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idea. Think of a scale from 1 to 100. A group from 1 to 30 or 30% of the population is heterosexual. No choice. At the other end of the scale 10% are homosexual. No choice. The 60% between these groups make a choice. Where a person is on the scale will, of course, affect the decision and for most the choice is easy. The studies mentioned above say that “social environment” does not affect sexual orientation but the decision is made sometimes to conform with social, religious and family pressures. It can be years later that the decision is reversed or corrected and the individual comes out. I am aware of a number of men who after failed marriages and heterosexual relationships, “came out” in their forties and fifties and now live contented lives in gay relationships. I spoke to Scott, a man of 22, who has lived and gone to school in Ladysmith. He, like Bruce knew from a very early age that he was not attracted to females. But there the similarity ends. He experienced no bullying at school or in the community. Scott told me of a group at Ladysmith Secondary school that was called the “Gay Straight Alliance” and this year has been changed to LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bi-sexual, transgender, questioning) where you can sit with your peers and discuss whatever issues you want. Sara Stone, the teacher/sponsor for this group told me that it was started by a girl some years ago who saw the need. Sara said they take stands against bullying and hurtful language, discuss all aspects of LGBT and organize a “Rainbow Day” for the school. When Scott came out he and his Dad had some difficult times but that seems to have passed, perhaps because there is lots of information to access and people to talk to. There are also many websites that give reasons why homosexuality is wrong. These are mostly personal or religious opinions. The scientific studies are there to be ferreted out. Read them all and come to your own conclusions. I found one through a university web browser called “Can Anyone Tell Me Why I’m Gay?” What Research Suggests Regarding the Origins of Sexual Orientation, by Dr. William Jenkins of Mercer University. I found it very thorough. Dr Jenkins’ conclusions are that nothing is proved as yet but there is fascinating and exhaustive research being done. www.freepatentsonline.com/ article/North-American-Journal-Psychology/226818615.html Lena, about the same age as Scott, grew up in the area. She told me that she had lots of boy friends in high school but none of the relationships lasted long. After a disastrous engagement ended she started to figure out and be honest with herself about her attractions. She “came out” in a quiet way and when she told her parents there was no discussion. Talking to Scott and Lena, I found that they had very little understanding of what knowledge their parents and grandparents had about being gay. I thought I was writing this article for relatives of gay people but I have realized that young gay people need an understanding of where the older generation is coming from. Our knowledge was molded by religion, and homophobic people like Anita Bryant, an Oklahoma beauty queen, whose Old Testament argument was that she was afraid that, as homosexuals could not reproduce, they would molest and convert our children. Confusing pedophilia with homosexuality, she crusaded in 1977 and won the case against adoption by homosexuals. The law still stands in Florida. The silly thing about this argument is that homosexuals do reproduce and an interesting fact is that a huge percentage of children raised by gay people turn out to be
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