Human sexual behavior is Natural, but some sexual behaviors are not necessarily Normal.
The definition of Natural is:
Being in accordance with or determined by nature. Example: Natural impulses.
Definitions:
Normal is the common pattern of behavior found among the majority.
Abnormal is the common pattern of behavior found among the minority.
The U.S. population is approximately 92.9% heterosexual and 7.1% lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or something other than straight or heterosexual, reference below.
Heterosexuality is normal
Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or something other than straight or heterosexual is abnormal
Before you get your panties in a twist, consider the same sociologically speaking analysis of pet ownership, dogs vs cats.
The U.S. pet ownership is approximately 60% Dogs and 40% Cats
Dog ownership is normal.
Cat ownership is abnormal.
REFERENCE: WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Gallup finds 7.1% of U.S. adults identifying as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or something other than straight or heterosexual. The percentage has steadily increased since Gallup first measured LGBT identification in 2012.
NOTE: There are approximately 70M (60%) dog owners and 45M (40%) cat owners in the U.S.
All: I Hope you enjoyed this ad-hoc lesson in Philosophy 101 (Logic) and Sociology 101 (Human Behavior) as much as I did
There are so many areas in this discussion you could pick at and have a truly great conversation -- I like it!
Among them:
I'm asking these rhetorically (and because I like asking questions :P), but please feel free to have fun and answer.
These are the kinds of arguments kids should be exposed to in school, although... not necessarily about sexual preference (please no). Kids should be forced to ask questions, pick at arguments, and dismantle their own assumptions before rebuilding them with a better understanding of why. Bring back critical thinking!
Great comments and questions.
That's why I included the definitions I was using.
All analysis have defined data boundaries. In this case the boundary is only the population of Dog + Cat owners. hence there can only be normal or abnormal. I agree that there can be a spectrum. Look at IQ where normal is 100 and, "those who have an IQ between 0 and 25 are idiots; IQs between 26 and 50 are considered imbeciles; and those who have an IQ between 51 and 70 are considered morons."
This is a major point I was trying to make. Normal vs Abnormal is not good vs bad, or good vs evil. It is just low fidelity categorization.
Yes - people jumping on the bandwagon.
"Human sexual behavior is Natural, but some sexual behaviors are not necessarily Normal." Natural is: Being in accordance with or determined by nature. Example: Natural impulses.
Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or something other than straight or heterosexual acts are natural impulses in consenting adults but they are not normal sexual acts in the population of sexually active consenting adults
Thanks for playing along!
To #5, I would disagree with you... but I think it's mostly semantics.
The impulse to have sex is "natural" but it would be unnatural to call homosexual acts natural. Those acts are not in accordance with or determined by nature. I don't think you can qualify it by saying "consenting adults".
Think of it this way: You can't control what you crave. Most crave normal stuff. Human sexual behavior is Natural = it is what you crave. If you crave normal it is your natural instinct. if you crave something else, it is still your natural instinct. I would hate to have a natural instinct that craved anything other than what I crave. But, what do I know except what I crave.