, but how much of each. We don't know how big a role biology plays and how big a role culture plays."

Wheaton College's Stan Jones, who has written extensively on the subject, says the best research reveals that homosexual attraction is the result of a complex and mysterious interaction of biological, psychological, and environmental factors that produce different results for different people. Jones, and anyone else who has looked at the evidence in an unbiased way, says that there is no "gay gene."

Thus, the project to - in the words of one pro-gay writer, "make homophobia as inexcusable as racism" - has failed. For some people, homosexuality is a choice, and to whatever extent that is true, the fact is we all have a choice about how we will respond to our various sexual inclinations and express our sexual brokenness.

And, contrary to what we hear, the different sexual choices people make are not all equal. Only one conforms to nature and nature's God.

No, God's Word does not give us a definitive word about the cause of homosexuality, but it is crystal-clear that we need to reject homosexual behavior as sinful, to embrace sex only in the context of marriage between a man and a woman, and to treat everyone we meet - homosexual or not - with love and respect.


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Culture/Society; Philosophy
KEYWORDS: gay; homosexuality
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To: marvlus

Sex mates are recruited - and I really mean recruited - by active homosexuals.


41 posted on 02/13/2012 7:32:21 PM PST by SootyFoot2
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To: SeekAndFind

Like a million little doorways
All the choices we made
All the stages we passed through
All the roles we played
For so many different directions
Our separate paths might have turned
With every door that we opened
Every bridge that we burned
- Rush, “Ghost of a Chance”

I don’t think it’s one choice, it’s part of the accumulation of hunderds of choices we make every day. How does anyone become what they are? In just about everything, it’s little by little.


42 posted on 02/13/2012 7:32:40 PM PST by Gil4 (Sometimes it's not low self-esteem - it's just accurate self-assessment.)
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To: svcw
Let me take your thought one step further... I personally refuse to use the words ‘homosexual’ and ‘heterosexual’ (or its variations) since to use those words carry with it the implication that the user acknowledges that these are very real concepts that are on some kind of level playing field with each other.... you are either this or that period. The idea of someone being a ‘heterosexual’ or a ‘homosexual’ is actually a very recent one. There has of course always been the notion of sexuality and that it, like mental, emotional or physical aspects, was just another part of the human development. And, there has always been homosexual acts... in the Bible, these are totally condemned in the strongest language possible although it needs to be recognized that all sexual acts outside of marriage are condemned totally. Rather than a language that uses homosexuality and heterosexuality to define the basic elements of the person’s humanity, how about using the words normal and natural on one side as opposed to depraved and perverted for the other side? And instead of using language that attributes some intrinsic characteristic on to a person on the basis that all it takes is for that person to say that he/she is defined by that characteristic (when there is nothing to prove it one way or another), why play that game at all? It is a bit cumbersome but the closest that I ever get to calling somebody a homosexual is to call them someone ‘who has self-identified himself/herself as one who would rather engage in sexual acts with member of their own sex as opposed to the opposite sex’. In other words, the focus is on the act, not on some vague idea of what goes on in the mind of the person who is thinking about the act.
43 posted on 02/13/2012 7:43:06 PM PST by hecticskeptic
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To: SeekAndFind

A lot of interesting comments and insights here. I find it hard to believe that anyone in “fly-over” country in the 60’s-70’s period would “choose” to make their life a living hell, while many did exactly that.

As a heterosexual I do not pretend to understand homosexual at all, but I will say whether its genetic or situational is a fairly moot point. They are what they are and it is NOT a choice unless you live in NY or CA. If you have close friends or relatives that are gay you know this “choice” business is a bunch of foolishness.


44 posted on 02/13/2012 7:43:56 PM PST by MrKatykelly
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To: SeekAndFind

I believe they are born with a mental disorder, but they still choose to act upon their impulses.

If you are born attracted to animals and small children, or with an unstoppable urge to steal or to burn things you also have to choose not to act upon those insane impulses.


45 posted on 02/13/2012 7:48:59 PM PST by TexasFreeper2009 (Go Newt!)
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To: SeekAndFind

It has been suggested that there is a biological purpose for homosexuality, linked to one for prostitution. And based on all things, a biological purpose for marriage.

Begin with mammalian reproduction. Males want as many females as possible to have offspring with their DNA. Females both want the best male DNA, and among those mammals that raise their young, the best ‘provider’ male to help them raise their young.

But when there are a lot of males around, it is unlikely that the one with the best DNA is also the best provider.

Humans came up with socially enforced marriage because it is a better deal for all concerned. Greater assurance to the man that his children have his DNA, in exchange for monogamy. And females agree to less than perfect male DNA in exchange for greater assurance the male will stay with her to provide for their children. And the benefits to the children of having two parents is obvious.

However, this creates a problem. That being that while only a percentage of adults *should* have children, many more *want* to have children. But biology does not want them to have children. A conflict.

Enter homosexuality and prostitution. In both cases, they provide an outlet for people who should not breed. This is supported by it being much more likely that both homosexuals and prostitutes have many more genetic and congenital problems than do people as a whole.

Genetic problems that would inhibit reproduction even if they were in a monogamous heterosexual relation.

Because in a way, the biological goal is to keep them from interfering with a breeding couple, which would be bad for the species.


46 posted on 02/13/2012 7:50:03 PM PST by yefragetuwrabrumuy
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To: Beelzebubba

I have been in the interior design business and the construction business and most of the males in the design world are gay and truly are wayy different people than the construction workers. One could never be the other - even if they wanted to.


47 posted on 02/13/2012 7:50:34 PM PST by Aria ( "If we ever forget that we're one nation under God, then we will be a nation gone under.")
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To: faucetman
"First you have to define “gay”."

That's easy. Gay means happy, lighthearted and carefree. Too bad the perverted, immoral, diseased, filthy, disgusting and repulsive homosexuals have hijacked the meaning of the word.

Scouts Out! Cavalry Ho!

48 posted on 02/13/2012 7:55:10 PM PST by wku man (Who says conservatives don't rock? http://www.bigdawgmusicmafia.com)
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To: SeekAndFind

There is far more evidence that violence is related to genetics than there is evidence that homosexuality is. (For example, a much higher percentage of the prison population has an extra Y chromosome than does the general population.)

Does this mean that violence is to be condoned or excused as natural? No. Some of the so-called genetic predispositions toward violence might rather be channeled toward positive traits such as an intense drive for success or hard work or the doing of great deeds. Most of those who possess extra Y chromosomes never commit any violent crimes.

Likewise, even if a genetic predisposition toward homosexuality is ever found (and it hasn’t been yet), that does not mean that those people are destined for homosexual acts—not any more than those with extra Y chromosomes are destined for violent acts. If genetic tendencies toward homosexual acts are ever found, those genetic traits might rather be channelled toward other ends—perhaps traits such as greater empathy for others, compassion for the downtrodden, etc.

Even heterosexuals aren’t given carte blanche for heterosexual sex. If they cannot find someone who will accept them, they are to keep their pants on—genetic tendencies or not. The same is true if they have found a mate, but desire sex with someone in addition to their spouse. Some sex is not acceptable regardless of desire or genetic makeup.


49 posted on 02/13/2012 7:56:56 PM PST by Engraved-on-His-hands
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To: SeekAndFind
so only BI-sexuals are perverts by choice then???
50 posted on 02/13/2012 8:06:51 PM PST by Chode (American Hedonist - *DTOM* -ww- NO Pity for the LAZY)
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To: SeekAndFind

If homosexuality were genetic, wouldn’t it die off each generation? Am I missing something?


51 posted on 02/13/2012 8:08:34 PM PST by Paraclete
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To: yefragetuwrabrumuy

‘Humans came up with socially enforced marriage because it is a better deal for all concerned’

Humans did not come up with marriage. God ordained marriage.


52 posted on 02/13/2012 8:32:04 PM PST by christianhomeschoolmommaof3
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To: Aria

One could never be the other - even if they wanted to.


I’d bet you’d get some dissent on that opinion from the prison population.


53 posted on 02/13/2012 8:52:54 PM PST by bramps (Cama, Cama, Cama Chameleon.)
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To: Aria
Let's play devil's advocate and say there is such thing as a homo gene, and that they are "born that way". That doesn't mean it's okay to engage in that lifestyle choice. After all, people are born with addictive personalities, genetically predisposed to be alcoholics and drug users, so does that make it okay to be an alcoholic or a druggie? No. People are predisposed to be obese, so does that make it okay to overeat? No.

We are fully well capable of controlling our predispositions to doing wrong...be it drinking too much, smoking meth, eating too much, and engaging in homosexual acts. People make the wrong choice to do those things. So even if there is a homo gene (and for 30 years they've been trying to prove there is, and haven't been able to do so), it excuses nothing.

Scouts Out! Cavalry Ho!

54 posted on 02/13/2012 8:53:36 PM PST by wku man (Who says conservatives don't rock? http://www.bigdawgmusicmafia.com)
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To: lwoodham
Photobucket The truth about liberals
55 posted on 02/13/2012 9:02:21 PM PST by baddog 219
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To: SeekAndFind

The statistics seem to point to homosexuality being a mental disorder caused by being victimized by either a domineering mother or a pedaphile while a child.


56 posted on 02/13/2012 9:03:14 PM PST by freedomfiter2 (Brutal acts of commission and yawning acts of omission both strengthen the hand of the devil.)
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To: Patrick1
"So it is either a birth defect or immoral behavior."

Most likely it's both and a few other factors. In vary degrees for different individuals a permissive culture, nurturing (i.e. an abusive childhood), a more feminine (but not necessarily homosexual) physiology, lack of attractiveness as a mate (think bull dyke) and, of course, an element of will are likely factors.

"The fallacy of the single cause, also known as causal oversimplification, is a fallacy of questionable cause that occurs when it is assumed that there is a single, simple cause of an outcome when in reality it may have been caused by a number of only jointly sufficient causes."

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

57 posted on 02/13/2012 9:06:53 PM PST by Red Dog #1
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To: SeekAndFind
.... I do find it rather fascinating how people want to classify everything as fitting into a tidy little box so that it will neatly fit into their belief system.

I love it when you see that, for instance, Alcoholism is caused by a genetic proclivity. This may in fact be true .... but perhaps it may also be said that it is a learned trait ..... hmmmmmm.... yup.... that is also possible ....,. then there may also be a logical conclusion arising from this observation ..... that there may, in fact, be multiple causes that may lead to a certain result. Either that or it is all caused by genetic anomalies .... or all caused by a learned trait .... or caused by (fill in the blank de-jour) All I know is that just because some poor student schlub writing a thesis or scientist seeking to make his mark in a scientific community came to some conclusion doesn't mean that all things are so .... but it may point to a lack of an all inclusive cause for that one thing.

Two weeks ago .... I took my car in to have a tire repaired because it was compromised by a screw left by a careless construction worker. But how could that be? A neighbors tire had to be repaired because it was worn too thin!!! So why do tires need to be repaired? ...... hmmmmmmm....... just sayin

58 posted on 02/13/2012 9:07:15 PM PST by R_Kangel
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To: marvlus

No one is genetically pre-programmed to jam his sausage into another man’s anus.


59 posted on 02/13/2012 9:15:21 PM PST by Antoninus (Mitt Romney -- attempting to execute a hostile take-over of the Republican Party.)
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To: SeekAndFind

Who should a hermaphrodite have sex with? A male or a female? Should they act masculine or feminine? Is it sinful to have sex period if you are a hermaphrodite? And hermphodites are only ONE incident in a whole continuim of “sexualities” that can emerge depending upon whether a fetus is exposed to too much estrogen or too much testosterne during gestation.
Quit judging these people. You haven’t lived in their shoes or their bodies. You are not privy to their brains. Judge not.
ALL sins are the same in the sight of God.
Who among you has not got some sort of “infirmity?”
And yes, I’m a Christian. I am a republican and I’m voting for NEWT.


60 posted on 02/13/2012 9:19:38 PM PST by doc maverick
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