Homosexuality is NOT a choice

Before I begin my case, I first want to make the point that I am not a homophobe. I am a Christian, but that does not mean I hate homosexuals, in fact rather the opposite, because I'm a Christian I have a duty to love especially those I disagree with. I only mention this because you mentioned both Christianity and religion in your first round. For my opening case I won't discuss whether homosexuality is good or bad, healthy or unhealthy, but I'll discuss whether a person can choose and whether their choices effect their sexual desires. We can all agree that our sexuality is a complex and personal thing. We cannot say it is this or that for all people alike, nor is it one basic answer. Some people's sexual orientation has changed throughout their life, others it's remained constant. Of course, not one homosexual is alike. There are those who have had homosexual thoughts, some have never felt attracted to the opposite sex, some it's been on and off between both genders and there are some that have felt a range of these things. It' not a simple question of you are or you are not a homosexual. When is someone a 'homosexual'? Is it if they engage in homosexual behaviour with a partner or is it only if they have homosexual thoughts? Can you be a homosexual at one given time but not the next? To say that homosexualiy is not a choice is a bold statement indeed. It strongly implies that our choices do not effect our sexuality. I have met those who have felt they have chosen to be homosexual because of personal desires or life circumstances and those who had homosexual feelings for as long as they can remember. Both probably couldn't give a clear clinical reason 'why'. Our sexuality is strong and complex, who can say that our choices and behaviour do not effect it? Surely our choices effect our sexuality to some degree. What we choose to look at, what we choose to think about, who we have romantic relations with, fantasies that we choose to masturbate to effect, shape, mold and build our sexuality. Each of us know this from our own experience. Studies have revealed that a child's first exposure to sexual content or behaviour effects their libido. Perhaps they were abused or perhaps not, but it shows that our sexuality can be changed and distorted from an early age. To believe that our choices have no effect on our sexuality whether that be homosexual, bisexual, transgender or other is a naive belief. You said:"I'm sorry but you can't do that people. I'm not going to go to some random person with cancer and tell them to stop having cancer, because that's just stupid. "I wouldn't compare homosexuality to cancer, but since you already have, do you believe that a person who has homosexual desires and feelings to be sick? If you do, why wouldn't you encourage treatment? Cancer can be prevented by choices and can even sometime be cured by making a choice to get surgery. I wouldn't use this anology to discuss homosexuality, but I still want to point out the ways it falls short of your argument. You also said:"You can't change sexuality, which is why I don't like chrsitianity, because it doesn't really help too much. "To believe that our sexuality does not change is certainly a naive belief. We've all experience some changes in our sexuality whether that be small such as personal tastes or preferences or large such as sexual orientation. In fact each person is born with no sexual orientation. It isn't till we're a little older that our libido is "switched on" if you like. Do you really believe that a persons choice has nothing to do with this?