"Choice" vrs. "No Choice" - Looking for the TRUTH. (I am totally sincere with the question)

The APA has accepted research...somewhere (I don't even know where to look up the research, so don't take my word for it but you might have a direction to look in) that SUGGESTS a biological factor. Not "genetic" or "inborn", but a biological factor. However, I think it's REALLY important to take a look at what you're setting up here. Your question is about "choice" vs. the logical opposite "not-choice". "Genetic" and "inborn" are NOT the logical opposite of "choice"; that is to say that just because it's neither of those things doesn't mean that it is a choice. If you severed a finger, it's not genetic or inborn but it's not a choice and it's not necessarily something that can be "undone". Also, for future reference, NARTH doesn't submit any of their research for peer review. What research IS peer reviewed has some major ethical and logical flaws.

I personally never tell people that I was born gay. The way I see it, I was born asexual, because NO ONE pops out of a womb and instantly has the capacity to develop romantic attractions to other people. I don't necessarily know why I'm gay, but I also think that it doesn't matter. I know that I am gay, and I know that there's nothing I could do to change it if I wanted, and I further know that I have yet to hear a compelling reason that I should want to change it. It wasn't a choice for me, but even if it WAS a choice, it should be a choice that is mine to make.

First off, NARTH IS A "RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATION" NOT A SCIENTIFIC ONE, SO LETS JUST BE "HONEST!" If you cannot be honest that Narth is religiously slanted, then I'll just stop typing now, because ALL OF THEIR "compilations" and they "compile" information, they DO NOT DO RESEARCH!!! They are NOT a scientific organization, nor are they an organization that likes homosexuality! THEY DO NOT!

The AMA does not "do medical research into what makes gay people, gay." Private researchers and some Universities may, but the Organization, DOES NOT.

The APA (or The America Psychiatric Organization) only determines Clinical Criteria, and they have determined that Homosexuality is NOT a mental illness of any kind.

SO, if your using Narth as a source, I can only conclude your a Christian who uses a priori for determining what conclusions they want.

Due to the amount of discrimination against gay people, it is unlikely that it would be chosen. Gay people can be fired from their jobs as well as being denied an apartment lease or a home mortgage just because they are gay. There is no federal law and only a handful of state laws banning such discrimination. You can read a good news article on a particular case of discrimination here:

http://www.insideout.org/documentaries/faith/pop/p...

Regarding scientific studies, there have been several. Those who like to say it is a choice point out that a gay gene has not been found, but scientific studies have shown that it is combination of several genetic factors acting together and not a single gene that can be pinpointed. One article that appeared a few weeks ago can be read here:

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,20867...

and a scientific research article can be read here:

http://www.newscientist.com/article.ns?id=dn6519

and an article showing that there are over 1500 animals exhibiting homosexual behavior can be found here:

http://www.news-medical.net/?id=20718

Since homosexuality is something few if any people would choose due to discrimination, since scientific studies have shown biological differences, and since animals exhibit homosexuality; it would appear that being gay is indeed an inherent trait and not a chosen behavior.

Well, I'm not an expert or a professional. But I think being GLBT can be both. Let me explain, I do have a few gay relatives (and yes I've wondered if it was genetic due to those discoveries) and I've spent plenty of time with them. And they all seemed to have had some story of abuse (sexual in particular), or some other assault from the opposite sex, but I sometimes think bisexual women or lesbians in particular are that way sometimes because of their negative experiences. And I do think for most of them it isn't a choice, because who would choose such a lifestyle in this day and age and with a society, culture, and government who discriminates against them.

There is no test, no way a person can determine if someone is gay because of birth or choice. Absents of their being proof, you can really say that there is no proof that being gay is genetic. Maybe someday that will change, but as of today there is no indication to show that it is.

There is an emotional side to this argument. One is that people want freedom from the choices they make, I can't help what I do, I was born like this. The second is that if it is genetic, then there's hope that the gvmt can force people to accept them as they want to be.

I reject the latter claim as people are born to be fat, or smoke, or to have other traits, but we can control our behavior. Fat people can go on diets.

Not everyone will accept gays, and that is their choice. No one should be disrespectful to anyone including gays. If you have issues, please avoid people that bother you, and no one should force anyone to associate with others that they would normally chose not to.

Freedom cuts many ways. Many people want to be free to live their life the way they want, but also want to control the way others live. Freedom isn't an easy concept.

I know it wasn't a choice for me. I know it wasn't a choice for my husband. I don't understand why anybody would think that we would collectively lie about this. None of us chose to be homosexual. I tried to commit suicide because I couldn't deal with the fact that I was gay...this is a common scenerio..We don't choose this. AND even if it were a choice...what difference would that make?

I will try to keep it as simple as possible. 10% of the population is....left handed, bet ya though I was going to say gay didn't you. That is not a choice, in fact 100 years ago when my grandfather was in school, the teachers forced him to become right handed, because being left handed was considered evil.

I was born gay, just as I was born left handed.

Get it now?

omg, this question has been asked thousands of times! Its asked almost every day... I will tell you...

Most are born gay and realize it soon

Some are born and they are gay later in life

Lots of people grow up around the media/television, etc... when they are young and see boys with girls, and they believe thats the way its supposed to be which is why sometimes they dont realize that they are gay until later. Or someone (i.e lets say a girl)... has a boyfriend, and she always thought of herself as straight, but she gets crushes on girls. and she's attracted to them, but she also likes boys so she thinks "oh maybe I'm not gay"... until one day she realizes she's gay or bisexual.

No one chooses to be gay. I just live my life, and if I become attracted to a woman, I accept it, if I become attracted to a man, I accept it. I'm bisexual.

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To the person below me: you are right, there is no proff either way and there will never be proof.

You do choose who you have sex with, but you don't choose who you are attracted to. Who you are attracted to is what makes you gay or straight.

If a gay man has sex with a woman that doesnt make him straight.

If a straight woman has sex with a woman, that doesnt make her gay, unless she's attracted to the woman and feels attached to her.

The truth comes from gay people, and they say they were born gay.

It's religious nutcases and homophobes (and sometimes the lines do cross) who are STRAIGHT who claim it's a choice.

Now just who do YOU suppose is going to know whether being gay is a choice or not? Don't you think that gay people are going to be a bit more authoritative on this subject than a pack of hate spewing Cretins??

I believe that very few people are completely straight. I think that everyone is somewhere in the grey area, and it is so socially looked down upon that people don't realize it. I believe that it is a choice, but if a woman likes other women a lot more than men, it could be because she has more testostrone than estrogen in her brain then straight women. That is why a lot of lesbians are butch looking. So, i believe that it very well could do alot with the way your hormones are set up.