In class Friday, we debated if one could "turn" another gay, and brought up the nature vs. nurture idea with sexual orientation. Many felt one way, as others felt passionately about another. Personally, I realized I believe it isn't a black or white situation; some may certainly be born with a certain orientation as we've learned from genetic anomalies and others may have situations in life bring about unexpected preferences or desires.
In the case of Alison Bechdel, author of "Fun Home," I think her story is so interesting, because essences of both arguments find themselves to be true in Bechdel's life. Bechdel was born much like a "tomboy" as she naturally dislikes dresses and even recollects finding a woman alluring at the tender age of 3. However, her father's hidden sexual orientation, and the repression he tries to outlet through making Alison more feminine (although femininity does not always mean a girl is straight and vice versa), would certainly affect a developing child who is unsure of how the world works.
Millions of people have had the hardship of coming to the realization that they like what most of global society will frown upon: the same sex. So why did Alison Bechdel believe her hardship was interesting enough to become a graphic novel? It's impossible to pinpoint where exactly Bechdel "became" gay, but there are so many opposing forces coming to light in Bechdel throughout her "funhouse" like childhood, that it certainly made for a graphic novel of merit to be written.
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