Does LGBTQIA+ choose to be this way?
Being identified as LGBTQIA+, one can often face questions about why they “choose” to deviate from majority norms in terms of gender identity, sexual orientation, or gender expression. However, the answer is quite straightforward: We Are Born This Way. Describing LGBTQ identities as a “lifestyle” can be misleading. This word somehow implies a basis of choice or preference, potentially undermining the authenticity of these identities. Yet, sexual orientation and gender identity are inherent and integral parts of a person’s being.
Just as heterosexual individuals do not select their attraction to the opposite sex, sexual minorities, such as homosexual and bisexual individuals, do not choose their attractions. Similarly, gender identity – whether one identifies as male, female, both, neither, or another identity – is a deeply personal matter. For example, transgender individuals have a gender identity that does not align with the sex they were assigned at birth. This aspect of identity is not a lifestyle choice, but a core intrinsic part of who they are.
Is being LGBTQIA+ wrong?
It’s important to understand that being LGBTQIA+ is not a matter of right or wrong, just as there is no right or wrong in terms of race, ethnicity, or religion. These aspects of identity are diverse expressions of the human experience and should be acknowledged and respected as such.