[Cerek]

There have been some good points brought out in responses that I want to expand on. I'll get to that in a minute. First, I want to address a little more fully my viewpoint that sexuality is not genetic.

Our dna dictates our physical characteristics, which are more or less unchangeable. Someone with curly hair can't make their hair suddenly grow straight and (with the exception of Michael Jackson), skin color is usually unchangeable as well. Emotions, desires, personality, etc - on the other hand - may be influenced by dna, but these characteristics are NOT immutable. These are areas we DO have control over and sexuality falls into that category as well.

As an example, think about the kind of food you like, or specific dishes you really enjoy. It is easy to say "I can't help the fact that I like Mexican food", but that's not necessarily true. Our tastes can - and do - change. Our taste buds influence what we like, to a degree, but so do our experiences.

Two more good points were provide by Variol and Yorick. The fact that many people DO change their "sexuality" lends proof to the fact that our sexuality is a "chosen" or "learned" desire more than an unalterable genetic trait. Dave is right that skin color can't be changed. All kidding about MJ aside, a black person cannot just choose to make their skin white and vice versa. The fact that it can NOT be changed at all (without outside influence) shows that it IS immutable. On the other hand, Yorick has provided several examples of people he knows that HAVE changed their "sexuality". If sexuality were genetic, it could not be changed by anyone. There would be no examples of gays becoming straight, straight becoming gays, etc.

The fact that parades and events are held in the name of "gay pride" supports this even further. Look at the behavior occurring at these events and think about the real purpose behind them. The real purpose isn't so much to achieve acceptance by the masses. Rather, it is to receive affirmation and justification of the "choice" they have made in their sexuality. It is essentially one huge group therapy session to give support and affirmation to those involved.

Finally, Yorick gave a very poignant description of what it is like to LOVE another person. He correctly points out that it encompasses the entire person, not just their genitalia. If all you focus on is your desires and attractions, you're not looking at the whole picture.