Sexual Orientation- From birth? Or a choice?
By: Paikea Chen
Many people believe That a person’s sexuality is a choice made later in life, or that it is influenced by an individual’s upbringing, but is this really true? Lots of people who are part of the LGBTQ+ community, and many who are not, believe that a person’s sexuality is determined from the time a person is born.
In an interview with a fifty-year-old anonymous male, he said that he discovered an attraction to boys when he was about five years old, and began noticing and questioning his sexuality more when he reached age ten and discovered that he had a crush on one of his friends. He believes that he was gay from birth, and that his sexuality was not a choice. He grew up in a Christion family that was not supportive of the LGBTQ+ community.
If sexuality was a choice or was influenced by one’s upbringing, growing up in a non-LGBTQ+ family probably would’ve pushed him to be a heterosexual, however he still became a homosexual. Also, he says that being gay was not his choice, but is simply who he is.
A thirteen-year-old female explained that she has always been attracted to all genders. She says it is simply how she is, and was most likely determined at birth. She grew up in a very supportive family, is accepting of all sexual orientations, and for the most part believes that an individual’s sexual orientation is determined at birth.
A fourteen-year-old female who identifies as straight, or heterosexual, says that she has been straight this since birth. When asked about whether or not her family was supportive of the LGBTQ+ community she said, “My family is pretty accepting about sexualities. We have many family friends who aren’t straight, and my family never seemed to care.”
Both of these girls grew up in accepting families, however one identifies as a heterosexual, and the other is a part of the LGBTQ+ community. Both say that they believe sexuality to be determined at birth. Also, as stated earlier, someone who grew up in a not accepting family says that he was gay from birth.
A 45-year-old female who identifies as gay/lesbian says that she discovered that she was gay when she hit puberty. She explains that it wasn’t a choice, and that it just happened. She grew up in a family that at first was quite homophobic, and says that “It took my family members a while to realize it was not about them.” Eventually, her family became more accepting of her, but at first they rejected the idea.
It is probable that any individual’s sexual orientation is determined from the time they are born. People who were raised in non-LGBTQ+ homes will still sometimes turn out as homosexual, even though their upbringing would push them to be heterosexual. Also, people who were raised in families that were supportive of all sexuality can turn out as hetero or homosexuals. In conclusion, an individual’s sexuality is most likely determined when they are born.