The Complexity of Homosexuality

Since moving from the bubble of Utah to the San Francisco Bay Area I have met many people who are homosexuals. None of these people have fit the picture which I painted in my head, or had been painted for me, previously as to what these type of people were like. The entire idea of being attracted to the same sex was previously always seen as a sin or a weakness that would prevent the person from gaining all that life had to offer. I saw it as something similar to an addiction or weakness to a substance like alcohol or drugs. This view was largely, if not totally, based on religious influences in my life that stemmed from biblical teachings that condemned these types of actions. My experience has been that these people were simply that, people. They just had a bit of different wiring as to what they were drawn to. They are happy, smart, good hearted people that I actually enjoy being around most of the time.

As is the case lately, I been looking at my previous assumptions and seeing what truth there was to them. A few things.

Homosexuality isn't a Black or White Subject

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kinsey_Reports#Kinsey_scale

Research has shown that people are not just gay or straight and that there is a gradient of sexual orientation among our population. Back in the 1940's Alfred Kiney interviewed many thousands or people obtaining what he called sexual histories. His work was foundational to the field of sexology. He created what has been known as the Kinsey Scale, shown above, which divides human sexuality into 6 different categories depending on sexual attraction. It is an interesting topic and his work as been the spring board for further scientific investigation.

Homosexuality Isn't a Conscious Choice 

An interesting video that I recently found showed the prevalence of homosexual activity in nature. This refutes many of the statements that say that it isn't natural and is just a choice. Animals are driven largely by instinct and this video shows that homosexual instincts do indeed exist in nature, and are more prevalent than I ever thought.

Homosexuals Doesn't Have a Negative Effect on Society

Homosexuality is often put in the category of a disorder that is damaging to society. This is a huge false assumption. It isn't a nuclear family but homosexual parents can raise children offering love and every advantage to that child it needs to be a contribution to society. Mr. Granderson gives some great thoughts on the matter.

I personally see no reason why a person that was born to have same sex attractions should be treated any different in society. They should be respected and treated just the same as those that are heterosexual. The idea from the Bible that this is an evil or impure way to live is absurd and should be discarded or reinterpreted. Why would a God create homosexuals of all species and then tell them that they can't have the type of love that they were programmed to have.