Queer By Choice

Are lesbians and gays born? Or are they "made"--Constructed by themselves and by their culture? Recent medical findings suggest that there might be a hereditary component to sexual identity, but actual experiences of choice and determination vary widely among gays and lesbians. Drawing on interviews with a diverse group of lesbians and gay men, Vera Whisman analyzes if, and to what extent, choice plays a role in determining sexuality. The answers are neither always clean nor always consistent, and they will have both positive and negative implications for gay men and lesbians as public…