Sexual Orientation is NOT a Choice

As a bisexual, I am often frustrated by the question “Is homosexuality or bisexuality a choice?” No, it is not a choice. Consider the following questions: “What do you think caused your heterosexuality?” “If you have never slept with a person of the same sex, is it not possible that all you need is a good gay lover?” These questions sound absurd, but people ask the LGBT community equally ridiculous questions all the time. If you are straight, you probably can’t imagine being any other sexual orientation. If being straight is natural to you and biological in origin, why wouldn’t homosexuality and bisexuality be formed by the same forces? Why would someone chose to be a hated minority? In our heterosexist society, everyone is assumed to be straight, so it may appear that LGBT people chose their sexual orientation if and when they come out. But no one chooses who they are attracted to. The choice is in how someone deals with their sexual orientation and whether they decide to be true to themselves or to conform to mainstream society.