# Cynthia Nixon states she's "gay by choice". Does this harm the LGBT community? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [January 24, 2012, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cynthia-nixon-states-shes-gay-by-choice-does-this-harm-the-lgbt-community/610554 "2012-01-24T23:28:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 4\ **Page:** 14
**Author:** ![Revenant\_Threshold](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f1d935/32.png) [@Revenant\_Threshold](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revenant_Threshold)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2012, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cynthia-nixon-states-shes-gay-by-choice-does-this-harm-the-lgbt-community/610554/261 "2012-02-07T15:17:49Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > Because anal sex doesn’t lead to reproduction, and cannot therefore directly affect it. Gender reproduction leads directly to genetic diversity. Anal sex does not. I think you’re missing a trick, there. Anal sex doesn’t lead to reproduction, correct; it, to an extent, inhibits it, assuming a sexual zero-sum game or homosexuality. It’s the most direct affect of reproduction possible; it lowers the chance of it happening. If I as a proto-mammal have gay siblings, then that means that a) I have less competition to mate and b) I have effective “babysitters” to ensure I can go out and do more mating (and have someone protect my genetic offspring). > [@](#): > > If anal sex were just as much a product of evolution as gendered reproduction, it would be as nearly universal among the higher orders as gendered reproduction. It isn’t. That would also seem to rule out human-level intelligence as a product of evolution. Or flight, if we may move to other species. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2012, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cynthia-nixon-states-shes-gay-by-choice-does-this-harm-the-lgbt-community/610554/262 "2012-02-07T15:32:43Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > Because anal sex doesn’t lead to reproduction, and cannot therefore directly affect it. Gender reproduction leads directly to genetic diversity. Anal sex does not. This is a problematic argument for two reasons. One is that we have a lot of traits that don’t lead to reproduction and greater genetic diversity. The other is that you might be wrong. Like I said earlier, if it encourages tighter bonds in the social group, that means more people survive and reproduce, which means more genetic diversity. And someone who isn’t having reproductive sex can still help the group survive without passing on his or her genetic material- although in these discussions people have a habit of forgetting that gay people can and do pass their genes along the old-fashioned way. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2012, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cynthia-nixon-states-shes-gay-by-choice-does-this-harm-the-lgbt-community/610554/263 "2012-02-07T20:46:50Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > Because anal sex doesn’t lead to reproduction, and cannot therefore directly affect it. Gender reproduction leads directly to genetic diversity. Anal sex does not. > > If anal sex were just as much a product of evolution as gendered reproduction, it would be as nearly universal among the higher orders as gendered reproduction. It isn’t. > > Regards, > Shodan Other things that don’t lead to reproduction: binocular vision bipedal locomotion warm blood opposable thumbs language skills Is it your contention that none of these things are the product of evolution? ---
**Author:** ![XT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xt/32/456_2.png) [@XT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XT)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2012, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cynthia-nixon-states-shes-gay-by-choice-does-this-harm-the-lgbt-community/610554/264 "2012-02-07T21:59:01Z")
I’d have to say I disagree with the assertion that anal (or other types of non-reproductive) sex doesn’t lead to reproduction. I’ve manged 5 kids with my wife, while still managing my fair share of, er, non-standard/non-‘natural’ sexual contact through the years. 😛 The thing is, that having sex isn’t about simple procreation…it’s about the bonding. And non-reproductive sex, and the additional bonding can lead to the reproductive kind. Pretty obviously, since there is still a Greece out there…it’s been in all the papers lately. 😉 -XT [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cynthia-nixon-states-shes-gay-by-choice-does-this-harm-the-lgbt-community/610554.md?page=13)