And if you are a pastor, a church leader, a chaplain, a deacon, a home group leader, a friend from the congregation who has been asked to visit someone in hospital — this article is especially written for you. Because the ministry of accompanying the sick is one of the most ancient, most sacred, and most humanly demanding callings in the life of any community of faith. It is also one of the least talked about, the least trained for, and the most feared.

We come today to reflect upon a question that has stirred debate, provoked misunderstanding, and, at times, caused deep wounds in the lives of countless individuals. The question is this: Is being gay or bisexual a choice?

This question is not merely academic. It touches upon the dignity of human persons, the integrity of families, the justice of societies, and the compassion of communities of faith. To answer it wrongly is to risk perpetuating prejudice, to justify discrimination, and to burden souls with guilt for realities they did not choose. To answer it rightly is to affirm truth, to defend human dignity, and to extend the hand of justice and mercy.

The thesis I advance today is clear: being gay or bisexual is not a choice. It is not a lifestyle selected from a menu of options, nor a preference adopted at whim. It is a natural variation of human sexuality, deeply rooted in biology, psychology, and lived experience.