Why does homosexuality bother people

The trouble with this claim is that teenage rebellion is largely temporary; hair grows back, outfits can be changed. This seems, to put it mildly, unlikely. And logically, a straight person could become gay too. But those who argue that homosexuality is a choice invariably assert that it is a wrong choice. This suggests they believe that everyone is actually, at a fundamental level, heterosexual.

So people who opt for homosexuality are consciously pursuing anything from intimate relationships to random sexual encounters with people they are not physically attracted to. Constantly going against your most basic urges to stick to a choice you made at an unspecified point? Hopefully you can see how this undermines the argument somewhat. Dean Burnett is on Twitter, you can follow him if you want to. This inner conflict can be seen in some high-profile cases in which anti-gay public figures are caught engaging in same-sex acts, the researchers say.

For instance, evangelical preacher and anti-gay-marriage advocate Ted Haggard was caught in a gay sex scandal in And in , prominent anti-gay activist and co-founder of conservative Family Research Council George Rekers was reportedly spotted in with a male escort rented from Rentboy.

According to news reports, the escort confirmed Rekers is gay. It can sometimes have tragic consequences," as was the case in the murder of Matthew Shepard, a gay man. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Jeanna Bryner is the editor-in-chief of Live Science. Already a subscriber? Sign in. Thanks for reading Scientific American.

Create your free account or Sign in to continue. See Subscription Options. Go Paperless with Digital. Having an obsession about being gay is no different from any other mental obsession, said Brodsky. They might even get subtle body sensations, being aroused by another man. These obsessive thoughts are not rooted in homophobia, according to Brodsky.

There are other issues in their lives preventing them from having loving, committed relationships. As for treatment, Brodsky said he would help a patient who was truly gay validate their feelings and attain self-acceptance, "achieving calm and peace of mind.

These patients can be successfully treated in the same way other forms of OCD are treated, according to Brodsky. Drescher said that medications are also highly effective, especially in tandem with behavioral therapy. Determining the cause of the obsession is "never black and white," according to Brodsky. There is a clear difference between OCD and a person who is really attracted to the same sex.

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