For a heterosexual person, what if society told you that your natural emotions and love for the opposite sex was wrong and that you needed to be cured through therapy? Could you, or would you even want to be gay only because the majority told you that is what you should be? The religious followers have a tendency to think that people have a choice to be gay or not. So to them I ask, why would anyone choose to be persecuted and shunned?

I had a discussion, in length, with a Southern Baptist. I was trying to point out that if what you feel is natural, how could it be wrong. It was her assertion that sexual orientation was a choice. After some debating over what people feel, versus what people do, we came to the basic understanding that it was a choice to “Act” on your emotions, but it was not a choice to have them. With that, I gave the example, “you mean it’s not a choice if a priest is gay, but it is a choice if he acts out by molesting little boys?” After that, I guess you could say that we came to a point in which we could agree to disagree.

If society told me that it was wrong for me, as a man, to be with a woman, then society would have to find me guilty because I have no control over being attracted to the opposite sex. If I had to hide that or not pursue those feelings, my life would not be a happy one.

I can see why there is confusion though. If you’re a woman and you’re only attracted to other women, then why would you make yourself look and act like a man? Same on the other side, if you’re homosexual man and only attracted to men, then why would you make yourself look and act like a woman? As we all know, perceptions can mean everything to a lot of people; especially to those with tunnel vision.

I have a family member who just happens to be gay. When they told me about it, I had no idea because we had not seen each other in years. Even though I was accepting because I loved them, they wanted to explain what it was like for them. They said, “You know that feeling you get when you hold someone close to you that you love and you can feel the bond of emotion flowing between your heart and theirs? Like when you got married and you felt like your wife was apart of who you were?” and I said yes. “That is what it is like for me, I don’t see the outside of my mate, only the entity of who they are.” And with that, I understood.

American Psychological Association: What about therapy intended to change sexual orientation from gay to straight?

All major national mental health organizations have officially expressed concerns about therapies promoted to modify sexual orientation. To date, there has been no scientifically adequate research to show that therapy aimed at changing sexual orientation (sometimes called reparative or conversion therapy) is safe or effective. Furthermore, it seems likely that the promotion of change therapies reinforces stereotypes and contributes to a negative climate for lesbian, gay, and bisexual persons. This appears to be especially likely for lesbian, gay, and bisexual individuals who grow up in more conservative religious settings.

en.wikipedia.org/The lists of famous gay, lesbian and bisexual people from all over the world. Only people who are out or who were outed after their death are included.