Sex and the City actress and lesbian activist Cynthia Nixon is facing backlash after comments she made implying that being gay is a choice were published. To be fair, Nixon didn't say that being gay is the same for everyone. She was speaking about her own personal experience. For her, it's a choice. Your experience may vary.
Cynthia Nixon told the New York Times: "I gave a speech recently, an empowerment speech to a gay audience, and it included the line ‘I’ve been straight and I’ve been gay, and gay is better.’ And they tried to get me to change it, because they said it implies that homosexuality can be a choice. And for me, it is a choice. I understand that for many people it’s not, but for me it’s a choice, and you don’t get to define my gayness for me. A certain section of our community is very concerned that it not be seen as a choice, because if it’s a choice, then we could opt out. I say it doesn’t matter if we flew here or we swam here, it matters that we are here and we are one group and let us stop trying to make a litmus test for who is considered gay and who is not."
Notice that Cynthia Nixon didn't say that you are gay by choice. She said that she is gay by choice. How can she be wrong when she's the one who knows how she feels? She did go on to say that being gay by choice shouldn't be any "less legitimate" than being gay by any other means. She's right.
Nixon continued: "Why can’t it be a choice? Why is that any less legitimate? It seems we’re just ceding this point to bigots who are demanding it, and I don’t think that they should define the terms of the debate. I also feel like people think I was walking around in a cloud and didn’t realize I was gay, which I find really offensive. I find it offensive to me, but I also find it offensive to all the men I’ve been out with."
Unfortunately, some people will assume erroneously that if Cynthia Nixon can choose to be gay, then the gay population in general can choose to be straight. That's certainly not the case and should not be inferred from Nixon's comments.
Photo: Cynthia Nixon attends the 15th Annual ACE Awards at Cipriani 42nd Street on November 7, 2011 in New York City. (Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images)
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