Is being gay a choice? A popular vlogger from California proves it's not.
If you don't know who Chris Thompson is yet, just wait: Thompson, who happens to be straight, is getting all kinds of attention for posing a simple question to his followers, many who identify as LGBT. The question: Is being gay a choice?
Thompson was moved to ask his followers about homosexuality after watching a shocking video made by Daniel Pearce, a 19 year old from Georgia. In the video, Pearce is more or less disowned by his family after coming out to them. His family even goes as far as telling him to move out, and the argument escalates with profanities and even physical abuse against the teen by his own family.
What also sparked Thompson's curiosity to ask his followers about it was a statement that is heard on the video. A lady says, "You know you wasn't born that way. You know you made that choice."
Here are some of the responses Thompson received:
- "Being gay is not a choice. No one would choose to be gay and go through all the ridicule."
- "It's far from a choice. It's how you are born. You cannot control who you develop feelings for and who you find attractive."
- "Of course it's not a choice! When did you choose to be straight? Why would you want to throw yourself against the current of society?"
- "Nobody would choose to become a second class citizen and to get death threats and not be accepted by their own family."
- "With such an anti-homosexuality society, I'd rather choose to be straight (sadly saying). But I'm proud of myself for being gay, for being me."
- "Growing up I would have chosen straight if I could so the ass kicking would have stopped."
There you have it, right from the very people who know better than anyone else because they are gay and they didn't choose.
Thompson says, "If you think being gay is a choice and you want to hide behind the Bible, show me the verse where God says being Gay is a choice. Cite your source."
It is fascinating how the religious community manipulates the masses with its interpretations of the Bible. How does anyone know what the authors of the Bible were thinking, much less God himself?
There are those who claim it's about protecting the integrity of what's written in the Bible. This is one of the most ridiculous claims ever made since the Bible is full of evil acts and suggestions we choose to ignore. Where is the integrity in that?
The point is American society is still suffering from its puritanical roots, and many of our citizens refuse to accept anything that contradicts our cultural norms. The worst offenders are the zealots who claim "God hates fags," and that homosexuals are flawed or immoral human beings.
As Harvey Milk, the first openly gay person to be elected to public office and a martyr in the gay community, said, "The fact is that more people have been slaughtered in the name of religion than for any other single reason. That my friends, that is true perversion!"
As Thompson says, "Regardless of your sexuality, be proud of who you are. Don't let people like this (Pearce's family) make you afraid to be who you are."
Right now, 19 states, the District of Columbia, and ten Native American tribal jurisdictions issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples. We've made great strides in the fight for equality, but there are still too many people who believe that homosexuality is a choice, and worse, that homosexuals are unworthy of respect and opportunities that straight people have.
Critical thinking tells us whether you believe in gay by genes or gay by choice, the 'why' doesn't really matter. What's more important is that America grows up and welcomes everyone into our culture as equals, and allows people to live their lives on their own terms, regardless of their sexual preference. Gay rights will continue to win more acceptance and become the law of the land everywhere, and with it must die the hatred, bigotry and discrimination.
Perhaps Milk said it best: "Rights are won only by those who make their voices heard."
If more people have the courage and mental toughness of Daniel Pearce to stand up for who they really are, more rights, freedoms and opportunities will continue to come to those who identify as LGBT.