Cynthia Nixon On Being Gay: 'For Me It's A Choice'
In response to Cynthia Nixon’s statements:
I recognize that for some people it may actually be a choice, and I have complete respect for those individuals and their right to choose who they love. However, for the vast majority of gays it is in fact something that we are completely powerless against. I respect that if it is a choice, that it is a choice any person should be entitled to make and still be granted civil rights. But for those of us who feel completely unnatural in heterosexual relationships it can be damaging for the notion of “gay is a choice” to be something that is thrown around in mainstream media as something that “we” all believe.
I believe in a person’s natural fluidity, if that’s what feels right for you, but just note that if your sexual preference is naturally fluid, and if you’re stating that you choose to be in a same sex relationship, then you are NOT gay…at least not in my book. This doesn’t make your relationship any less valid, it simply makes you a person with fluidity in your sexual preference which is not at all the definition of ‘gay’. You still deserve civil rights, you are still valid in your love…but to identify as gay and then attempt to speak on behalf of all gay people, and claim that we have a choice…well, that’s a bit presumptuous and completely counterproductive.
For those of us who are gay, the notion of being in a heterosexual relationship isn’t an option. Being gay is something that some of us have grappled with, attempted to deny, and have spent years of our life coming to accept. Being gay is huge part of who I am. This is something that does define ME PERSONALLY, and I am PROUD to let it define me on various levels.
When staring in the face of bigotry, lack of civil rights, and religious crusaders the VERY first statement made is that gays are making a choice to lead a life that is not natural. And now what? We have to defend who we are to those inside our own community?
I don’t doubt that Cynthia Nixon has repeatedly stated that this is simply HER perspective, and let me reiterate that I have complete respect for those who choose love before gender, but at the end of the day all I see is “being gay is a choice”, only this time it’s coming from someone on the inside.
