While there has been a great deal of progress in LGBTQ+ inclusion and acceptance, many people are familiar with several misconceptions about the LGBTQ+ community—you can change your sexuality, the Bible says being gay is wrong, etc. However, as common as these are, they are not correct! In this article, we talk about 6 different myths, or common misconceptions, and the truth behind the words.
Myth: being gay is a choice
Reality: Being gay is not a choice, rather something we are born with. In fact, Swedish researchers used positron emission tomography (PET) scans and found similarities in the amygdala (the part of the brain that controls emotional learning, including emotional stimulus) between gay men and heterosexual (striaght) women. They also found similarities in the amygdala between lesbians and heterosexual men.
This formation is developed early in the womb, proving that one cannot choose who they are attracted to. This also proves that one cannot “change” their sexuality. "As far as I'm concerned there is no argument any more - if you are gay, you are born gay," says Dr Qazi Rahman, a lecturer in cognitive biology at Queen Mary, University of London.
Myth: you can guess people’s pronouns by their appearance
Myth: when someone comes out to you, it’s okay to tell other people because they don’t want to hide it anymore
Myth: we don’t need to fight for gay rights anymore because gay marriage is already legal
Myth: a child will turn gay if they see a gay person on TV or in real life
Myth: being gay is against the Bible
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