did she choose to be straight?

What do you know? Sarah Palin: Just another homophobe...

Human sexuality is not simple- it is very complicated and sometimes fluid. From personal experience, being gay is not a choice. I very clearly recall my attraction to girls from the start. I dated boys but had no attraction at all- zero- but that was what was expected of girls. At 18, I began what would be a ten year relationship with a woman- which ended amicably- due to the fact that she could no longer handle her life w/me and cope with a large and religious family. Curiously, she is now happily married to a nice fellow and in our discussions afterwards, she said she thinks she wasn't ever lesbian, but merely fell in love with ME- as a person. She identifies as straight- not bisexual.
I, however, am a lesbian. Like my female partner, I also ended up marrying a man, (& having two children with him), then in my 40's finally came to terms with who I truly was inside. As much as I wanted, tried, deluded myself into thinking I could live and be straight- it was a lie.
To me, the worst thing to come out of society's discrimination and outright hatred/fear of homosexuality is exactly what happened with me and so many others. Being forced to try to be straight-(marriage/kids) and then having it fall apart later which hurts the innocent, straight spouse/partner and the family. Accepting homosexuality as a fact- regardless of why, would benefit everyone and hurt no one.
Lastly, I cannot even count how many homophobes I personally knew who later came out as gay- that has always fascinated me. I'm not claiming all gay-bashers are closeted- but there certainly are a lot out there (if my experience is any indication).

Tracy

"Gays and lesbians also need to be willing to acknowledge that for many individuals with a homosexual orientation cannot reconcile themselves to live their lives this way."

There would be less such people if society was less scared and resentful of homosexuality.