posted by samheath:

"With a Ph. D. in Human Behavior I'm qualified to say that no one supporting homosexuality or any other form of sexual perversion should be allowed contact with children."

Wow, that is a strong statement there Sam.  Question?...What year did you receive your Ph. D.?  I'm wondering if maybe you need some refresher courses?  If you are going to use your "qualifications" to make statements against parenting, I think maybe you should keep up on your education.

We found out several years ago, (when my kids were still little) that their Uncle was gay.  I'm not going to say that it was a shock to find out.  However, we were upset. Not angry upset. Sad upset. (this was my sister's husband).  Did I "support" him.  I don't think that's exactly the word I would use.  Did I accept it and go on allowing my kids to love him.  Yes I did.  Did I plant seeds of perversion and hate in my children's heart for him. No I didn't. 

Why would I?  This man is a nice man.  He never practiced his "homosexuality" in front of my children.  No public fecal tube dwelling was displayed.  I was upset for my sister.  I didn't understand why this was kept a secret for so long from her.  But she survived it, moved on and is now with a man she loves with 2 babies.  I think all in all, it worked out fine for her in the long run.

I think your statement using the word "supporting" needs to be clarified.  Your statement has lead me to the conclusion that no one accepting of "homosexuality" should be in contact with children.

I've never been deleted from one of your posts, but didn't want to take the chance.

Sam Heath is a Homo Phobic that that dose not when to keep his mouth shut. You lose all credibility with statements such as gay bashing. Sam i always have believed that the men who act scared and talk mean comments about gay's are usually a little ''funny'' them self's. Sam are you a little funny ?

I'm 48, I too was not brought up in a generation that being gay was an accepted part of life.  We used to make fun of boys that seemed to be on the "feminine side".  I look back on those days long ago, and feel bad for those kids.  It's not like being made fun of or being shunned is going to turn them straight.  Maybe it would keep them in their place though huh Sam?

When my kids were younger, they heard the remarks I would make about gays.  I would never intentionally mean to teach them to hate homosexuals, and I'm glad, that they didn't learn from what I actually was teaching them with my words of disgust.

In turn, my children have, over the years taught me to be more accepting of people.  And I'm glad that they were able to teach me that.  Sometimes an older generation can learn from the younger generation.

I was in my twenties when I realized gay people are just like you and me. When I think back on all the hateful things my mother (again, because of how she was raised) would say and I would parrot her, it must have been like knives in my brother's heart. He knew from the age of three that he was "different". We hurt him through ignorance, but thankfully, most of my family have taken the time to listen and learn. And you know what's funny? Most people deal with gay people on a day-to-day basis and don't even realize it, lol. And I don't think there is a family that exists that doesn't have at least one gay relative. In my large family, there are several.

Madkow, something tells me Sam is not real current on these issues. He seems to be so intelligent his attitude kinda caught me off guard.

First Oilfield, define normal...

I don't buy into the "learned behavior". Did you choose to be born male? Did you choose to be white? Did you choose to be straight? Nope, you were born that way.

People who deny their sexuality do it out of fear of societal rejection and too many times familial rejection. What person would choose to have to listen to people just as jim (go read his blog...he's f**in nuts). Something else you might want to think about. Maybe it's just Mother Nature's way of population control. What if everyone on earth were breeders? Oy!

Why can't people just live and let live?

Homosexuality occurs in wild animals? Wow, ya learn somethin new everyday. oO(I gotta watch more Animal Planet).

Joty, I can't define normal. That's why I put it in "quotes" just as you quoted "learned behavior". Now maybe I'm wrong but being male and being white aren't behaviors. I do agree that I was "born straight". But I must ask, how can you not believe in learned behavior? Isn't that one of parents' main roles as parents? To teach their children how to behave in pulic, in school, in church, at family functions, etc? Perhaps "learned sexual preference" or "learned sexual orientation" are better terms. Out of curiosity, do you think that murderers are born murderers? Either way, isn't is saying the same thing?

I can't believe I'm actually enjoying the conversation about this topic.  Enquiring minds I guess.   :)

I think Joty means that she doesn't buy into the idea that homosexuality is a learned behavior.

Being male and being white aren't behaviors, but homosexuality isn't either, it is a feeling, an urge. It only becomes a behavior if you act on that urge.

I definitely think that some people are born more inclined to be homocidal, but it's not as simple as that. One might be born with a personality disorder which makes them more inclined to kill.

When it comes down to it, it's the levels of chemicals in our brains that dictate our behavior, so unless you can consicously alter those levels, I don't see any way for our feelings, urges, or the likelyhood of us acting on those urges to be entirely a consequence of conscious choice. Seeing that homo and heterosexuality are feelings or urges, I don't think that being gay is totally a matter of wanting to be that way.

You make valid points rm6. I agree with you but I would think that if it's a chemical composition issue, they'd have a pill for that. Maybe they do. hmmm time to do some research.

Thanks.

Yes, rm6, I was referring to learned behavior regarding sexuality. I don't think I agree that sexuality comes down to being just an urge either. Addictions are urges. I believe each human is born with a sexual predilection firmly in place.

Homicide is not a behavior either. Again, an urge that a lot of us might think about but don't act on.

And Ben, my little female Chihuahua will hump anything...LOL!!!