Born This Way

If you asked a heterosexual male or female if they've been straight since their earliest recollection of their sexuality, they'd say yes. It amazes me that many homophobic individuals don't realize homosexuals are the same way. Nothing happened to make us this way, despite popular belief. We were just....born this way.

Recently those three words have been a rallying cry for many individuals. Some of it is because of the growing importance of the equal rights movement. Some of it has to do with the chart topping song by Lady Gaga. What ever the reason...it makes a lot of sense. We, as homosexuals, were born this way.

Is that hard to swallow? Maybe, but it shouldn't be. Straight people believe they were born that way, so why not us? Science clearly shows straight individuals are born that way. Hell, common sense shows that. The biggest anti-gay marriage protesters will shove in your face the fact that men and women are required to sustain life together in heterosexual relationships. It's harder to see evidence of natural same sex ties. But they're there. Scientists are quickly picking up on the biological, environmental and genetic nature of homosexuality. They're seeing it's more natural than we've previously known. Homosexuality is seen through out the entire animal kingdom. In the history of the world, homosexuality is seen in most species as natural and normal.

Why are we any different? Part of it is because the population of homosexuals is much, much less than heterosexuals. It's human nature to disapprove of things we don't understand. That's why the majority of white individuals in America didn't understand the minority of African Americans that were their slaves in the early history of our nation. We saw them as inferior and something to fear and loathe. We now look at that idea as racist and wrong. Time changes, opinions change and the awareness of African Americans as no different than us white folks is better known.

Another aspect of that is religious in nature. When African Americans were mistreated by white slave owners, many pro-slavery individuals used Bible verses to justify their support of the medieval practice. Many of them misused Scripture and seemed to claim that God approved of the slavery of African Americans. We know that's insanity today. But back then, that was understood as truth.

Do we see homosexuals as something to be feared because we don't understand them? Do we use Scripture to justify misunderstanding and hatred towards gay people? Society has to really think about this. If you're going to deny rights to individuals because of their sexual orientation, you better have a damn good reason. 

One of the things that annoys me is the fact that many people who oppose homosexuality focus on how we have sex. They don't focus on us as individuals. They don't realize we have many of the same hopes and dreams, fears and insecurities as them. We like the same foods and go to the same public events. We live many of the same boring routines in life that heterosexuals experience. I know I do, at least.

Further, many look at the stereotypes of homosexuals. They see homosexuals as feminine, promiscuous, prone to drug abuse and alcoholism. One example I'd use is the African American community. Many people stereotype them with violence and drug abuse. Most black individuals are good, decent people. They live and die like we all do. But some of them get caught up in the stereotype. Some of the youth turn to drugs and violence, all because a stereotype tells them it's what they're supposed to be. It shouldn't be that way and it doesn't have to be that way. Homosexuals are the same way. If you tell them they're supposed to be promiscuous and feminine, a lot are promiscuous and feminine. A few bad apples don't spoil the whole tree. Most are good, decent individuals.

If you look at this with the religious aspect again, you'll see many Christians label gay people as hopeless, incredibly sinful people. If you tell people they're hopeless, they'll act hopeless. If you tell them they're bad to their core, they'll act that way. It's not an excuse but it's a glimpse in the logic of many homosexual individuals. And those same judgmental Christians ignore the examples of the majority of gay people who live as model citizens with good morals and good hearts. And they ignore the many bad, lost people in their own community.

At the end of the day, if homosexuality isn't natural, we still owe this community of people respect and equality--even if it's a choice. We're all children of God and nothing about the sexuality is downright bad. Are there bad homosexuals? Sure. But there are bad heterosexuals. I have to believe that my sexuality is what God produced me to be. That may be controversial and polarizing but it's true.

I'm not gay for attention. I don't want my sexuality in the headlines, I just want my rights--nothing more or less. I'm not gay because something happened to me in my child hood. I wasn't molested. I didn't have a different childhood from my straight brothers and sister. I'm not gay because it's some hip fad. Lord knows that we face enough discrimination and hatred that if it were a choice, I wouldn't want anything to do with it.

In the end, Gaga has it right. God makes no mistakes.

And I'm glad....I was born this way.