Herman Cain: ‘Show Me The Science’ That Being Gay Is Not A Choice

By Zack Ford/Think Progress

The ladies of The View today challenged newly crowned Republican presidential front-runner Herman Cain on his beliefs about homosexuality. He confirmed that he would bring back Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, and “Yes,” he believes being gay is a choice. Joy Behar pressed him on this, asking why anyone would choose to be reviled by the society, and Cain expressed that he had not seen enough research to conclude that homosexuality is not a choice:

BEHAR: To think that gay is a choice, I don’t know how to respond to that. I mean, don’t think anybody in this world wants to be gay considering all the vilification that is brought upon someone who is gay. Why would you choose that?

CAIN: Well, you show me the science that it’s not and I’ll be persuaded. Right now it’s my opinion against the opinions of others who feel differently. That’s just a difference of opinions.

Watch it:

If Cain has not seen “the science,” he clearly has never bothered to look. Based on decades of research, all major medical professional organizations agree that sexual orientation is not a choice and cannot be changed, from gay to straight or otherwise. The American Psychological Association, the world’s largest association of psychological professionals, describes sexual orientation as “a complex interaction of environmental, cognitive and biological factors.” There is considerable evidence to suggest that biology, “including genetic or inborn hormonal factors,” plays a significant role in a person’s sexuality.

Perhaps someone could make sure Mr. Cain sees this post so he can properly reevaluate his inaccurate “opinion.”

UPDATE

The Log Cabin Republicans have responded to Cain’s comments today:

“If Herman Cain truly wants to see the science proving that sexual orientation is not a choice, Log Cabin Republicans would be happy to show it to him,” said Log Cabin Republicans Executive Director R. Clarke Cooper. “The claim that a person chooses to be gay or lesbian has been discredited by every major professional medical organization, starting with the American Psychological Association and the American Medical Association. An individual’s orientation is no more a choice than the color of his skin or whether he is left-handed, and too many people have been hurt because of failed attempts to change the way they were born.”