<p>Their diaries and other texts are more trustable sources about their life. I can't remember the exact sources but we did them in literature. If I find them in my old schoolbooks I'll cite the sources.
You may also have a look at Scapigliati, many of whom lived close to where I am. There were also so many philosophers who knew what relativity was.</p>
<p>
[quote]
which you say is that homosexual "identity" is cultural.
[/quote]
Then I'll try replying to what you asked: I don't know! It can be, and it can be not!
Just as culture, psychology, identity, etc. are totally random events mixing inner and outer influence that may or may not follow a pattern, even homosexuality isn't necessarily predictable or has a specific "habitat". Certain "habitats" - presuppositions for the establishment of a specific and static intrinsic sexual preference - can be explained by different reference systems, different points of view:
I can explain the fact that one falls in love with Harry Potter books because he has long-spanning protection urges that are rooted in his infancy, or simply because everyone else hates Harry Potter and he hates the environment he lives in, etc. there are can be so many reference systems.</p>
<p>
[quote]
My personal experience negates yours. You claim you were able to change yours; I was not able to change mine. And I have the medical establishment on my side.
[/quote]
Firstly, I understand and respect the fact that personal experience is important. Many of us judge and grow up empirically. But sometimes we tend to absolutize our personal experience.
If both our personal experiences were inserted in the frame of popular culture, you would win because of a) the belief that a "intrinsic sexual preference" can't be changed, b) the belief that "intrinsic sexual preferences" are conditions and not "phases".
And c) because of medicine.
Despite all the "advances" in the field of neurology and psychiatry, nothing and nobody can actually control your mind/brain better than... yourself.
The traditional medical approach tries to cure only the symptoms and not the cause.
You can take Ritalin for as much as your want to cure the symptoms of a depression, but the "chemical imbalance" won't stop coming until YOU solved the true cause of your ail. Until YOU are in peace/harmony with the problem that caused this.
I have heard of aversion therapy and many other strange techniques to "cure" homosexuality. None of these will ever change a person if it's not YOU who wants it, and until you abandon the idea that "homosexuality" is a condition, and until you stop listening to those who advocate the latter faith/theory.
Another fact is that biochemical symptoms are much easier to change than symptoms in your thought patterns.
The interaction of memory, present feelings plus the usual, damn, influence of the society around us, will often result in the feeling that we're not changing. We must grow beyond society and categorizations. And learn to think on our own.</p>
<p>As long as we believe in something, and there's no apparent physical counterargument to this belief, any belief can work or seem to work in real life.</p>
<p>Long time ago, people believed that the Earth was in the centre of the universe. Infact, everything seemed to revolve around... and above the Earth. And everyone believed life to be cyclical. Infact, there were 4 seasons every year which corresponded to the defeat of some weather God. At the end of each season, a virgin was sacrificed, to please the Gods.</p>
<p>In the Middle Ages, people believed that the Devil sent witches to Earth. They believed it in the same identical way people still believe that sexual orientation is absolute. That's why they burned thousands of "witches". The witches died really, which meant they were obviously sent to hell by God - (since otherwise the witches would have survived the fire).</p>
<p>My personal conclusion is: "Sexual orientation" is a belief, which is transformed into a physical act depending on the decisions of the individual. Not only decisions about how to act, but decisions about how to think, feel, and be.</p>
<p>Anyway, I'm a bit busy right now, but I will write to you via P.M. how I changed my sexual orientation - and how I think anyone else could change.</p>
<p>P.S. Have you heard of Luigi Pirandello?</p>