Another example of the "gay to straight" myth

[SteelCurtain]

Yeah, I think in the future it will be possible, after I made my earlier post I looked it up. Seems like there are plenty of experiments going on, with mixed results. I think it's only a matter of time though as you say.

However, as we currently are, I think my point stands. Someone may wish to 'choose' a heterosexual relationship if it gives them the kind of child they desire (one with genes from both parents). It's still hypothetical ofcourse, as we all know we cannot choose our sexual preferences. But I honestly think there could be an inordinate amount of reasons why someone might want to change their sexual preference, it's not always just about social stigma.

I agree with you, Napoleon. It's a way of looking at it that I hadn't really considered.

However, as things stand right now, it's not possible. A person cannot change their arousal system. If there were gene therapies, I would absolutely support an adult's right to alter their sexuality, providing we did some serious ethical studies into the (surely) far reaching consequences of performing these therapies.

What people are supporting with these gay-to-straight therapies are CBT (cognitive behavioral therapy) based treatments. They are working on altering the behavior without altering the physiology. The physiology is what drives the behavior, not the other way around. So while you can produce extremely damaging effects from shame based treatments and using ammonia smelling salts when a man feels arousal to another man, you cannot induce arousal in that man to females. It is harmful. It can lead a person to reduced natural arousal, living in a netherworld approaching asexuality.

No. The answer is to normalize the behavior in society so that shame isn't a factor any longer. When someone is 13 and realizes they are gay, and it is just as normal to date another boy at school as it is a girl, this issue becomes moot.

If there ever comes a day when gene therapies are available for altering arousal---and they are proven to be effective---I would support the ability for adults to change their arousal systems for the purpose of being able to procreate, but not to 'fix' them.