Why would anyone choose to be gay because of the hatred they

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Isn't asking this question much like asking the question:

"Why would anyone choose to smoke? Look at all the hatred that smokers get".

I don't really believe the gay people choose to be gay, but that's a poor argument against them choosing such. People make odd choices.

Homosexuality and tabacco use are completely different. Smoking is considered to be a choice, you would not be born to smoke. Smoking kills; you are highly at risk for many many sicknesses if you do smoke. If you do smoke you put other people at a risk too. Smoking is not a very good comparision as smoking will harm you all by itself. Homosexuality is considered not a choice, one is born to their sexuality. To be honest this most likely refers to bisexuality too as well as other sexualities. Gay is sometimes used for other ones. Despite the word gay meaning "happy, gaudy, cheery ect." I am using it now to refer to "one who is attracted to the same sex even if not only the same sex" I most likely perverted the word from the accepted uses for it but not so very badly. Well to go on I don't think being gay causes all those bad things smoking does nor can I see it directly harming others. The reactions people hve are harmful, I see that of course. That is why people combat those harmful reactions. But going back to the point if sexuality is not chosen nor is who one is attracted to would not someone homosexual be stuck in a bad place. I suppose they could remain single. I think smoking should stop but not homosexual relationships . I think homophobia needs to stop, for it doen't make any sense for people to hate people because of a love that I do not think is harmful. Forgive me for my scattered and unresearched argument. I hope you can read it well. No I don't think the question is the same or alike.

I don't understand why people are so adamant about it not being a choice, and it therefore being alright. Whether it's a choice or not seems irrelevant to me. Cancer isn't a choice and I think we all agree it's something that should be cured. Brushing your teeth is a choice and is clearly a good thing. So why would being gay only be okay when it's not a choice?

In my personal opinion, I believe it's a choice, and although I personally don't condone it, I don't hate anybody for it, and I respect others if they have a differing opinion.

I think I'll leave this one to science.

That makes sense. Perhaps because it would cause pain from other people? Of course even if homosexuality in itself is not a choice acting on ones attraction is. I myself would... I was going to say I would rate it good to neutral but why on earth does it matter what I think about it? I should not have say into if who someone loves is right or wrong as long as no one is beng exploited or harmed. To state my opion and say it is right or wrong seems.... I cannot find the correct word but it would be judgmental even though that is not the word I wanted. I do however think that homophobia is wrong and people should correct those actions because it does nothing but hurt people. If someone does think such is wrong as like I cannot judge their opinion despite the fact that I disagree though I can see no wrong in saying I disagree. I think that hateful actions should stops it is clear to me that abusing someone is purely bad. Is what I said folly or did I use some sort of logical fallacy? Please point out if and why for I wish to improve myself always.

It's only a decent argument to those who already believe homosexuality is abominable, just as most people feel more sympathy for pedophiles if they realize that they cannot choose their desires for children. It doesn't change their belief that homosexual acts are wrong but could assuage some of the hatred towards the person.

The simple fact that so many can believe homosexuality (a desire) is in fact a choice, is one of the most astounding intellectual failures of the public in my opinion. Anyone who took the most basic philosophy class would be laughed at if they tried to argue that desires are chosen, yet politicians (the one's who ultimately decide right from wrong in the eyes of the law) are allowed to live entirely ignorant of the most basic semantics, logic, and fundamental truths of philosophy. That's what makes me more upset. Courts should be arguing about more complex issues like the nature of gun control laws rather than determining how much of a criminal someone is for falling in love with the wrong gender.

I bolded the part that stood out most to me. I hope you do not mind. I agree with it. The first part it makes sense too. If you believe it is ok then why would you need to be told that it is not a choice as if it would make you feel better. It wouldn't make sense to say that desire is chosen I agree here too.

I'm no expert on how the mind works except from personal experience, and I don't see why it would be impossible to influence/change/choose your own desires. To me my mind seems very malleable, I can teach myself to like food I didn't like before by simply telling myself I like it while eating it. I can also do the reverse by linking a food I like to a negative experience, thus removing my desire for that specific food.
My experience with my sexuality is similar to that: I started out straight and at some point decided basing attraction on sex/gender seemed ridiculous, so I quit and became bisexual. I of course have zero proof that I wasn't all along and just accepted it of myself from then on, but it is how I experienced it nonetheless.
So my question to you is: How do you know/What proof is there that desires are not in any way a choice?

From what I have heard the ex-gay movement failed badly

I think being gay is hard wired. The only thing that can be controlled is whether it is passive or overt. Does one do or does one not do something about his urges and longings?

ruveyn

Yes, someone can influence some of their desires, only in the most indirect ways though.

I'm glad you brought up your experience coming to identify as bisexual. I went through something very similar where I started out under the impression that I was 100% straight, and I suspect that some actions I took and thoughts I had influenced me to become bisexual in the most physical sense of the word. However I cannot change my emotional orientation to a bisexual one. Yes I have tried to do it. It's not a great feeling knowing you would have sex with one gender but never be able to have a romantic attraction to them. For me the emotional part of orientation seems much harder to change, as I cannot get "butterflies" for the same sex in the way I can around women. I can tell myself its the same but I know that it's not and doubt I can ever be fully bisexual. I am someone who falls for the gender. I fall for the person in a different sense, one that I don't attribute to sexual orientation.

You're not the first person who believes they have changed their orientation to a bisexual or homosexual one. I hear it often, usually among women, but some men too. I do think most of them were always bisexual. If anyone has any influence over their desires it is a weak influence. If we all had such an easy time changing what we desire the world would be far more perfect that it is now.

It all has to do with hormone exposure in the womb and certain genes not being "turned off".

The question of choice is utterly irrelevant. Choice can create a protected set of rights. One chooses one's religion, after all, and we protect the rights of individuals to practice their faiths--or to practice none at all.

The issue isn't choice--it's immutability.

I don't think people choose to be gay.

I disagree. You don't choose what you believe, you just believe it. You can change your mind by examining evidence, or thinking critically, or whatever, but you can't choose what you believe.

Critical thinking can dispel beliefs which one now discovers were based on a falsehood, lack of knowledge or error of understanding. Similarly knowledge and experience can foster new beliefs. Beliefs evolve with us, they are not stagnant.