Feb 18, 2014

When did you choose to be straight?

“When did you choose to be straight?” This is actually a question that I keep in reserve in case somebody learns about my sexual orientation and reacts negatively by saying that being gay is a choice. Thankfully, I have never had the chance to use this question. So it was pretty awesome seeing the video above where this question was thrown back at people who believe that homosexuality is a choice. The video shows that you can actually disarm people by making them see your point of view.

Of course human psychology being what it is, I do think that for some people, being gay may have indeed been a conscious decision. But as you readers have long realized, sexual attraction is involuntary—you don’t have any say at all on whether you get physically attracted to men or women or both. Thus, I believe that for the vast majority of gay people, they’re born that way. Simply put, why on earth would many rational gay people choose to be gay when being gay would subject oneself to discrimination, bullying, and being ostracized? It makes no sense at all. Unfortunately, some bigots lack sense.

If there is any conscious decision, it is the one on self-acceptance. I had an inkling I was gay back in Grade 6 when I started becoming attracted to some of my male schoolmates. But it was only in my Junior year in high school that I finally accepted the fact that I was gay and that there was nothing I can do about it.

Another conscious decision is acting on our homosexual nature. Catholic teaching does acknowledge that gay people may be gay by nature, but the Church exhorts gay people to live a celibate life. I don’t think that makes any sense too. If you’re naturally gay, why suppress it? As long as you live a positive live and don’t hurt anyone, why does it matter that you kiss, enter into relationships, and marry people of the same sex?

So, when did you choose to be accept that you are gay?

6 comments:

Franco wrote on March 2, 2014 at 12:54 PM:

It happened when I entered high school; when I had enough hormones charging in my veins to embrace the fact I need not conform to society's standards.

It truly wasn't much of a choice, rather a gradual acceptance (and along with it, understanding) that my sexual preferences were different. But of course, acceptance too may be seen as a choice in itself.

Luckily, my peers at the time were more modern than I foolishly thought them to be, and they too, embraced me.

 
Vince (Discreet Manila) wrote on March 10, 2014 at 6:54 AM:

@Franco, it's good to hear that your friends accepted you. :)

 
Anonymous wrote on March 12, 2014 at 12:42 AM:

Hey Vince. I think you re the most sensible local PLU blogger I know. The blog is well formatted, the writing is impressive, the people audience are as equally active and smart.Great finds. I hope you could post more often.

You inspire me to have my own blog someday, or maybe soon. :)

By the way, any clue about the man behind that name "Vince"? ;)

 
Anonymous wrote on March 12, 2014 at 12:44 AM:

Hey Vince. I think you are the most sensible local PLU blogger I know. The blog is well formatted, the writing is impressive, the audience are as equally active and smart.Great finds. I hope you could post more often.

You inspire me to have my own blog someday, or maybe soon. :)

By the way, any clue about the man behind that name "Vince"? ;)
---
Sorry, had to re-post. A great blogger knows proper punctuation and spelling. LOL

 
Vince (Discreet Manila) wrote on March 14, 2014 at 8:56 AM:

@Anon, thank you for that vote of confidence. It'd be great to see your blog too. More PLU blogs are a great thing. :)

As to the man behind the name, I'm sorry but I intentionally do not disclose much. That said I've met many other PLU bloggers and they get to know me offline.

 
Mike wrote on March 18, 2014 at 4:10 AM:

I didn't chose, I remained at the 13 year old's default of "everything that moves" XD