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 7 of 37)
91. People need to give it a rest. I don't run around shoving the fact I am straight down people's throats. For some reason gay people feel they need to exploit themselves to get attention. We are all human in this world and everyone has their own preferences and likes. You have to appreciate the posts that "assume" something must be a certain way because their brain perceives it that way. No, not everyone is a little bit gay. Maybe just the person who wrote the article is and they are in denial ;)
Willow at 11:14PM on Jun 28th 2007
92.
I doubt that 80% of women under 25 have made out with another woman, and for those who say they have, Hollywood, not budding homosexuality is motivated it.
LKC at 10:55PM on Jun 28th 2007
93. This just more of the typical "do anything you want to hell with everyone else, no personal responsibility, no morality" agenda of the left. I caught a bit of a show on E! where they made disgraced former governor of New Jersey Jim McGreevey out to be some kind of hero and icon for "gay rights" in America, praising his new happy life with his partner...not a word about the fact that he used his wife and children for his own political and personal gain then tossed them aside like so much trash and destroyed their lives. That is the liberal view of a happy ending, McGreevey's homosexual and happy so to hell with all the lives he destroyed. The people Uygur refers to as "the right" is in reality most of America (but they don't want you to know that), most Americans believe in personal responsibility, morality, and respecting the rights of others. The left, aided by the mainstream media, wishes to bring everyone to their way of thinking by simply doing away with all morality and personal responsibility through legislation and when that fails through litigation in liberal courts. This nuts claim that "everyone is gay" is just one more example of an absurd leftist agenda.
Robert Byngham at 11:07PM on Jun 28th 2007
94. I am sick of morons mentioning the Romans and Greeks in relation to homosexuality. Their cultural and personal practices had absolutely nothing to do with their downfall. Rome fell because of weak leaders against strong barbarian attacks over a course of a couple hundred years. Don't use something you dont understand as an argument.
And responder #6 Chris: condoms have been around in some form since the Egyptian civilization, so when exactly are you referring to? Anyway, STDs are spread by heterosexuals too and if you're suggesting, as I assume that you are, that AIDS came from the gay community, that is an unfair stereotype, since that is also spread by the heterosexual community.
Lastly, if you're suggesting the metrosexual men are wusses and girly so the human race is doomed since they can't defend themselves, remind yourself that women are perfectly capable of fighting, so any perceived shortcomings about this generation of men is irrelevant.
E.R. at 11:14PM on Jun 28th 2007
95. Umm, somehow, I don't see the relationship between homosexuality and pedophilia. Can anyone hear me on this???!!!!
anyway, everyone should check this out:
http://www.fakebuddy.com/
Jackie at 11:16PM on Jun 28th 2007
96. I concur with Leilani 100%. 2 all datz n denial: It is against the Bible to be gay. Read yo Bible!!!
Kilah at 11:54PM on Jun 28th 2007
97. Who cares and why please tell me I should! With so much death and blood and etc etc going on Why should you or any waste your time reguarding where some one choose to stick their tool?
lavenderblue3 at 7:01PM on Aug 18th 2007
98. The authors title is: 'We're all Gay...' In his long semi historical diatribe, he says not one word which supports or proves his title (or charge) that the world is gay. Being gay has been around forever, but that fact does not prove that the world is gay by degrees. To the author, I say, speak for yourself fella!
Richard Harrid Sr at 11:52PM on Jun 28th 2007
99. Just a quick note to Michelle... about your "few items" to Maria... The one that caught my eye is it's more fulfilling for a man and a woman. Hmmm... clearly you have never been with a woman or you would NEVER even compare the fulfillment!!! :) Oh, and who knows their own "gifts" better than someone just like you! :)
CW at 12:05AM on Jun 29th 2007
100. Or they go off the deep end like posters #2 & 3 and think we are all going to be sexual deviants. Uygur makes perfect sense. I have often thought along the same lines.... just as people have sexual drives of 0 to 100. There will still be criminals. There will be perversions. I have always said that those who think homosexuality is a choice must be bisexual. I am heterosexual and I KNOW it is not my choice. It just is.
Lynne at 12:29AM on Jun 29th 2007
101. pssssstttt the bible was written to please king james, don't forget that. when you quote it to justify your hatred/fear, you are a fool. you know all you people who quote the bible need to look real closely at the laws and rules you break. Clean your back yard before you talk about the weeds in mine.
Mackie at 12:31AM on Jun 29th 2007
102. The more evolved a person becomes, the more one identifies with spirit rather than body, the more bisexual they become. The soul doesn't have a gender and is connected with the collective soul of all individualities. Bisexuality embraces this truth. However, the more evolved a person becomes, the more they are not driven by a libido. People need to stop looking to connect with their other half and realize that everyone is their soul mate.
jade at 12:34AM on Jun 29th 2007
103. I could not but agree more with this sensible expose.
We have to learn to think outside of religious or political feelings.
And I am afraid to say to Mr Dinesh D'Souza ( I hope he doesn't get paid for saying what he says), that he is wrong and also wrong about animals.
There are many well documented cases about homosexuality in the animal World.
Comtessa de Metoncula at 12:35AM on Jun 29th 2007
104. I wouldn't do D'Nesh with Ann Coulter's stubby little member!
Chris at 12:38AM on Jun 29th 2007
105. I am 60 years old and have been Bi/straight/gay/bi/gay/a little straight/gay..I've had a great life. I just can't understand why straight people have such a desire to study homosexuals. What is the attraction that makes straights nuts? I sure have NO interest in anyones sexual preference unless I want to bed them..and yes at 60 it happens alot!
Jack at 12:46AM on Jun 29th 2007