I Woke up Gay
kyle4jem
Posts: 1,400 Member
To all UK/Irish-based MFPeeps, there is a fascinating programme on BBC Three tonight at 21.00 BST
I Woke up Gay.
The programme tells the story of Chris Birch who was a 19st (266lb) very straight, beer-swilling, rugby player, who suffered a stroke after a prank went wrong and when he recovered from his brain injury he realised he was a completely different person - he was now gay!
The programme also looks at other cases where brain injuries have resulted in personality changes.
For more information, check out the background story on the BBC News website at the following link:
http://bbc.in/HPggvM
But despite the headline of the article 'The stroke had turned me gay' Chris is not upset about his personality change:
I Woke up Gay.
The programme tells the story of Chris Birch who was a 19st (266lb) very straight, beer-swilling, rugby player, who suffered a stroke after a prank went wrong and when he recovered from his brain injury he realised he was a completely different person - he was now gay!
The programme also looks at other cases where brain injuries have resulted in personality changes.
For more information, check out the background story on the BBC News website at the following link:
http://bbc.in/HPggvM
But despite the headline of the article 'The stroke had turned me gay' Chris is not upset about his personality change:
"I'm convinced more than ever looking at these photos that the stroke did turn me gay, because there is no way that I was gay before. I have photos as proof and I have friends as proof and now I have memories as proof."
"I'm happier now than I ever have been, why would I want to change?"
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Sounds like an interesting program. Hopefully it'll make its way to BBC America sometime in the near future.0
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I'm going to record it tonight (might not get to watch it live) and let you know more in the next few days :happy:0
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Sounds fascinating. Definitely share your thoughts once you've had a chance to watch it.0
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I'm interested...0
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Good for him! I'm already gay, but I'd love to wake up with Foreign Accent Syndrome.0
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I have pictures of me with a 'girlfriend' in the 90's. It doesn't mean I wasn't gay back then...just not 'out.'0
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Near death experiences can cause all kinds of changes to a person, usually more spiritual than physical. Am wondering if he was always gay and just in denial before the accident.0
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Very interesting! Makes my brain go on a tangent. I think that there is so much more to "being gay" than people give credit to. It is partially desire (sexually and romantically), but it is also action. In my opinion, somebody can have gay sexual desires, but if they do not identify as gay and do not act on those desires ... who am I to say that they are gay? We may not choose our attractions, but we do choose our actions and I believe that we have an obligation to acknowledge the validity of a person's choice. This is why I'm not a fan of "living a lie" rhetoric that is used regarding closeted or "cured" gay people. If it is their choice to use that rhetoric then that's fine, but we can't force it upon them. They may be repressing sexual desires, but to go all Freudian for a moment, since when did our ID hold more truth than our Superego? We all have desires that we choose to suppress, for better or for worse.
I think that the whole discussion about whether or not being gay is "natural" or "genetic" is one that we REALLY need to stop buying into or participating in. Why does the answer to that question matter so damn much? If a person WAS choosing to live a gay life, what possible harm is that doing to others? Should we force people to prove that their gayness is natural or genetic to allow them to engage in gay sexual/romantic relationships?
That's my tangent.0 -
Not a tangent at all, thedreamhazer! I agree that everyone is entitled to equal rights, whether being LGBT+ is an inherent characteristic or a "lifestyle choice." The irony is that it's often people whose religious "lifestyle choice" is legally protected against discrimination who insist that no "lifestyle choice" is deserving of legal protection
Interesting topic, Kyle! I hope this show makes its way over here soon.0 -
I think that the whole discussion about whether or not being gay is "natural" or "genetic" is one that we REALLY need to stop buying into or participating in. Why does the answer to that question matter so damn much? If a person WAS choosing to live a gay life, what possible harm is that doing to others? Should we force people to prove that their gayness is natural or genetic to allow them to engage in gay sexual/romantic relationships?
I don't think its a tangent at all and I personally have thought about this a lot. I strongly think that sexuality is a choice and you can define yourself any way you like. Its just that for some people the choice seems so obvious that they can't imagine choosing something different.
I hope the show treats this whole thing well. Report back OP!0 -
I'm lesbian, and I chose to be lesbian the day you chose to be straight. I love that sentence! It actually indicates a lot about sexuality.
Every time someone asks me when I chose to be gay, I tell them, "The same day you chose to be straight." They never have a comeback. What can they say?:laugh:
Anyway, this sounds like a very interesting program. I would love to see it. The brain works in mysterious ways!:happy:0 -
I saw on a talk show, Anderson Cooper I think, a story about a man who was stung by a bee and ended up in the hospital. He started losing testosterone?? anyway, he lost facial hair started growing boobs. He decided that he was meant to be a woman and went and did the whole sex change. He was married with 2 boys I believe. Interesting story.
I wish I could see this "I woke up Gay' program.0 -
As someone who's had a stroke, i can 100% vouch for this. before my stroke, i thought women were beautiful. after my stroke, i'm nearly dying inside because i can't feel one. not even kidding. seeing this story makes me feel a tad bit more normal. i've done lots of research myself into this phenomenon, and i do believe it can happen. i wouldn't say i'm gay, but definitely bi. curious at the very least.0
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I hate that they've thrown this in there: "He used to be a 19-stone, beer-swilling, party-loving rugby fan from the Welsh valleys, the life and soul of a party. He worked in a bank and loved sport and motorbikes." as if a gay man couldn't fit that description.0
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Very interesting, Hotmamasoon. I hope you have made or will make a full recovery.
I agree, ElizabethRoad. If they had listed those characteristics and then said how he had changed, it would be one thing. But as written, the author makes it seem like only a straight man can be like that.0 -
Very interesting, Hotmamasoon. I hope you have made or will make a full recovery.
i did make a 100% full recovery. thank you. was a quadraplegic for about 9 days, but was able to walk out of the hospital 20 days later.0 -
Not sure I'll get to watch it tonight, sorry folks. Really tired and will probably fall asleep soon. But I've got it on the HD, so I should get to watch tomorrow.
Thanks for all your input and comment - some fascinating posts.
At least tomorrow I know, I too will wake up gay
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I want to see this. Sounds intriguing.0
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At least tomorrow I know, I too will wake up gay
Lol. Awesome.0 -
At least tomorrow I know, I too will wake up gay
well apparently you actually DON'T know that, you could have a stroke today and wake up un-gay tomorrow.0 -
One of the heroes of 9/11, Mark Bingham on United 93, was a big, tough rugby player in college, president of his fraternity, and went on to play in the San Francisco Fog rugby team. He had a scar from being gored at the running of the bulls in Spain.I hate that they've thrown this in there: "He used to be a 19-stone, beer-swilling, party-loving rugby fan from the Welsh valleys, the life and soul of a party. He worked in a bank and loved sport and motorbikes." as if a gay man couldn't fit that description.0 -
Fortunately no adverse brain activity overnight... so yes, still very gay and very happy :happy:At least tomorrow I know, I too will wake up gay
well apparently you actually DON'T know that, you could have a stroke today and wake up un-gay tomorrow.0 -
So, was it worth watching? I didn't have time last night.0
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I want to wake up with Foreign Accent Syndrome as well! lol
It sounds very interesting! I wonder if I could stream it online somehow since I am in the US...0 -
As someone who's had a stroke, i can 100% vouch for this. before my stroke, i thought women were beautiful. after my stroke, i'm nearly dying inside because i can't feel one. not even kidding. seeing this story makes me feel a tad bit more normal. i've done lots of research myself into this phenomenon, and i do believe it can happen. i wouldn't say i'm gay, but definitely bi. curious at the very least.
Hotmamasoon - glad that you recovered from your stroke! Very inspriing. And the silver lining is you now had some nice bi-curious after-effects
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I watched it, it actually wasn't that interesting. It was exactly what it sounds like. This bloke had a stroke and woke up gay. They couldn't prove it or disprove it in the show. Part of me believes him, if it is real to him then it is real - but equally he says he can't remember his "old self" so how can he remember if he was gay or not? It seems like he's judging it on photos & he says the photos don't look like a gay man.... whaaaaa? Seems like a bit of a prejudiced thing to say... What does a gay man look like? Lots of people tell me I don't look like a lesbian... I find it a bit offensive. I am what I am and I look exactly like a lesbian because I am one.0
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@nitepagen
Near death experiences can cause all kinds of changes to a person, usually more spiritual than physical. Am wondering if he was always gay and just in denial before the accident.
Mine wasn't a near death experience, it was a mid-life crises
eh, same thing. Makes you realise you need to do something about how you are living. It gives you the courage to make the changes you need to make. I know many people, men and women, who have come out during their 40s and 50s.0 -
I watched it, it actually wasn't that interesting. It was exactly what it sounds like. This bloke had a stroke and woke up gay. They couldn't prove it or disprove it in the show. Part of me believes him, if it is real to him then it is real - but equally he says he can't remember his "old self" so how can he remember if he was gay or not? It seems like he's judging it on photos & he says the photos don't look like a gay man.... whaaaaa? Seems like a bit of a prejudiced thing to say... What does a gay man look like? Lots of people tell me I don't look like a lesbian... I find it a bit offensive. I am what I am and I look exactly like a lesbian because I am one.
Thanks for the report, Smiler! I didn't see the show, but read the article. I found it interesting that even his partner suspects that he was gay, but closeted, before the stroke.0 -
Thanks Smiler! :happy:I watched it, it actually wasn't that interesting. It was exactly what it sounds like. This bloke had a stroke and woke up gay. They couldn't prove it or disprove it in the show. Part of me believes him, if it is real to him then it is real - but equally he says he can't remember his "old self" so how can he remember if he was gay or not? It seems like he's judging it on photos & he says the photos don't look like a gay man.... whaaaaa? Seems like a bit of a prejudiced thing to say... What does a gay man look like? Lots of people tell me I don't look like a lesbian... I find it a bit offensive. I am what I am and I look exactly like a lesbian because I am one.
I finally got round to watching it last night (but didn't have time to report back) in fact the hubster watched it with me and I won't tell you what his comments were :laugh:
I also think that I didn't really gel with the protagonist, Chris Birch. In many ways he was your stereotypical über-gay: all stupid haircut, skinny jeans and camper than a row of tents. He just didn't come across that sympathetically, imho.
All in all, a bit of a disappointment... I thought it more like something you'd see on Five rather than BBC Three, which has produced some really insightful and ground-breaking documentaries. It's a pity, because it could have been so much better and more interesting if it had really explored more about the whole science behind the mysteries of the brain.0 -
Thanks, Kyle! Sounds to me like he was a closeted gay man with a hyper-straight persona to help himself keep his "dirty" little secret. And his stroke was a good opportunity for him to break out of the prison he'd put himself into.
Who knows, though? The human brain is a mysterious thing and perhaps he really did fundamentally change.0
This discussion has been closed.