How does this work for the “homosexuality is a choice” crowd?

by David Safier

Why would someone like Paul Babeu choose to be gay? Why wouldn't he choose the heterosexual path when it was obvious his sexual orientation could present a roadblock to his conservative political ambitions?

It almost makes you thing Babeu's sexual orientation wasn't a choice.

Babeu jumped into politics at 17 and was elected to the North Adams, Massachusetts, city council at 18. Soon after, he ran unsuccessfully for state senate and mayor. He was a very ambitious young man.

He joined the military, then served as a police officer in Chandler, both professions where being gay can be a liability. Then he was elected Pinal County Sheriff and positioned himself on the right wing of the Republican Party, becoming something of a national celeb when he joined McCain in his "build the dang fence" ad.

The sky was the limit for this smart, ambitious Republican. If he were a Democrat, I could see how being gay wouldn't be a serious liability, but Babeu must have known the double life he was forced to lead as a closeted gay Republican could end his career if it were ever exposed. According to the Phoenix New Times article, that very fear led Babeu to threaten his ex-lover in hopes of preventing him from exposing their relationship.

If being gay were a choice, Babeu certainly made a stupid decision when you put it next to the career choices he made. It would be interesting to hear Babeu discuss how much choice he feels he has in his sexual orientation.