Paradise Under Your Feet — Page 187
Appendix 5: Talking About Homosexuality 187 young minds at a delicate time when sexual identity and attractions may be forming, especially since many youngsters may be in a phase of having interest in others of the same-sex temporarily as they compare themselves. Obviously then, it can lead to a vicious cycle. Thus, sexual potentials and expressions of any human being may manifest differently depending on the culture milieu. In most instances, individuals with same-sex attractions may not be making a conscious choice and simply find themselves with such impulses. After all, our thoughts are the result of the complex interplay of biology and environment and the thousands of decisions we made going back to our earliest memories as little children. However, there is a choice when it comes to acting out on such thoughts, i. e. how you choose to respond and starting to behave in a certain way. We make a crucial difference between thoughts, acting on thoughts, and subsequently considering themselves as a certain sexual identity. In other words, at some point individuals go from something they do to something they supposedly are. The last stage of taking on a certain identity, in this case a ‘ gay identity ’ is fostered by a society that may be very open sexually, with little modesty, creating an environment whereby people with homosexual desires can find each other. Children should be told that some young people may have fleeting same-sex attractions; having such thoughts does not make one homosexual or “ gay. ” That label hinges on whether you choose to act upon those desires, and then start calling it ‘ natural ’ and give yourself that socio-cultural identity. No one is actually homosexual. Our bodies are proof we are designed for heterosexuality and every human being is a product of heterosexuality. If children with same-sex attractions followed our family value system, they would not enter into that activity. No one is compelled