[isykt]

The idea that homosexuality (or heterosexuality, for that matter) is a permanent state the persists through everyone’s life not only ignores the existence of bisexuals but is also ahistorical and probably an artifact of certain societies needs for categorizing people. I suspect capitalism has something to do with it.

[morbia]

If by ahistorical you mean we do not conform to Greek and Roman era of homosexual activity, you have to keep in mind there were societal pressures at the time as well. I don't think you can take those eras as a gold standard of laissez-faire approach to sexuality.

For the record, I am gay guy and whilst I can identify an attractive woman, it is such a fleeting attraction I can't ever imagine mustering the activation energy to even try.

[omscs99]

Maybe it’s permanent for some and not for others? Either way, if you make the argument that it’s temporary, then people will push for stuff like conversion therapy

So ig because conversion therapy is harmful people make this premature conclusion that it’s permanent

[isykt]

People have all kinds of sex for all kinds of complex reasons, and have throughout history. You’re right that the repression of same sex attraction / expression / intercourse has led us to a place where “Born This Way!” Is the safest way to pose it.

I have met men who didn’t find other men attractive in any substantial way under their wives died. I have met gay men who married women because they fell in love with a certain woman, and sexual attraction resulted.

Prisons, gender segregated societies, and single gender schools are places where homosexual acts happen. It doesn’t really say much about the people themselves.

For some people, maybe most, attraction is “stable,” but whether that has something to do with their innate being or the conditions they live in, it’s hard to say.

As this point, personally, I see sexuality as less an identity or state and more of just an expression of what a person happens to desire over a certain period of time. Sexual desire isn’t all that different from hunger (the ASL signs for these are almost identical). A person could spend years of their life really into a certain set of foods, and then discover they’re into others. I used to hate mushrooms, now I love them. Hormones, environment, society… all of these impact “sexuality.”

[kranke155]

In normal (mixed gender situations) it seems quite stable.

I’m Bi myself and I don’t really follow.