Personal Statement: Homosexuality

Growing up I was different from all the other boys; for example, during recess in elementary school most boys would elect to go play “Power Rangers”, but I would always choose to play house with the girls. If we had a free day during Physical Education the boys would generally chose to play some sport that requires a ball, and I would choose to go play double Dutch with the girls, pretty much anyone I chose to hang out was a girl. At the time I didn’t think it was weird that I generally enjoyed doing things that were traditionally considered girly, It was just an aspect of who I was, But once I went to middle school I learned that meant people would call me gay. It would later take me over eight years to have the courage the courage to come out of my closet, and admit that I was gay.

My goal since beginning high school has been to create a safer school environment for LGBTQ students. Although the climate has become much more tolerant, bullying and discrimination are still rampant in the hallways, the classrooms and the Facebook statuses of students at my school.

If sexual orientation is something that we can’t change or choose, then how are these specific preferences such as heterosexuality and homosexuality created? How does one person progress to either heterosexuality or homosexuality? Studies showed that there were genetic factors linked to influencing sexual orientation in males before they were born by increasing the female reproductive capacity in mothers during multiple births. (Iemmole, Ciani, 2008: 393) Though that doesn’t mean that there technically is a “gay gene” that has been discovered, just that several human genome studies has suggested promising areas of research that are pointing to that direction. (Iemmole, Ciani, 2008: 393) With more

The most controversial questions that arise in relation to sexual orientation are targeted towards how one’s sexual orientation forms, what factors go into it and most importantly whether individuals have a choice in this process. According to the American Psychology Association, one’s sexual orientation is not adopted via an individual’s choice, but rather develops as a result of “cognitive and biological factors” and as well as by interacting with the surrounding environment. In simpler terms, there is a possibility in everybody even you and me being a homosexual.

As a group of people we have a compulsive need to put people in groups based on their sexuality. Many people having this need can cause a problem be people saying that homosexuals are choosing this life and they combat that with saying they are born this way. It is true they did not have a choice to be sexually and physically whom they find themselves attracted to, yet they have a choice to how they express their sexuality. Homosexuality is not a choice scientist have proven through many studies it is genetically.

The topic of homosexuality is one that makes conservatives and highly religious people shift in their seats. While a percentage of people believe being homosexual is a life choice and done for attention, science demonstrates the transparency in that argument. Sexual orientation is determined by immutable, natural factors such as genetics and hormones. Due to those immutable factors, those who are homosexual should be entitled to the same legal rights and protections as heterosexuals. If being gay is truly a choice, then people who attempt to change their orientation should be able to do so. But most people who are gay describe it as

To answer the question in the introduction I, believe that yes homosexuality is biologically based. Not only because I have homosexual friends but with the research provided it has gave me a better understanding of how homosexuality has been tested over the years. Also, to answer my other question do you think people are born this way or choose to be this way. I do not believe it is a choice you choose to be homosexual it is more of a biological thing. If you think of it this way would you rather choose to have all your rights taken away or have the same amount of rights as everyone else. Personally, I would rather have all my rights if I could choose but sadly you cannot and you should not be ashamed of who you really are even if you are different you should still live your life. It is kind of like the slogan we have at American Eagle, #WeAllCan because truly together we can all support each other no matter what the situation is. Based on the research I have found homosexuality is really not as bad as people portray it to be. Yes, it may be a sin in some people’s eyes but in the modern world it is more common to see same sex couples now then you did thirty years ago. What I thought was an interesting fact was that the environment you grow up in does not influence your sexual orientation like if you only lived with one parent it did not really effect your sexual orientation no matter if you lived with you mother or father. The lesson we have learned is that homosexuality is not as bad as what it seems to be and you should always be yourself no matter what people may say to

The problem in figuring out if being gay was something that a person is born with or not is that it will most likely take a lifetime. There are so many different facts and statistics on both sides and really they could go back and forth forever. The biggest problem within the argument is that the people arguing against being born gay are mostly heterosexual people and homosexuals are arguing against it being a learned choice. Although there are many different statistics that can make both sides strong, its truly just a “my word

sexual orientation and sexual identity are two different things. Those people who think those are the same are the people who think gays are “born that way,” but as Wilkerson continues to explain in his article entitled, “The standard view claims that we choose sexual identity but not sexual orientation” (98).

Many people believe that America means equality and rights for everyone, but that is not necessarily true. Many people are still ostracized and discriminated against for things like sexual orientation. Personally, I believe that it’s nobody’s business who likes who, but that doesn’t mean homosexuals should be denied their rights everyone else has. Such as being able to wed, being able to have children, being able to express affection in public, etc.

Many people now believe the reporting of many popular newspapers and magazines report of the "discovery" of a link between a certain gene and homosexuality, but hasn't it been considered a choice for such a long time? Is homosexuality a choice rather than genetic? To answer this question we'll start off by revealing some myths of homosexuality. The next part will explain the difference between a behavioral trait and a genetic trait. Finally I'll end be unveiling the truth behind the "homosexual gene."

“All men are created equal, No matter how hard you try, you can never erase those words,” Harvey Milk. A homosexual, as defined by the dictionary, is someone of, relating to, or characterized by a tendency to direct sexual desire toward another of the same sex. Homosexuality is ethical, and I will provide rational arguments for, and irrational arguments against the topic. A few objections are as follows: It is forbidden in the Bible and frowned upon by God; It is unnatural; Men and women are needed to reproduce; There are no known examples in nature; and the most common argument that concerns homosexuality is whether it is a choice or human biology.

It has long been debated where our sexual orientation comes from, particularly whether its biological or social forces driving these behaviors. In regards to homosexuality and bisexuals, some have argued that it may be a choice that these individuals are making.(Levay 2012: 41)Some have even said it is a mental disorder that one can recover from, but there is plenty of data that says otherwise.(Levay 2012: 41)(Levay 2012: 65) I believe diverse sexual orientations develop in humans due to sex hormones during fetal life, gene influences, and other effects such as birth order influences. I’ve come to this conclusion based on the narrative provided via Dr. Simon LeVay’s book Gay Straight, and the Reason Why, and the research that has been compiled showing strong influences from a multitude or reasons. I will also be looking at a research paper by Francesca Iemmola and Andrea Camperio Ciani, who looked into genetic factors influencing sexual orientation in men. It is clear there are gender differences between men and women, and this is probably one of the strongest indicators that hormones can affect the outcome of variations in gender traits.

There is no choice to have feelings for someone of the same, or the opposite, sex. If there was a choice in the matter, then people would be able to change

According to studies done by Simon LeVey, being gay is a biological cause, not a choice made when one is very young. It is also an accepted