So some UKIP councillor has suggested that gay men be shot to encourage other homosexuals to ‘decide’ to be straight. And so the ongoing “nurture or nature” debate about sexuality continues albeit in a rather inflammatory way.

While an increasing proportion of the population seem prepared to accept that sexuality is more influenced by genetics than choice, clearly for some people this is offensive. For what it’s worth my own experience would suggest that there is little element of choice. In fact there have been times when if it had been a choice it would have made my life much easier.

However let’s be clear that there is no evidence or even any suggestion that religion or politics are genetically determined, is there? Albeit some religions include children at birth based on their parents choices. Most main religions and political parties openly welcome new comers who make a CHOICE to join them.

So this means the best case scenario for those who find homosexuality offensive for either religious or political reasons is that they are asking for their choice to over-ride my supposed choice of sexuality. Can anyone explain why their free choice of religion or politics should over-ride my choice of who I choose to love and spend my life with? Because I’m struggling to think of a reason why it should.

And of course, their worst case is, of course, that their choice is seeking to change something over which I and many others have little or no control! What on earth is that about?

So next time I hear a discussion about any element of choice in sexuality I’m going to be looking a little wider than sexuality and asking about others choices and why they should over-ride mine.