Posted on 12/16/2011 5:51:42 PM PST by Kazan
Republican presidential candidate Newt Gingrich suggested Thursday that being gay is a choice. At least for some people.
Asked if people can choose to be gay, Gingrich told the Des Moines Register editorial board that he does not "believe in genetic determinism, and I don't think there is any great evidence of genetic determinism."
He said that certain people may choose to be gay if they have certain genetic traits and are raised in a certain environment.
"I think people have a significant range of choice within a genetic pattern," he said. "I believe it's a combination of genetics and environment. I think that both are involved. I think people have many ranges of choices."
Gingrich's appears to be saying people can choose to be gay if they have certain "propensities" and genetic and environmental characteristics. Asked if people can choose to be straight, he responded, "Look, people choose to be celibate."
"People choose many things in life," he said. "You know, there is a bias in favor of non-celibacy. It's part of how the species recreates. And yet there is a substantial amount of people who choose celibacy either out of religious vocation or for other reasons."
Earlier in the interview, Gingrich was asked if he saw a correlation between the civil rights and gay rights movements. He called the parallel "ludicrous" and "offensive," saying no one is trying to segregate gay Americans. The former House speaker added that his position reflects "a 3,000 year tradition that is very deep in our culture for very profound reasons."
"I think there's an enormous difference between an inescapable fact of race...and a question about culture," he said. "A question about 'what are your values?' I think marriage is between a man and a woman. That's a value proposition."
"There's a big difference between saying that you are going to have an acceptance of people's lifestyle and saying you now are going to normalize that as the standard for the whole country," he continued, before reiterating his support for reinstating the military's "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy.
Gingrich, whose half-sister Candace Gingrich-Jones is gay, earlier this week said he supported sending a constitutional amendment barring same-sex marriage to the states.
None of the three you mention should be counted on for anything.
Newt is correct though, I see nothing ‘controversial’ about the statement.
Behavior is a choice.
Did you not read the article?
... he continued, before reiterating his support for reinstating the military’s “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy.
Your response does not make much sense gramatically. Also, Newt seemed to ba saying in the article you link that he is not pro-gay.
Rosie O’Donnel had no choice.
“I think people have a significant range of choice within a genetic pattern,” he said. “I believe it’s a combination of genetics and environment. I think that both are involved. I think people have many ranges of choices.”
Newt is riding the fence on this one.
There was always Michael Moore or Kos.
What does sexual persuasion have to do with government, many heterosexual and homosexual folks work for the government. Find a good American who loves this country; who understands and believes in the Constitution and following and enforcing our laws, freedom and personal responsibility who has gravitas and spine...think seriously about voting for such an American....we sure don’t have one now!
Homosexuality is defined by one’s behavior. It’s not an inherited characteristic like skin, hair or eye color.
Obviously, I meant to say Newt is the only one that CAN be counted on to reinstated DADT and oppose the homosexual agenda.
As a person who is a friend of a married couple with a former gay and lesbian as a member, Newt is right.
Sexuality and the many variations of its applicable fetishes are learned behavior.
No he isn’t the only one. Santorum and Bachmann could also be counted on.
newt tripped over his mouth again.
Newt’s a funny-looking guy, but he’s a wise man, with knowledge to back his wisdom.
I knew you had to mean CAN. Just looking at the other two choices, I figured you would be back to correct.
Nope!
Not like he does not have a 'committed sister' and is immune to other genetic scenarios here.
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