The Orbis

Issue date: 2/27/02 Section: Undefined Section

I am a heterosexual male. I do not recall ever having been otherwise. I have been consistently attracted to women since my preteen years.

It was not a conscious decision, but an unconscious urge that caused me to be so.

I have several homosexual friends who could write the same words, except about men.

Frankly, I would really appreciate it if someone would please tell me what is wrong with that.

I have heard all the arguments before: it is an immoral choice; it is unnatural; it is just plain wrong.

I would like to offer a few arguments as to why these criticisms cannot hold water in American society.

The argument against homosexuality that I hear most often is that it is an immoral choice by the individual, so I would like to focus on the key points of immorality and choice.

I have already addressed the latter at the beginning of this column. Homosexuality is not a choice.

There are two bases for this conclusion.

First, I base it on the simple fact that I have yet to meet a gay or lesbian individual who claims he or she chose their sexual orientation, being fully aware of the prejudice they would certainly face.

On the contrary, they usually say they first started feeling attracted to members of the same sex around the same time that others their age began to find the opposite sex attractive.

Second, it is very difficult for me to imagine choosing to be attracted to someone.

In my experience, if you are attracted to someone, you are and that is that.

I do not wake up every day and remind myself that I am straight and therefore should look at women.

I look at women because I see a certain indefinable beauty there. I can only imagine it is the same way for every gay person out there.

Now we get to immorality, which I can, again, argue against on two fronts.

First, there is the question of who defines whether something is immoral.

This could easily develop into a religious debate that would have fit in better in the last edition of Orbis, so I will suffice it to say that no human being can define morality for any other individual. Every person should have the right to set his or her personal standards however they choose, as long as those standards do not negatively affect others.

My second point about the so-called immorality of homosexuality is perhaps the most important.

As a true believer in this thing we call love, I will never understand why some people look down on love that happens to exist between two members of the same sex.

The gay couples that I know, in fact, are quite devoted to each other, even moreso than many heterosexual couples.

"The more love in the world, the better" has always been my motto, and, yet, homosexual's love for each other is so often met with hatred by the outside world.

In the wake of recent outcries against hate on Vanderbilt's campus, I would suggest that some of that acceptance be directed towards the gay and lesbian community.

A little tolerance can go a long way.

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