Josh Slocum argues that his same‑sex attraction did not emerge from birth but from the emotional wreckage of a violent, chaotic childhood. He describes growing up in an environment marked by instability, fear, and a lack of healthy male role models. In his view, this early trauma shaped his understanding of masculinity and intimacy long before he was old enough to form a stable identity.
He explains that the abuse and neglect he experienced left him craving safety, affirmation, and connection—needs he believes later became sexualized. Rather than seeing his orientation as innate, he frames it as a coping mechanism formed in the aftermath of childhood wounds. The absence of nurturing relationships, especially with men, created a distorted template for attachment.
According to his account, the emotional void of his upbringing pushed him toward relationships that felt comforting or protective, even if they were unhealthy. He argues that these patterns were learned responses to trauma, not expressions of an inborn identity. His perspective challenges the “born this way” narrative by emphasizing how deeply early experiences can shape desires and behaviors.
Ultimately, he insists that acknowledging the role of trauma is not self‑hatred but honesty. For him, attributing his sexuality to innate biology would erase the painful realities that shaped him. By tracing his orientation back to a brutal childhood, he believes he is reclaiming his story and refusing to let cultural pressure dictate how he interprets his own life.
https://www.theblaze.com/align/like-most-gay-men-i-wasn-t-born-this-way-and-i-refuse-to-lie-about-it?cx_testId=3&cx_testVariant=cx_1&cx_artPos=0&cx_experienceId=EX6ZDD3D9VN6&cx_experienceActionId=showRecommendationsVU3PH74ULO8X25#cxrecs_s
