Since the release of her 2011 album Born This Way, Gaga has attracted even more attention and has become an icon for the struggling youth of today. She has put a whole new spin on the anti-bullying campaign that has become a worldwide phenomenon by promoting the idea that people living the homosexual lifestyle, especially young people, need to embrace who they are because they are born that way.

Gaga is considered an outspoken champion of underrepresented youth, particularly those in the Gay-Lesbian-Bisexual-Transgender (GLBT) community. The avenue Gaga has chosen is the Born This Way Foundation, founded in 2011 and backed by the MacArthur Foundation and Harvard University. The purpose of the foundation is to help empower young people to embrace their sexuality and “foster a more accepting society, where differences are embraced and individuality is celebrated (bornthiswayfoundation.org).” Patrick Schwarzenegger, the 18-year-old son of Arnold Schwarzenegger and Maria Shriver, is the spokesperson for the organization. Oprah Winfrey has also backed the foundation. Even office supply powerhouse Office Depot has joined in with support. With the hope to create a “braver, kinder school year,” for students, Office Depot has pledged $1 million to Gaga’s campaign.

Whether or not people who have homosexual desires are born with those desires has been a source of controversy for a number of years. All biological studies reporting possible hormonal influence suffer from the lack of any real evidence that hormones actually play any role in sexual orientation. No gene or gene product has ever been identified that affects sexual orientation. Using the example of identical twins, where one is homosexual and one heterosexual, it has been determined that it is not possible for homosexuality to be genetic since identical twins have the exact same genetic makeup.

Until the year1973, homosexuality was listed in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM) as a mental disorder. In 1976, homosexuality was replaced with the category of Sexual Orientation Disturbance. The category was changed again in 1980 to Ego-dystonic Homosexuality. Then the category was completely removed from the DSM in 1986, although Gender Identity Disorder and Transvestic Fetishism remain diagnostic categories.
The only authority that offers definitive proof that those who struggle with homosexuality are not “born this way” is the Bible.

In her song “Born this Way,” Gaga twists this truth when she states: “He [God] made you perfect,” “’Cause God makes no mistakes,” “A different lover is not a sin, believe Him [God].” At the same time she states, “Don’t be a drag, just be a queen,” “No matter gay, straight, or bi, lesbian, transgendered life.” While Gaga’s lyrics contradict themselves, God’s Word does not.

Genesis 1:27-28 states: “So God created human beings in His own image, In the image of God He created them; male and female He created them. Then God blessed them and said, ‘Be fruitful and multiply.’” The intention of God’s creative purpose for human sexuality is a monogamous relationship between one man and one woman (see also Genesis 2:18 and Matthew 19:4-5).

The well-known example of homosexuality as a sin can be found in Genesis 19:1-11 in the city of Sodom and Gomorrah. Contrary to popular belief, the sin of homosexuality was not the sole reason those cities were destroyed. God considered both cities to be wicked in all their ways. However, in 19:1-11, we see that two angels came to visit Lot and he welcomed them into his home. Then the men of the city came to Lot demanding, “Where are the men who came to spend the night with you? Bring them out to us so we can have sex with them (v. 5).” Lot’s response is found in verse 6: “Please, my brothers,” he begged, “Don’t do such a wicked thing.”

In Leviticus 20:13, we find that God considers homosexuality a heinous offense, punishable by death: “Do not practice homosexuality, having sex with another man as with a woman. It is a detestable sin,” and Leviticus 20:13: “If a man practices homosexuality, having sex with another man as with a woman, both men have committed a detestable act. They must both be put to death, for they are guilty of a capital punishment.”

Further evidence can be found in Romans 1:26-27, 32: “That is why God abandoned them to their shameful desires. Even the women turned against the natural way to have sex and instead indulged in sex with each other. And the men, instead of having normal sexual relations with women, burned with lust for each other. Men did shameful things with other men, and as a result of this sin, they suffered within themselves the penalty they deserved…They know God’s justice requires that those who do these things deserve to die, yet they do them anyway. Worse yet, they encourage others to do them, too.”

Every time homosexuality is mentioned in the Bible, it is condemned.

While we are not born homosexual, we are born with a sinful nature. While the desire to sin may be there, you don’t have to act on it. An example of this is those who struggle with addiction. Many use the same reasoning as is used for the argument about genetic homosexuality, saying that addicts are genetically predisposed to be the way they are. Yet addicts make a conscious choice to take that first drink or partake of that first drug. Some give into the desire and others, having seen the devastating effects that their addiction has on their loved ones and themselves, make a conscious choice to remain sober.

Many homosexuals have changed their lifestyles and become heterosexual. If homosexual orientation was completely genetic, one would expect that such changes would be impossible to make.

Change is possible. 1 Corinthians 6:9-11 says, “Don’t you realize that those who do wrong will not inherit the Kingdom of God? Don’t fool yourselves. Those who indulge in sexual sin, or who worship idols, or commit adultery, or are male prostitutes or practice homosexuality, or are thieves, or greedy people, or drunkards, or are abusive, or cheat people – none of these will inherit the Kingdom of God. Some of you were once like that. But you were cleansed; you were made holy; you were made right with God by calling on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.”

I lived a homosexual lifestyle for over 20 years and believed that I was born that way; that it was who I was and there was nothing I could do to change it. Then I met Jesus, and the lies I had believed were replaced by the truth.

We can’t change the past, but we can hold to the promise of 2 Corinthians 5:17: “…anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun.”