Wildcat, me make people angry? Maybe I just challenge a few of your values.

Although, whilst I take some (uncommon) comfort in actually having several people agree with me, I wonder why. I am saying nothing different here to what I say in most posts.

People who are homosexual are no different to people who are left handed (and they used to try and force them to be right handed too). Left handed people and homosexuals merely display variations in the wide and colourful tapestry of folk who we nowadays accommodate socially and respect sufficiently to follow their own path.
We benefit from less "regimentation", through the collapse of pressure groups of rigid class and religious power systems, which stifled individuality in generations who went before us.

So, as a life long right handed heterosexual (my own personal "differences" are neither in any unconventional choice of hand or partner), may I say, do not presume that someone will get anywhere by relying on anyone else for anything; be it acceptance or recognition.

We control 90% of what matters in our lives (our internal thoughts, sense of self and externally, our responses).

We can work with the hand we are dealt or be resentful of it and usually others.

We can endeavour to be honest and compassionate

But we cannot rely on government to make others as honest and compassionate as we would expect them to be.

Cherish your individuality and respect it in others. Expect others to disagree with you and think what a boring place this earth would be if we were all the same or what a horror it would be if we were forced to be the same (the socialist / communist model).

Leigh
Brilliant! Simultaneously accusing me of unwarranted abuse and calling me intellectually deprived..like, in the same breath almost. Awsome.

I love your idea that gay people are 'unable to form a relationship with the opposite sex', too. I imagine if I were gay that would be quite a relief, you know, being gay and all. I would be all: "well, I'm completely unable to form a relationship with the opposite sex! Darn. But, on the bright side, I'm actually gay so that works our fine in the end. Phew."

And what was this...'sex isn't the be all and end all of a fulfilling relationship' stuff? Are you still talking about gay people at this point? Cause I'm pretty sure most people are already aware of this stunning revelation you've had.

Oh, and in the interest of civilised discourse...can you not call my mum, step sister, three friends and one uncle 'disgusting and unnatural'. Cause...I'm not sure if you're aware of this....but some people find that a tad, well...offensive, yeah? You've already made clear that you aren't a fan of unwarrented abuse, so I'm sure you'll understand where I'm coming from.

Did my brother turn me gay? No the "choice" or choice is ultimately the gay persons.

But who cares if a person is gay or not? Apart from their sexuality they are just like everyone else. I think that most people can see the measure of a person's worth is held in their humanness not their sexual orientation.

I think, there are plenty of supposedly hetrosexual men and women who are more perverted (like Leigh) in their attitudes to others' humanity (and sexuality) than gays.

Snout: The journal "Science" published a study by Simon LeVay, the then Associate Professor at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies and Adjunct Professor of Biology at the University of California that showed that the brains of a gay male are structurally different to hetro-sexual men. He found that the nucleus of the hypothalmus that triggers male-typical sexual behaviour was much smaller in gay men and was much like that in women's brains. He also found that the corpus callosum differs (bigger in gays) between gay and straight men. It is also larger in artistic and people who inclined to think in degrees and are less either/or thinkers.

Dean Hamer of the National Institute of Health in Washington found evidence to suggest a specific gene -carried on the maternal line- influences sexual orientation in men.

See

Simon Levay, The Sexual Brain (Cambridge, MA, MIt Press, 1994), 102.

A. Nystrand, 'New Discoveries on sex differences in the brain', national Institute of Ageing, NIH Bethesda, Lakartidningen 93:21 (1996), 2071-3.

I always find it interesting that when people are ranting against same-sex attracted folk, they always focus on Male homosexuals. Why is that? Is female homosexuality less threatening? Somehow less 'deviant'?

My main concern regarding homosexuality is that it should be normalised to the point where people don't have to 'come out' to their friends and family - it shouldn't be a huge deal, and they shouldn't have to deal with discrimination and abuse. One of my male same-sex attracted friends has ended up going overseas to get away from the dissaproval of his family regarding his lack interest in women. How sad for him, and the many others who put up with the constant disapproval and discrimination on a regular basis.

That said, I'm always slightly surprised when I find out someone (a friend/acquantaince) is gay - But I guess in a way, its like finding out someone is left-handed: right handed is so common and dominant, that unless you have concrete evidence of left-handedness, you tend to assume that people must be right-handed. I guess I tend to assume people are the same as I until given reason to assume otherwise. I don't know if thats wrong or not - but I guess surprise is a better reaction than many around here.

Spendocrat,

Was it just "intellectually deprived" you objected to, or was it the fact that it was mentioned simultaneously with something else? Are you complaining about my syntax?

Not only are you intellectually deprived, but you don't even demur at advising all and sundry what a strange family you have. They must be very proud of you, bandying their private behaviour about. I've not offended your family. You have.

Your complete misunderstanding of what I said, if not deliberate, certainly highlights your lack of intellect, particularly your second paragraph.

However, seeing that you have so much difficulty with what other people say, I will no longer respond to anything you have to say.

Can't say fairer than that.

Good luck with you disablity.