I had a debate, which I can't even try to label "intellectual", with an online friend of mine recently that made me want to pick up my monitor and heave it at his thick skull. I usually try to remain as open-minded as possible, and respect other people's views. I actually pride myself on being as accepting as I am. However, on this point, I just could NOT even begin to TRY and do so! Let me explain why.

I will call him "Bob". Bob started off by saying that he had enrolled his son in gymnastics classes, to help him with balance and exercise. He had had the choice of that, or a Jazz dance class, but decided on Jazz, because Jazz was more of a "gay activity". HUH? I asked him to clarify, and he told me that he finds that the gymnastics class was better, since they broke it up with a boys class, and a girls class. So what?

I wonder, what that has to do with "gay activities"? He said that most male dancers, especially in Jazz, happen to be gay, so he didn't want his son to be that way either. Again with the HUH? I told him that I found his views irrational, insulting and retarded, but, here in America, we have the right to believe what we would like to believe.

I also told him that whether or not his son takes Jazz, ballet, gymnastics, or figure skating, if he's gay, he's gay. No matter what activity he puts his son in, there's no changing it. He could play football and still be gay! So what? It's a preference you're born with. Kind of like your taste buds. Some people like the taste of spinach, others think it's totally gross. Some people love the color orange, others just can't stand the color..OK, a bit off in comparison, but I think you get my point here. Male dancers are not "cursed" to be gay later on. It's not like they walk into the studio and instantly like men. It's something that they are "hard wired" to prefer, if you will.

Getting irritated, I told Bob that in a dance such as Jazz, you're paired with a partner of the opposite sex from the get-go. So, I'm still not seeing his reasoning. Then, Bob puzzles me even more by telling me that most of the men that took Gymnastics when he was in high school "turned out to be gay". Um, hello? I'm seeing no sense in your reasoning whatsoever then.

Many of my friends & family that are gay, have expressed many times, that, if they could've chosen their sexual preference, it would NOT have been to be gay. Even today, as open as the gay community is becoming, it's still something of a social no-no.

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