[R. B.]

I believe that choice has a lot to do with all sexualities. If sexuality were biologically determined and therefore unmalleable, why would so many heterosexuals expend so much energy on maintaining their heterosexuality and anxiously proving that they’re not gay? Most young children are not heterosexual, but are, as Freud said, ‘polymorphously perverse.’ And yet most adults live heterosexual lives. So most people become heterosexual at some point. I think this is because we are taught to be straight. Children are instructed from the earliest ages as to how to engage in ‘appropriate’ gender behavior. Gender-deviant children (that is, children whom others fear may be gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgendered) are viciously disciplined–by adults and other children–into normative behavior. As we get older, we are explicitly taught to be heterosexual through TV, magazines, etc. I think most people choose heterosexuality in part because it’s what they’re taught (and the punishment for being gay/lesbian/bisexual/trans are so vicious) and in part because they like heterosexual lifestyles–with all their benefits. So if sexuality is a choice, why would anyone choose to be g/l/b/t? Well, I chose it because lesbianism offers many benefits that suit me well. I like being part of a feminist community of women, I like being free of sexist dynamics in my intimate relationships, I like envisioning myself in the continuum of lesbian history. Of course, I also love intimacy with women. I don’t think I could have chosen never to feel attraction to women, but I definitely could have chosen to maximize any attractions I did/do feel for men and to live a heterosexual lifestyle. I chose to be a lesbian.

User Detail :  

Name : R. B., Gender : F, Sexual Orientation : Lesbian, Race : White/Caucasian, Religion : Jewish, Age : 31, City : Washington, State : DC, Country : United States, Occupation : student, Education level : Over 4 Years of College, Social class : Middle class, 

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