As usual Dinesh D'Souza is wrong. He sees the examples of the ancient Greeks and Romans practicing bisexuality as definitive proof that homosexuality is not innate. His theory is that since current Greeks and Romans don't practice rampant bisexuality (let's assume that's true for the moment being) and the ancient Greeks and Romans did, it must be a cultural thing. Not a genetic one.
What's funny about the Christian right argument is that they admit that they are powerless to stop feelings of homosexuality taking over if society opens up to it. What's going through their minds? Perhaps they're not so different from the ancient Greeks after all.
Of course, as Kinsey showed, the difference between homosexuality and heterosexuality is not a sharp divide (I used to take credit for this idea until I realized Professor Kinsey had written about this before I was even born). It's not a black or white, gay or straight issue. Everyone is somewhere along the gay-straight spectrum.
And the further society opens up to homosexuality as permissible, the more people feel comfortable coming out as bisexual, homosexual, omnisexual or whateversexual.
Let me give a quick and absurdly simplistic example. Let's assume 100 is completely gay and 0 is completely straight on our gay-straight continuum. A person who ranks a 95 on the gay scale is probably going to act out on those innate desires no matter what societal rules there are, even at the risk of being put to death in closed societies.
A person who is a 5 on that scale might never act on any trace bisexual desires he or she might have no matter what the societal norms are. But the more open a society is, the more you will start to draw in people who score an 85, 75, 65, 55, 45, 35, etc. on our fun little gay-straight line.
In a very closed society some one who is "80% gay" might never come out and in a very open society someone who is even "20% gay" might try it. These are gross simplifications, but you get the point. In fact, this is in some ways exactly what the culture warriors on the right have been warning about.
The Christian right (and the religious and cultural conservatives of a great many societies) have been worried about this for a long time. They are right. As society opens up, we will likely be more "gay." Or in reality, be closer to our true nature, wherever that might lie on the bisexuality continuum.
Where the cultural right is wrong is when they make a value judgment on that. Of course, there isn't anything wrong with that all. In fact, since it allows us to be closer to our "real" nature without societal judgments on our natural sexual preferences, there is something very right about it.
As it stands, our current culture doesn't yet appear to be fully comfortable with a truly and widely bisexual society. So, we inch toward progress or slouch toward
Though it must be noted that we have already achieved a great deal of openness on the female side of the equation. Ask around and see if you can find a woman under 25 who hasn't made out with one of their girlfriends.
My informal study on our show indicates about 80% of girls under 25 have at least tried a sexual experience with another woman (I concede that I am no Alfred Kinsey and my so-called evidence is wildly anecdotal, but ask for yourself and you'll see my numbers are shockingly accurate).
D'Souza uses history as his guide. It's ironic because his argument is ultimately against the tide of history and the inevitability of our genes. We know what the future holds, it is our past. The American people are right, our sexuality is innate. We just have to have the courage to own up to it.
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Reader Comments ( Page 6 of 37)
76. WELL, I THOUGHT WE WERE TALKING SEX,?!!! NOT PRODUCING KIDS. THERE IS A DIFFERENCE. I SAY BE BY, GET THE BEST OF BOTH WORLDS!!!!!!!! LOL HEHEHE
P.S. NO HATE MAIL PLEASE...XOXOXOXOX LET'S GET ALONG
Blondie at 9:43PM on Jun 28th 2007
77. Correction to #66.
Christiane, if we were all gay, people would cease to exist in about a hundred years. :p
clud at 9:46PM on Jun 28th 2007
78. correction to #73. Its called artificial insemination. Duh.
Maria at 9:47PM on Jun 28th 2007
79. Before you say things about Christians being "dangerous" and wrong, you should atleast have a basic idea of what the Bible says about homosexuality. Yes, it is a sin and considered wrong, but Jesus doesn't hate gay people!! People are not perfect, and yes, even Christians sin. Jesus' message is not just to condemn, but to save, to bring life- So while homosexuality is against the Bible, Jesus died for everyone, loves everyone. Homosexuals can become Christians, but we are expected to desire what is pure and what is holy according to the Bible- possibly continuing to struggle with this sin, but ask for His grace and to no longer letting it be a lifestyle.
And in response to the Bible being written just for a specific time period... It was written to be relevant to everyone, everywhere, all the time.. There are alot of laws from the Old Testament that were "passed away" after Jesus' coming in the New Testament, but views on homosexuality or gay marriage are not included.
Heather at 9:49PM on Jun 28th 2007
80. thats because it was a bunch of crusty old straight men who decided what got "passed away". :D
Maria at 7:18AM on Jun 29th 2007
81. NUMBER 66. CHRISTIANE, I AGREE WITH U, GOOD NIGHT SLEEP WELL. SARABELLEHUE
Blondie at 9:52PM on Jun 28th 2007
82. no, were not all gay, in fact, none of us are.
nothing more needed.
hykedoe at 9:58PM on Jun 28th 2007
83. our true nature is gay? haha!
hykedoe at 10:01PM on Jun 28th 2007
84. is this guy for real?
hykedoe at 10:02PM on Jun 28th 2007
85. Hi Maria,
You have two moms. interesting. What I was talking about though was that like at school the little chillins, how would the teacher identify the little girl's moms. Kids usually do not know their parents names early on. They do not even know how to spell their name.
I think the divorce rate is high because it is more challenging for a man and woman to agree on things because of their differences. Women naturally understand e/o.
Michelle at 10:15PM on Jun 28th 2007
86. Being gay is not limited to a sexual act. It seems from your writing that that is what you seem to think. You do not get to define me or anyone other than yourself and if where and what you do with your genitalia is how you do it< i suggest you try even harder to be the open minded person you are attempting to come off as
boo at 2:17PM on Jun 29th 2007
87. I agree that we are all on the gay/straight continuum somewhere. However, to say that that means we should allow the behavior as purely natural and therefore acceptable is irresponsible. We are all on the violent/non-violent continuum somewhere, as well. Should we therefore also allow violent behavior as natural and therefore acceptable? This is how the statements about pedophilia and beastiality are being brought into the discussion. Any behavior that any human engages in can be argued this way as natural and acceptable. Have we given up on the idea that man's baser nature must be controlled? Have we forgotten the lessons of history showing us that man will find and take any opportunity to cause harm and destruction to himself, his neighbor, and his environment that he can? Yes, it's easy to say that this is behavior between consenting adults behind closed doors, but to use this type of argument to validate it within our society puts our foot on a dangerous path. We already have the means to disapprove of, yet allow, certain behaviors within our society: smoking, infidelity, pornography, prostitution, etc. Homosexuality can be disapproved of, yet allowed, in a similar manner. This will allow those on the gay end of the spectrum to live as they choose, while maintaining a societal view that it's ultimately negative behavior. This is necessary to help stifle other forms of negative behavior as well.
theamaingchris at 10:28PM on Jun 28th 2007
88. Obviously Mr. Uygur lives the old saying "ignorance is bliss". Such a twisted and confused society. Sigh....
B at 10:33PM on Jun 28th 2007
89. I can choose to be gay just like everyone telling me that it's wrong and disgusting can choose to be straight.
Kiley at 10:35PM on Jun 28th 2007
90. As a bisexual man I must say your post is right on target as far as I am concerned. I have been in both types of relationships and have three children with my exwife and six children with my life partner of 20 years. I prefer a gay relationship over a hetero because men understand men better. And some people need to wake up. Sexuality doesn't even mater anymore. Pedophiles are 98% heterosexuals NOT homosexuals! Peace-out!!
Robbie at 10:36PM on Jun 28th 2007