Changing Gay to Straight

[SolarMaxx]

If there was a safe and easy process available that could change Gay to Straight -- would make a change?

Edited November 10, 2014 by SolarMaxx

[zaf89]

Hell no. 

[Mann Ramblings]

Would I make a change? No.

 

In spite of the convenience factors, that would simply reinforce the concept that there is something intrinsically wrong with gays in the first place. The bigots don't need help fueling that kind of mentality. 

[zaf89]

In spite of the convenience factors, that would simply reinforce the concept that there is something intrinsically wrong with gays in the first place. The bigots don't need help fueling that kind of mentality. 

I agree. And this question seems to be loaded with the assumption that gay is less than straight. There are already people who claim to be "ex-gays" and people who push ridiculous, disproved, harmful "conversion" therapies on LGBT teens and adults. It's completely impossible, and pointless to try to fight nature because of some people's bigotry. 

[SolarMaxx]

The question is not meant to imply anything negative! I've talked with a number of people who suffered badly in their teens, and even in adulthood because of religious and social pressure and biases brought to bear. Nobody is saying gay is better or worse than straight -- but gay does make the world a more complex and difficult maze to navigate for a lot of people -- and depending on where you live, it can be a lonely existence.

Edited November 10, 2014 by SolarMaxx

[zaf89]

The question is not meant to imply anything negative! I've talked with a number of people who suffered badly in their teens, and even in adulthood because of religious and socials pressure and biases brought to bear. Nobody is saying gay is better or worst than straight -- but gay does make the world a more complex and difficult maze to navigate for a lot of people -- and depending on where you live, it can be a lonely existence.

For sure, but it's a cultural/societal problem, not an individual problem. Gay people get hell simply for existing- we've done nothing wrong. If I could change anything, it would be the homophobic/heterosexist society I was born into, not my sexuality. That's just my opinion, of course, and I could understand people who misguidedly wish they could change themselves to better fit into the societal mold, but that's a fool's errand, because the main systemic problems are still there.

[Palantir]

lol - Here's another take. How many people would use that technology to change from straight to gay?

[Mann Ramblings]

lol - Here's another take. How many people would use that technology to change from straight to gay?

 

What if we could use that technology to turn people in our direction? I can't see that being misused at all? LOL

 

(Excuse me while I go visit the Rugby team...)

[Never Surrender]

For sure, but it's a cultural/societal problem, not an individual problem. Gay people get hell simply for existing- we've done nothing wrong. If I could change anything, it would be the homophobic/heterosexist society I was born into, not my sexuality. That's just my opinion, of course, and I could understand people who misguidedly wish they could change themselves to better fit into the societal mold, but that's a fool's errand, because the main systemic problems are still there.

 

actually i disagree with this - ive been brought up in a supportive family, in a supportive country, i have no qualms or concerns about the fact that i identify as bisexual on a societal level

 

that said, inside my head is an absolute nightmare. i see myself as bisexual leaning male, i prefer men, i like manparts i see myself as a straight girl that likes gay porn and looks at girls. that said, the daily hell i go through trying to figure myself out just isnt worth it. every day its the same thing -

 

'omg i looked at that girls ass, or i liked her legs, etc.... does that mean im a lesbian? what if i am a lesbian? maybe im just in denial? am i repressing part of myself?... no i cant be, i do prefer men... but what if i only prefer men because i have done more with them sexually? i look at girls more than i look at men that i see in real life, what if im actually bi leaning female? how do i even know what i am? how do i define what i am? if i am a lesbian, or i do prefer girls, how will i even know?'. 

 

now i understand that yes, this makes me 110% control freak. but i spend so much time giving myself grey hairs by trying to define myself and work out what i feel, that its not even funny any more - the effect this has had on my mental health is staggering. im one of the most liberal people you can meet - i dont care who/what youre sleeping with or loving, long as they are above the age of consent, its all consensual  and i dont have to watch it. that said, and this will be an unpopular opinion so im gonna put my tin hat (and body armour) on for it, if this became a 'thing' then i for one would certainly think about it. 

Edited November 10, 2014 by Never Surrender

[zaf89]

Okay, but being gay or bisexual or having gay/bisexual feelings is not a disease. I'm not sure what kind of imaginary "medical procedure" we're considering, but regardless- it paints homosexuality/bisexuality as a disease to be cured of. 

 

Not everyone's sexuality needs to be so strictly defined, in my opinion. The only reason there are such rigid boxes we're placed in (or try to place ourselves in) is because of our socialization in generally heterosexist cultures. 

 

I'm not trying to diminish your experiences or claim that being not-straight in this world can't cause mental health problems- obviously it can and does. I'm just trying to say that the problem doesn't inherently lie in being not-straight, it arises from societies that bombard us from birth with messages telling us we should be straight.

Edited November 10, 2014 by zaf89

[SolarMaxx]

Your right zaf89, using the term "medical" in the question could be interpreted badly. Someone asked me this question not to long ago, and that's how they structured the wording. It's not my impression that anything negative was intentionally being implied.

[Never Surrender]

Okay, but being gay or bisexual or having gay/bisexual feelings is not a disease. I'm not sure what kind of imaginary "medical procedure" we're considering, but regardless- it paints homosexuality/bisexuality as a disease to be cured of. 

 

Not everyone's sexuality needs to be so strictly defined, in my opinion. The only reason there are such rigid boxes we're placed in (or try to place ourselves in) is because of our socialization in generally heterosexist cultures. 

 

I'm not trying to diminish your experiences or claim that being not-straight in this world can't cause mental health problems- obviously it can and does. I'm just trying to say that the problem doesn't inherently lie in being not-straight, it arises from societies that bombard us from birth with messages telling us we should be straight.

 

i dont think anybody has said that being gay, or bi, is a disease and i dont see that society has made me want to define myself. im talking about myself as a person - i like to know things about myself. i know that im scared of the dark, i know that my little toe on my right foot cracks, i know that my resting heart rate is around 60 beats per minute, and that im better at maths than i am at english. There are all things that are completely useless information to people around me, but i like to know about myself. i see my sexuality and sexual preferences as the same -- ive never felt pressured to define myself, i actually subscribe to the theory that nobody is 100% straight or gay. That said, i want to define myself so that I know for myself, because i like to be so in control of myself and my body that i can predict my reactions at any given time.

 

i think i need therapy

[Palantir]

 I'm not sure what kind of imaginary "medical procedure" we're considering, but regardless- it paints homosexuality/bisexuality as a disease to be cured of.

 

SolarMaxx's original post simply posits a simple easy to use procedure.

Any negative painting is in the eye of the beholder.

Yes, of course the are social groups which will make that imputation.

And of course there are situations where it's use would be perceived as positive.

 

As with any tool mankind develops it could be used for good or bad - and the perception of that good or bad will vary.

[zaf89]

I disagree that any negative painting is in the eye of the beholder. No procedure to cure gay people from being gay can be construed as neutral, or used for "good," in my opinion. I just don't see how that would be possible, unless one views no more gay people as a good thing.

[Palantir]

I disagree that any negative painting is in the eye of the beholder. No procedure to cure gay people from being gay can be construed as neutral, or used for "good," in my opinion. I just don't see how that would be possible, unless one views no more gay people as a good thing.

 

zaf, the procedure itself is neutral. It hasn't got a conscience or free will. It's the use, which would be instigated by people, which can be perceived as good or bad.

 

There are countries where being gay is punishable by death. Would it be good if the use of this procedure saved a life or would it be better that they die rather than use it?

I think most people would choose life and a few with the power of strong conviction might not.

Our perception of 'good' depends to a degree on our circumstances.

 

In a completely enlightened society with full acceptance of sexual orientation a simple procedure for change would be looked on purely and simply  as a matter of personal choice.

 

We don't live in completely enlightened societies and I'm completely with you about the negative use a procedure like this would be put to. There would be terrible pressure to use it and people's rights would be trampled.

 

With the rapid developments in gene manipulation and the possibility of 'designer babies' this issue might be facing us sooner rather than later

[Cia]

Would this be misused? Yes. Heck, the very concept was used as a plot device in the X-men movies regarding "curing" mutation. It's not new. Parents, governments, people who just aren't informed... it'd happen. The moral question is also there that so many people are decrying "There's nothing wrong with being gay!" Well, no there isn't. But isn't it okay to not want to be gay? Yes! Life can be difficult, and being different isn't easy. Not everyone comes to terms with themselves. For example, what would this do to the suicide rates attributed to sexuality? 

 

For myself? Well, no. Not as a kid, not as a teen, not as an adult. I'm bisexual, and I've never been torn up over it, though I've been with a man for 17 years. Of course, I wasn't open about liking women as well until I became an adult, and even then I've faced idiocy in my family and even some strangers based on their misapprehension of my relationship with my best friend. If I faced something more than just nasty words and looks, I might have a far different answer, which btw, was exactly what zaf said, "Hell no!"

[rustle]

If I could change on a whim, or a thought? No. Even though I used to wish that I could be "like him."

 

I think there's wisdom inherent in playing the hand we're dealt.

[JamesSavik]

[Celethiel]

yes well just like gays, straights see the opposing sex in the Sexual worship and anything else is just meh and gross way...

add to this that Straights are in the majority and are able to produce offspring where as gays are yet to be able to...

It's quite easy for them to see anything else as lesser than straight.

after all i've had conversations that go...

Why don't you love those lovely squishy touchable boobies... combined with... dude male parts are really gross.... i can't even stand to look at mine.

[lovesickpuppy]

Impossible. But I hear, we're supposed to be all bisexual human beings.

[C J]

I'm not interested in changing my sexuality or my body.  I do understand that some people aren't happy with themselves for various reasons, and they may wish to make changes.  I think that's important to think about.  I also think that their sexual orientation is probably not high on their list of things to change.  I don't know how often anyone questions their sexuality.  I don't question mine, and I don't think most people do whether they're gay or not.

 

It seems more likely to me that people accept their sexual interests, and would be more likely to change their gender.  If your a guy who like guys then maybe you wish you were a woman.  It's not a subject that's as simple as it seems.  People aren't the same and they all view things their own way, so some would make the change and others not. 

[Carlos Hazday]

If we changed something so intrinsic about ourselves as our sexuality we would not be us anymore. Any guarantees that the new person would have an easier life? Maybe instead of gay we would be obese and people would call us lard assets instead of fags. Or maybe we would be handicapped and people would call us crips. Any better?

 

It all comes down to bullying in one form or another and our best option is to stand up to the bullies. A bunch of Drag Queens did just that a few years ago in NYC and thanks to them we can have this conversation on a place called Gay Authors.

 

I'd rather work each day to improve who I am, not work to turn me into someone entirely different.

[faxity]

didn't read through the whole thread (too lazy at the moment XD) but I don't think this was said yet:

Hell no. Guys are hot

it's not a deeply meaningful reason, but it's still valid there's no way I'd wanna give up liking guys XD that's half the world's worth of eye candy, why deliberately lose it?

Edited November 11, 2014 by faxity

[Celethiel]

to actually answer the question, no i wouldn't i am a proud person... and I am proud of being gay, i like being gay, even if it doesn't include women in my life, or children as the case may be.

However there was a time when i would have rather been straight.. face it... it can be lonely being part of a minority... and feeling alone is heartbreaking...

if such a drug was made, Yes there would be abuse of it by governments and others... there are also those who would take it...for multiple reasons.... their life, their job... their religious erm moral alligment.... and there are others who would NOT take it, that would go up in arms if people tried to force it on them... there are also those who are straight who would help such people if it was forced on them.

 

Nothing is ever black and white.

[Marzipan]

There is no need for a "cure", Even the thought of it offends me deeply. I believe making such a fundamental change in a person would be insane, I'd never alter myself that way. Yet I can not overlook the individual suffering that some gay people go through in opressive societies, so it should be a personal choice. I see the idea as a Pandora's box, new problems would be bound to arise, it could hardly be a win-win situation.