When did you make the decision to be heterosexual?

I guess some people prefer to continue to spew hatred, lies and bigotry over believing the truth. Fortunately, the grand majority of people become educated when they reach puberty, and understand that people are much more ALIKE then they are different. Some people just have a different orientation than I do, that's all - like they have a different eye color, or are left-handed. Of course, we all could also listen to the AMA and APA, who state that orientation is not a "choice," is inborn, and does not change. But I guess that would assume people listen to science vs. prejudice. +2 for good ?

Because, unfortunately, there are still a lot of close-minded bigots in this world. And they have children and teach them to hate (something I consider emotional child abuse). A lot of people still fear anything/anyone that is different, and hate what they fear. Unfortunately, it's still difficult educating away the ignorance. Some people would rather believe in lies and stereotypes instead of the truth...because the truth doesn't support irrational hatred. A sad but true fact...

Maybe there are those that did chose to be homosexual, but that isn't the point really. The point is why does anyone care what two consenting adults do in their own bedroom, or even if they (hold on) kiss in public. Wow, that's such a shocker!! I am reading the comments under Littlebirds answer and I have to say that anyone who says that children will pick up homosexual behavior by spending time with them just has never been around enough homosexuals to understand. Even if it is a choice, or not, being around them won't make a child gay. I mean, gay people are raised usually by hetero's.

There is a song from the musical South Pacific.."You have to be taught to hate and fear"...that about describes it all...

Why did I get negative points for this... Am I bad person for asking the question? WTF

thank you JAMM, I appreciate your honesty and I'm glad to hear you disagree with the situation in my family, with your beliefs it is good to know that I'm not crazy and my family should not be doing this to my poor cousin.

I assume your talking about Fundamentalists. Fundis believe that their interpretation of the bible is absolutely right. anything that calls in to question any of their beliefs is met with hostility both inside and outside of the church. their reasoning goes like this: the bible says that homosexuality is a sin ( it doesn't btw) why would God make a group of people that are destined for hell. therefor homosexuality has to be a choice. RUBBISH!

because by labeling us as sin, or immoral, then they can use that as a justification to oppress us or treat us like crap.

The first issue stems around defining morality. Whose morality? Second, sexual tendencies are feelings, but sexual activities are behaviours. I believe there are different types of homosexuals: born, experimental, bi, and situational (and likely more). Each has its own rationale. Some gays associate themselves with the "born" type. My brother was gay. He was also married. He was more situational, but unlike some gay friends of mine, he did not consider himself to be gay just because he engaged in same-sex relationships. In the end, it is probably more important how you see (and define) yourself than some outsider's label. Besides, labels suck anyway.

Because this is an opinion. no amount of scientific research at this time can determine whether or not sexuality is nurture or nature. Your opinion is nature others opinion is nurture. Just because the world has become tolerant of something does not mean it's automatically no longer a choice. I know Gay people who don't think they were born that way but they are still happy with who they are. Since pedophilia is still looked down upon (as it should be) few people NAMBLA (north American man boy love association) aside are trying to say they were born that way. Studies have shown that almost all pedophiles were themselves victims of pedophilia. Also many people who think Homosexuality is wrong believe they are born that way just that is immoral and should be overcome. Everybody believes stealing is wrong sometimes people steal because they are poor sometimes they steal because they were born with kleptomania but thieves are not having parades trying to validate what they are doing

OK, for the 50th time this week, orientation is inborn, not a "choice," and does not change. But don't believe me - believe the tens of thousands of scientists of the AMA and APA. So people are born straight/bi/gay, left- or right-handed, and with lots of different eye colors. None of these variations are "better" or "worse" than the other - they are just variations. Nothing offensive in this often-repeated question.

I've wondered the same thing.It could mean many things, I think its nuture i dont think that u r just born w/it. I think there r men and women on this earth for a reason. when in a good relationship between the two, compatability fits like a glove they can form one without void thats how brand new life acures.Yes (BABY'S)i think we r here for a purpose if we were all gay pretty soon there wouldn't be anyone left.unless of course artificial ways. but then everyone would be raising everyone elses biological babys that doesnt seem right to me.

I think it's a choice. And I don't judge that decision.

R u a scientist? Where r u getting these specific facts?

I believe that homosexuality is genetic. I dont believe they choose to be gay.

Those who think it is a choice do so because it allows them to justify their own bigotry, their own prejudice, and their own dislike of someone whose love is not the same as their own. Dr. John Corvino, a Professor of Philosophy of Wayne State University, has refuted morality arguments regarding homosexuality in lectures titled "What's Morally Wrong with Homosexuality" that are both intriguing and informative, with some of it's excerpts being on YouTube. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SutThIFi24w

In general, I believe it is a religious right belief more than anything. Just as racist/bigots need to believe that "white" is superior and people of color are inferior. Both views comes from a base of ignorance..that is, lack of knowledge, not lack of intelligence. Educated people generally realize that lifestyle "choices" aren't really choices, but rather a manifestation of who the person is. You don't tell someone that being blue-eyed was a "choice"..it just is. It's easier to accept dogma than to think things out for yourself..that takes thought, evaluation, consideration and logic. Some people don't want to spend the time so they just accept a convenient mindset! :)

Hey Im a LDS and guy 21, and I have struggled with having very strong gay tendencies in past years and still do. However, it has seemed to mostly pass me by. I didn't decide one day to be gay, it just crept out of me, as if it was apart of me. Because the way I see it, it IS apart of me. I know that because I didn't one day decide to be gay. It crept out of me and I struggled with understanding what "IT" was. So I somewhat disagree that its just a moral choice. However, I try to C it both ways, although I didn't choose to be heterosexual,which I "kinda" am, i also didn't choose to be homosexual which I still kinda am. It just happened that way. Without me choosing. -andy

Ted Bundy was born a serial killer...does that excuse his behavior?

I think each person is born being naturally attracted to one sex or the other or both to some degree. I think those who are in the middle somewhere (almost equally attracted to both) can be programmed by parental or societal expectations to settle upon one sex or the other. Of course, given our society's biases and stigmas, they are more likely to be influenced towards heterosexuality.

influences. and i dont want people jumping on me for my answer. its just my opinions. but i honestly think that every human mind is a product of its enviorment. and i have no problem with homosextuals. my roomate was one (he never got the nerve to tell me, but he was pretty open about it on his facebook pictures... and i never asked him about it) and it never bothered me.

Born.

I think the vast majority are born that way but that some people can be influenced that way.

I'd say born, but I am mixed on this issue. I've been living in Europe for the past 3 years and whenever I visit America to see my friends I am always amazed at the number of homosexuals I see on a regular day (I just forgot about living there). I just don't see "any" gay people here in Poland. This is a phenomenon (about America). It's not like there isn't a gay person in central Europe, but it's just amazing how in America I tend to see a gay person once every couple of days and in Poland I haven't seen one to this day (for the past 3 years) lol

Studies conducted on monozygotic twins show that there is a higher chance of one being homosexual if the other is as well, suggesting that there is a biological influence. As far as I know, there is no gene that turns homosexuality on and off like there is for fruit flies, but there are several influential biological factors. However, the chances of homosexuality of both twins is not 100% which means that some of it is environmental as well. While I'm writing about it, it is NOT the result of an abusive childhood.

They are tottaly influenced

some people can be influenced but the majority of them are born

MY TEACHER SAYS BORN GAY I disagree Cuz your born with a penis or a vagina in order 2 reproduce I think people growing up have attraction towards WHAT they see as sexy Not what there born with.

born that way

usualy if you're born with it it's genitic. As in; having an ancester(s) who was gay. So, unless it runs in the family; than there's a pretty high chanch that no one is born gay. Still; wing.walker could be right. phibins and raindancer could also be right. Everybody is influenced by The things that go on around them and the people they encounter. So, being influenced into being gay,lesbian, or bie is also possible. A member of my family is gay. It seems, in his case, to have been influenced; not born trait.

Not sure, but I'd say they were born like that. While environmental influence is certainly a great factor, I think it only caters to an already innate quality, and that what it does define on the matter is on a much bigger "moral" or standards scale than that of the individual and his or her biological disposition, and that this merely molds the individual when it comes to their sexual orientation, that is, whether or not they "should" exhibit or talk about it and all within the society to which they belong. I'm sure that there were gay cardinals in the middle ages, and actually, there was plenty of homosexual and lesbian activity going on among the peasants in medieval Europe, despite Christianity outlawing just about everything. A man in prison may have been violated or has violated another man, however upon getting out of prison, I'm sure the first thing he does is go out and find a prostitute, for example. (If that DOES happen in prison to begin with, may just be movie stuff.) Environment and influence has its say, but I doubt that it actually initiates anything, not when it comes to sexual orientation anyway.

A little of this...and a little of that. +5

Its proven that other species can be homosexual and they are clearly not influenced. When it comes to people, the majority of homosexuals are born the way they are, and there may be a minority that have been influenced.

I don't know but I do know that I did not choose my sexuality and many gay people probably did not either. I'm sure there's a good chunk of people out there yo might call fauxmosexuals who are gay because it is a trend or something but I cannot simply believe every gay man and woman chooses to be that way and willfully contradicting some hetero standard. Were some people influenced? maybe. Were some born that way, yeah, I've known people that were gay and everyone knew they were gay before they did. I don't think homosexuality is any more prevalent now than in any other point in history, it's just that there's more people on the planet so of course a larger percentage of gays and we are in an information age, mor einfo is available, more ways to see and meet and know people so of course we have more interaction with more people..meaning we would naturally meet more people that were homosexual. But population does bring up a theory though. The world is overpopulated, no one can deny that. Animals have been observed to display homosexual behaviour when placed in densley populated areas..it's like mother natures way of curbing the population growth...so maybe homosexuality is nothing more than natures way of deeling with the surplus population and telling all the breeders out there to knock it off a little bit?!

I think there are nearly as many reasons as there are individuals, for any and all preferences, of biological and experience origin, separate and proportionate, in infinite varying degrees. So I would be foolish to come to any single conclusion. I also think the need to compartmentalize the issue, is an attempt to rationalize, or validate a position of acceptance or rejection. As the human puzzle is far too complex to unravel, and either reason, or any combination of reasons, come to similar results, we must consider them unbiasedly valid, and proceed accordingly, as we would with any behavior, based on resulting effect, if any at all, rather than cause. Which still leaves the issue open to debate for some, but dependent on presentable evidence, and therefore in a more definable arena, with social harmony being the goal.

I'm straight. But I can't understand what engenders hatred in a goodly amount of people against gay men and women. Could there be a physical reaction that they are trying to fight themselves? I am not threatend by homosexualality. but I donot want to hurt any person who choses the lifestyle. Food for thought huh?

Well there is no proof that homosexuality is a choice, but from the aspect of the law discrimination against homosexuals is a hate crime, and the definition of a hate crime involves that the victim has a trait that is unalterable. Making homosexuality bourn with, so i guess these people simply see it from a scientific point of view, that is unconcluded, and their personal opinion is biased by homophobia and a wish of a homosexual- free planet.

FaerieWhings kinda covered it for me. lolz

I think it is immoral for heterosexuals to have children and not care for them in anyway. I am gay and I also raise the some of the many throw-away kids we have in our society today. I find that the same homophobic people who do not want me to have civil rights, are often the very same people I end up taking care of their discarded children. (For the record, I do this 100% out of my own pocket.) Homophobia is an odd beast and I personally find that the people who follow it are usually "god-fearing, church-going, good people" who shock me when they neglect their children straight into CPS.