Jesse Klug (pictured), a sophomore soccer player at Division I Bucknell University in Pennsylvania, published an open letter on Out Sports this week challenging people who still believe that being gay is a choice.
In the essay titled “An open letter to those who disapprove of homosexuality,” the 19-year-old athlete takes on people who oppose homosexuality, not by ranting and raving, but by asking for a respectful dialogue.
“I respect you,” Klug writes. “I respect your opinion, although it differs from mine. I have listened to, digested, and have decided to thoughtfully respond to your arguments. I truly hope you do the same.”
He continues by saying, “I feel compelled to write this letter with the intent of opening a dialogue … Speaking from personal experience, almost all of the homophobia I have witnessed in our society is fueled by one simple notion — being gay is a choice.”
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“I am a gay man,” he writes. “I have always been gay. And I firmly believe I will always be gay. But I promise you, I tried not to be. We all have.”
He then takes on “ex-gays” and other people who believe homosexuality can be cured: “If you are straight, and someone sat you down and tried to turn you into a homosexual, could they? Do you think your sexual orientation could be changed?”
“When straight people are asked, ‘When did you choose to be straight?’ they usually can’t answer,” Klug continues. “They say what we say: that it is just the way they are. Just like heterosexual people do not consciously decide to be straight, I did not choose to be gay.”
He concludes his letter by writing, “Sexual orientation should not be a defining characteristic of a person … [Most] of the time I spend with my teammates is on the field. In that context, sexual orientation holds absolutely zero significance. My teammates view me as an athlete; as part of their team working towards the same goals. We struggle and succeed together … Being gay is part of who I am; it is not what I am.”
Amen!
Klug is currently pursuing a major in the School of Management at Bucknell University. We think we speak for everyone when we say this young man had a very bright future ahead of him.
halfahomo
Klug says it well. The same argument can be made for bi- and pan- sexuality, IMO. One doesn’t choose how one feels about orientation and attraction. Society needs to understand and realize there is no “choosing” what you are.
ncman
Once you convince them that being gay is not a choice, they will just change their argument. Then they will say that you do have a choice as to whether to be sexually active or not. And, that since they believe gay sex is a sin, you could choose to be celibate.
Harley
I wish QUEERTY had published the entire letter, not just excerpts. Just saying.
jwtraveler
Why do we have to convince people that being gay is not a choice? Since when is it acceptable or reasonable in this country to discriminate against people based on the choices they make? Religion is unquestionably a choice. Millions of people CHOOSE to change their religions. In this country we don’t permit discrimination based on that choice. Many heterosexuals CHOOSE not to get married, or to marry and not have children, or to marry someone of another race. We no longer accept discrimination based on those choices. We also have Freedom of Speech, which guarantees that you cannot be discriminated against for CHOOSING to spout the most ignorant and vicious racism, sexism, anti-Semitism, Islamophobia or homophobia. The Constitution and laws of the U.S. guarantee the right to make these choices, regardless of how anyone else feels about them. As a U.S. citizen and a human being, IT IS ABSOLUTELY MY RIGHT TO CHOOSE TO BE GAY despite what anyone thinks about it. (But no, I didn’t choose it; nobody does.)
GeriHew
There’s nothing wrong with being homosexual or heterosexual, or bisexual, pansexual or asexual. So it doesn’t matter if it’s a choice or not.