Don't Let Anyone Think for You
There is an important question students should learn to ask: How do I know that what I am being told is actually true? This question applies to every subject—including sexuality, gender, religion, politics, science, education and social issues. People sometimes make sweeping claims about LGBTQ+ people and explain their identities entirely through family circumstances, childhood experiences or social conditioning. But the scientific evidence does not support such a simple explanation. Research indicates that sexual orientation is not something most people consciously choose, and that human sexuality develops through a complex combination of biological and developmental factors. Gender identity is a separate question and also cannot be reduced to one simple cause. At the same time, family environment, social experiences and cultural surroundings can influence how people understand themselves, express themselves and experience the world. That is different from saying that a particular fam...
