Everyone underestimates us, Eva. 

When i was on the campaign, I attended LGBT meetings at the college. When I found out that the President was leaning toward Bill Richardson, I immediately brought up the "It's a choice" comment. And guess what?

She was registered in Connecticut, so I stopped caring. (In retrospect, I probably should've tried to convince her anyway. Your man won CT, if I remember correctly.)  

Whether it is choice or by birth, it doesn't really fucking matter why someone is something or how they got to be that way. they should have equal rights either way. I think Bill here was trying to say people choose who they associate with and how they categorize themselves, not who they can or can't be attracted to and love. But regardless, I, as an anonymous poster, believe BEING gay is by birth, and having sexual relations with anybody is by choice. that's kind of a trip-up for some people. Why anyone would choose to be part of a group that if part of, you would undoubtedly be ridiculed and made fun of by about 50% of this country, I don't know. (but then again, that argument could be used to say that people of any particular religion are right). Anyway, I don't think you can fault Bill for this, he just doesn't really know that much or give it that much thought. As he said, he believes in equality and his record shows it, and if he thinks people choose or are born doesn't really mean anything substantively. Who knows, maybe some people can choose to be gay or straight.

...what? the issue of nature v. nurture or birth v. choice is completely relevant to equal rights. if such a misunderstanding exists (and, apparently, it exists), the entire basis of the equal rights argument--that members of the queer community choose sexuality just as much as heterosexuals do (that is, not at all)--becomes void. it's imperative that our president--and our representatives, and our supreme court--understand that sexuality is NOT a choice.

at the same time, we must understand that sexual relations are a direct extension of sexuality. to say that a same-sex relationship is a conscious decision to willingly incur hatred is too simplistic, because it implies that sexual attraction is a choice. we don't decide our attractions; we decide our sexual partners. because our sexual partners are extensions of our attractions, it's unconscionable to expect an entire group of people to choose an easy route of heteronormative lifestyles rather than instinctual relationships. to cede that ground would be to cede the entire civil rights movement.