Sadly, that includes my family. 

Ok, I know exactly how much this sucks. You can easily dismiss criticism from everyone else, but not your family. My mom knows that I'm gay but pretends she doesn't and is extremely negative about it, because she thinks it's a choice. My dad is just a homophobe. Your case is different, as your're not gay, but my point is, parents can be great people and simply not get some things. It stopped bothering as much as it used to when I realized that I don't have to explain myself and if they don't like it, tough for them, not me.

As stupid and naively easy as it sounds, you need to do whatever you feel like doing (supporting gay rights or whatever) and forget about your parents on this matter alone. As long as you don't depend on them financially, you don't owe them an explanation and the fact that you love them (?) doesn't mean you have to see eye to eye on everything.

I like this video. Maybe you too, so I want to share it.
http://www.upworthy.com/watch-these-straight-people-answer-a-question-gay-people-have-been-asked-for-years-6?g=2

It seems such a fundamental principle to the argument, that I just have trouble grasping these people not having considered it.    I always imagined the ones arguing this position of being at least somewhat bisexual or gay and themselves "choosing" a heterosexual lifestyle.

Teehee das funny XD

I think there's a special reason why you're here ;). Please ask your question.

Yes, you can ask. This thread is here to help people. Please don't be shy :P

Can't imagine any reason why not.  as long as you're not one of those religious types screaming "you're all a bunch of godless faggots", I can't imagine why any person, gay or straight, would have a problem with you coming to hang out in the gay section of the forum.  If we did have a problem, and you were just  curious/interested/inquisitive, then we'd be no better than the evangelicals.  

It's always fun for me to explain to people that I'm not gay when I so unabashedly love using anal toys, and am even comfortable enough in my sexuality to play with other men.  Mentally, I feel gender is irrelevant to love or affection, but my body is still grossed out and put at unease when I play with guys, and I plain can't kiss, cuddle, or be intimate with a guy.  I can have sex with a guy, but anything I percieve as  'intimate' makes me uneasy.  

I'm weird. 

Congratulations on 500 posts, LGBTA thread :D

I think you are probably right about that. I imagine a lot of people actually do what they think of as "choose" their orientation. I know I personally could "choose" to be straight, but it would be as arbitary as deciding never to date anyone with blue eyes. However, if I had a religious background I would probably define myself as straight because I would only date women, even if technically I would be bisexual, but I would believe everyone was choosing so I would think that was the definition of straight.