# Has anyone ever "converted" to homosexuality? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [September 20, 2002, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-anyone-ever-converted-to-homosexuality/128672 "2002-09-20T00:10:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Esprix](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/esprix/32/7899_2.png) [@Esprix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Esprix)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2002, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-anyone-ever-converted-to-homosexuality/128672/41 "2002-09-23T16:07:45Z")
Very true, **Netbrian** - being attracted to someone does not 100% equate to wanting to have sex with them. Esprix ---
**Author:** ![bloomingpouf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/5fc32e/32.png) [@bloomingpouf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bloomingpouf)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2002, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-anyone-ever-converted-to-homosexuality/128672/42 "2002-09-23T19:38:17Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Esprix \* > **Very true, Netbrian - being attracted to someone does not 100% equate to wanting to have sex with them.** Well wanting to have sex with some one does not constitute 100% attraction. Rapists are not likely to be 100% attracted (in the normal sense) to a person – and those who frequent the Cottage and Tea Rooms of the world seem to be more interested in The Colloquial “Getting an end away” and attraction is not necessarily the highest priority or 100%! Many confuse the views of attraction and desire. They are nor equal. Many a Psychologist can give you the models on that one. Most folks will judge people on physical attraction the same way – one mans 10 is usually the other guys 10 and one mans hound is another guys howler too! ---
**Author:** ![Homebrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@Homebrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Homebrew)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2002, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-anyone-ever-converted-to-homosexuality/128672/43 "2002-09-23T21:36:43Z")
BTW, **bloomingpouf** , thanks for the visual relief. 😉 :mad::o;):p:(😕 ---
**Author:** ![Netbrian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/71e660/32.png) [@Netbrian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Netbrian)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2002, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-anyone-ever-converted-to-homosexuality/128672/44 "2002-09-24T01:11:22Z")
Constant mood swings, Hombrew? ---
**Author:** ![effac3d](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b487fb/32.png) [@effac3d](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/effac3d)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2002, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-anyone-ever-converted-to-homosexuality/128672/45 "2002-09-24T02:30:20Z")
The only thing i wonder about is why all women aren’t lesbians. I mean c’mon 90% of men are butt ugly. And yes this post is tongue in check 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Esprix](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/esprix/32/7899_2.png) [@Esprix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Esprix)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2002, 3:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-anyone-ever-converted-to-homosexuality/128672/46 "2002-09-24T03:00:19Z")
**Netbrian** , it’s the six colors of the gay rainbow flag. If you didn’t know. Esprix ---
**Author:** ![Netbrian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/71e660/32.png) [@Netbrian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Netbrian)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2002, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-anyone-ever-converted-to-homosexuality/128672/47 "2002-09-24T03:08:34Z")
I actually knew that, I was just making an attempt at humor. Oh well. ---
**Author:** ![KellyM](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/57b2e6/32.png) [@KellyM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KellyM)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2002, 12:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-anyone-ever-converted-to-homosexuality/128672/48 "2002-09-24T12:11:43Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Shodan \* > \*\*I was talking about the idea of a “gay” gene. > > No, no one is born gay. Or heterosexual. Infants have no particular orientation (in my opinion).\*\* I very much doubt this. Separated identical twin studies have shown that idents are more likely to have correlated sexual preference than non-idents. This strongly suggests a genetic predisposition. John Money used to claim that people were born gender-free, and used that as justification to chop up the genitals of babies. He was wrong. So are you. ---
**Author:** ![lee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lee/32/7455_2.png) [@lee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lee)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2002, 12:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-anyone-ever-converted-to-homosexuality/128672/49 "2002-09-24T12:26:31Z")
Personallly, I believe there are born that way aspects and grew that way aspect. Studies, such as the one with the separated twins, show there are at the very least likely to be genetic influences one sexual orientation. But if you get it from your genes or buy in in it kit for $19.95 off the internet, it shouldn’t matter. I don’t need to believe that, “they can’t but help it!” to accept homosexuals. I don’t need to believe that to treat them fairly or make equitable laws. As for all the people worring about childhood influences might make a child gay, stop it. If there are childhood influences, they are subtle and difficult to fathom. Also, I’ll bet they vary by the individual. What’s more, how are you going to distiguish influence from things that simply increase awareness of an inate predispositon? It is much easier to mess up your kid that it is to force any particular role, personality, or sexuality on him or her. Love your child and please try to teach them not to be assholes. That about all you can do. ---
**Author:** ![effac3d](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b487fb/32.png) [@effac3d](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/effac3d)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2002, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-anyone-ever-converted-to-homosexuality/128672/50 "2002-09-24T14:21:16Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by KellyM \* > \*\*I very much doubt this. Separated identical twin studies have shown that idents are more likely to have correlated sexual preference than non-idents. This strongly suggests a genetic predisposition. > > John Money used to claim that people were born gender-free, and used that as justification to chop up the genitals of babies. He was wrong. So are you. \*\* I’ve always wondered why parents would do this. I also believe that sexuality is fluid and depends more on life experience,but i would never subject a child to that. I would be too afraid i’d rob the child of erogenous tissue,and make a determination that is not mine to make. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Great\_Unwashed](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_great_unwashed/32/4791_2.png) [@The\_Great\_Unwashed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Great_Unwashed)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2002, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-anyone-ever-converted-to-homosexuality/128672/51 "2002-09-24T14:42:37Z")
I’m tempted. Just to piss people off. ---
**Author:** ![Esprix](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/esprix/32/7899_2.png) [@Esprix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Esprix)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2002, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-anyone-ever-converted-to-homosexuality/128672/52 "2002-09-24T16:15:10Z")
> [@](#): > > _Originally posted by **lee** _ > > \*\*Personallly, I believe there are born that way aspects and grew that way aspect. Studies, such as the one with the separated twins, show there are at the very least likely to be genetic influences one sexual orientation. But if you get it from your genes or buy in in it kit for $19.95 off the internet, it shouldn’t matter. I don’t need to believe that, “they can’t but help it!” to accept homosexuals. I don’t need to believe that to treat them fairly or make equitable laws. > > As for all the people worring about childhood influences might make a child gay, stop it. If there are childhood influences, they are subtle and difficult to fathom. Also, I’ll bet they vary by the individual. What’s more, how are you going to distiguish influence from things that simply increase awareness of an inate predispositon? It is much easier to mess up your kid that it is to force any particular role, personality, or sexuality on him or her. > > Love your child and please try to teach them not to be assholes. That about all you can do. Damn you, **lee** - get out of my head! 😉 Nicely put. Esprix ---
**Author:** ![zen101](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c68b51/32.png) [@zen101](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zen101)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2002, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-anyone-ever-converted-to-homosexuality/128672/53 "2002-09-24T22:15:32Z")
Memories of the GD “Gay Gene” thread are bubbling up, then I think of the handle “Rook” and something else bubbles up. ---
**Author:** ![Bongmaster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Bongmaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bongmaster)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2002, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-anyone-ever-converted-to-homosexuality/128672/54 "2002-10-01T21:20:32Z")
There’s little doubt in my mind that homosexuality is caused by both genetic and enviornmental factors. But the real truth is, I don’t know for sure and neither does anyone else. Making judgements against people without any real reason to believe it is just plain ignorance. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-anyone-ever-converted-to-homosexuality/128672.md?page=2)