The immutability of sexual orientation has long been a topic of debate in political, academic, and legal spheres. Advocates of gay rights have often centered their positions on the “born that way” and “not a choice” arguments. The basic claim of these arguments roughly follows the same form: “If same-sex sexual attractions were inborn or unchangeable, then it would be wrong to discriminate against lesbians, gay men, and bisexuals (LBG people), it would be wrong to criminalize same-sex sexual...

As previously discussed in this blog series, queerness challenges underlying assumptions and norms regarding the nature and meaning of intimacy; it challenges us to think more broadly and expansively about human relatedness and connection. The queer paradigm posited by Hammack et al. (2018) explores seven axioms across which these dominant narratives are challenged, elucidating the diversity and creativity inherent in queerness: “A queer paradigm challenges the normative privileging of...

The theory of queer temporality explores the non-normative life rhythms and alternative futures of queer experience. Heteronormative ideas of intimacy, family building, and reproduction often look different for those whose identities and experiences fall outside heteronormative paradigms. Queer temporality rises in part in opposition to the heteronormative institution of family itself to explore different ways of relating and being. The concept of queer time was most notable during the latter...