If a man changes his gender to become a woman and then sleeps with men, doesn't that make them straight?

Yes? No? I don't know, biologically she is still a man right?  So I suppose she's biologically gay?  I am very confused.

If a train leaves Tulsa at 150 mph, and another train leaves Chicago an hour later at 200 mph . . . .

Right.  That's EXACTLY how I feel about it, Geoff.  Don't get me wrong -- I have plenty of love for my fellow humans, but no real understanding.  But I suppose that's how some people feel about homosexuality in general, right?

I do believe our sexuality is "hard-wired" into us.  And I also know that we ALL start out as female in the womb, until the "male-stuff" kicks in and we transform into guys.  But more than that?  I'm just not that educated (or maybe I should say "enlightened"). 

Marc and Tom:

What do you guys think of studies like this?  On the one hand it could help lay to rest the idea that homosexuality is a "lifestyle choice," which I think would be beneficial to the gay rights movement.   But on the other I think it opens some very troubling ethical doors if the sexual orientation of a child can be determined in utero.  I'd be interested in your guys thoughts.

Geoff -- aside from the fact that I think it's a false premise, I agree that sexual orientation is determined in utero.  But this study relies on the idea that gay men are really not men.  That we're somehow more feminine than our fellows, which I think is a truckload of bullshit.

Yes, there are gay men who "act" like women, but I think those behaviors -- the lisping, the loose wrists, etc -- are learned, affected.  I'm a man, and challenge anyone who doesn't think so to prove it!

A great book supporting my opinion is Androphilia: A Manifesto by Jack Malebranche.  He eschews the gay "lifestyle", the "community" and the affectedness of gay behavior.  Reccommended reading to all young queers, I think.

Tom:

Thats not what I meant (or candidly understood the study to mean from the article).  I was curious if you thought studies like these had merit vis a vis disproving the "Choice" argument.  And I was also curious how you felt about the ethical implications of "predictors."

Yes, there are gay men who "act" like women, but I think those behaviors -- the lisping, the loose wrists, etc -- are learned, affected. 

In fairness, too, the study was conducted in Britian . . . :o) 

FYI -- I certainly never meant to challenge your manhood, buddy!

Okay, Geoff, gonna go out on a bit of limb here:  I believe there IS a choice.

That choice is honesty.  Some people choose to be honest about who they are, and some decide to hide and live in the closet.  I could've easily married my college girlfriend, had a bunch of kids and f***ed around with guys on the side (like so many men around the world do, especially men who live in societies much less tolerant than ours, or Hollywood, or government), but to me, that's the lowest form of dishonesty.  You're hurting everyone around you that way. 

I guess that I don't particularly need to see "proof."  I know my orientation, the same way you know yours.  I didn't choose to be gay, the same way you didn't choose to be straight.