I am a heterosexual male by sexual orientation and gender, and medical doctor by profession. I want to clarify a few issues in the recent debate on homosexuality.

First, homosexuality is not a mental or medical or surgical disorder. It was considered a mental disorder until about the 1950s when the failed experiments and disastrous treatments for homosexuality finally forced the psychiatric profession worldwide to face the reality of what-is instead of dreaming about what-should-be. The darker chapters in the history of modern psychiatry mentions ineffective adventures in drug and hormonal treatments, and disastrous adventures inbrain surgery in the treatment of homosexuality.

This brings us to the second point I want to make. In the vast and overwhelming majority of cases, it is simply not possible to change a person's sexual preference with modern medicines or surgery. Whether you want to or should want to treat homosexuality in the first place is another vast issue that should be open to discussion.

Third, sexual preference is not a choice. You do not choose to be homosexual or heterosexual as the case might be. You either find Richard Gere and Keanu Reeves and Brad Pitt sexually attractive or not. You either find Cindy Crawford, Shakira and Charlize Theron sexually attractive or not. You do not choose to find Brad Pitt sexually attractive. You do not choose to find Cindy Crawford sexually attractive. It is not a matter of choice. Your sexual preferences are a given, and a reality you come to terms with.

Fourth, a homosexual man can choose to have sex with a woman in the same way that a heterosexual man can choose to have sex with another man. It is not at all physically impossible for either of the above to happen, but this does not mean you have changed that person's sexual orientation. A person's sexual orientation is very deeply entrenched no matter whether that person is straight or gay, and is not for all practical intents and purposes amenable to change.

It is certainly not a question of not wanting to be straight. Being gay is not a choice.

Keeping in view the lack of choice in the matter, I should point out that the only real choices we have open to us whatever our sexual preferences lie how we choose to behave:

1) Have sex with same sex individuals

2) Have sex with opposite sex individuals

3) Not have sex at all - that is, be celibate

This choice of behaviour whatever our sexual preferences is the same for both straight and gay individuals.

I would certainly consider gay individuals in our society to be oppressed and discriminated against. I do not think it is ideal for any individual to be criminalised for expressing their sexuality especially in the context of informed and consenting adults.

Our society consistently turns a blind eye to philandering husbands and dubious massage parlour activities but repeatedly threatens gay individuals with criminal charges for sexual relations between consenting adults.

It smacks of discrimination.