My feeling on the term 'Lifestyle Choice'

[dddem]

Feel free to correct me if I'm wrong (and God bless you DUers, you will), but if you are a non-heterosexual person, and you fall in love with someone and want to legally commit to that person, or you want to serve your country by joining a branch of the military, you really don't have a choice, do you? So until you enjoy the same civil rights as us heterosexuals, you really can't make any kind of 'lifestyle choice', can you?
So basically, for now, it's a stupid term and we should stop using it.
Peace.

[iamjoy]

1. Why Is It Stupid

"Lifestyle Choice" is a Suitable Term
for people who want to live according to ultra-orthodox religious guidelines
for people who want to be vegetarians/vegans or only consume organic products
for people who are luddites (reject technology)

so I would counter that it is a mis-used term, not a stupid one.

:hippie:

[dddem]

2. Stupid in terms of GLBT folks I mean.

Seems to me when you don't give a person the same choice as everyone else, then they really can't make a 'lifestyle choice'.
it's a context thing, I guess.

[iamjoy]

3. Exactly

why should I be forced to accept somebody's lifestyle choice if it is offensive to me, or I respectfully disagree, or I think it is silly.

So, next time some one starts talking about the "lifestyle choice" gays make and why society should protect that, ask why our government provides special protections for other lifestyle choices such as religious observance.

[dddem]

4. My point is that you can't criticize a lifestyle choice when a choice doesn't exist

Let's give them a choice first, then we'll talk.

[iamjoy]

5. Hmm, I See What You're Saying

I didn't really think of orientation as a choice, but my counter-points to those who do would end up re-enforcing their prejudice.

Thanks, glad I didn't try that argument out on a Conservative.

[dddem]

6. Happy to help!

That's why I love it here. We can all learn from each other.
Peace.

[SmileyRose]

7. Who cares if it's a choice - or not.

NON hetero is not "bad" or "wrong" or anything else negative. Period. The discussion of "choice or nature" is just a distraction, IMHO. I agree with you, "lifestyle choice" as code words to describe merely non-hetero IS pretty silly.

Now being a soccer mom -- THAT'S a lifestyle choice. :)

[VMI Dem]

8. I don't use it. Homophobes do.