Introduction
Homosexuality is a widely discussed issue in modern days. Acceptance of homosexuality not only raises moral concern but has also attracted numerous researches on the topic. Two of the most asked questions with regard to homosexuality are whether it is really evil and how the habit develops. Although various people provide different explanations on homosexuality, a deep understanding can be obtained from homosexuals themselves or individuals that have had experience on the habit. As revealed by Melissa Fryreal’s story, homo sexuality is a learnt habit that results from encounters with our environment. The title “The seed that grew” demonstrate the reality that the seed of homosexuality is planted in an individual and grows as the individual grows.
Discussion
Mellissa’s background played a significant role to her becoming a lesbian. Melissa was an adopted child whose relationship with her new parents and environment that she was brought up in resulted into development of the habit. The “Christian” family that she was brought up in did not abide by Christian principles. As she testifies, her mother was unloving and uncaring. On the other hand, her father abused her sexually. This environment affected her sexual development leading into lesbianism. Sexual abuse from her father during her adolescent stage could have set a foundation for her homosexual behavior (Harrison, 2004). Various studies show that sexual abuse at early stages of development can contribute towards homosexuality. Thus, sexual abuse could have affected Mellissa’s perception of relationship and determine the direction that she took in finding friends.
As young and looking for a relationship, the injury implanted by his father prevented her from finding fulfillment in relationship with male counterparts. Instead, she found fulfilling friendly relationship with girls. At thirteen years, Mellissa could not have been attracted to a boy. In attempt to understand herself, she could have tried to research thus coming across terms such as homosexual and lesbianism. As she puts it, the seed of lesbianism continued to grow as she developed. Through her tendency to find fulfillment in friendship with her girlfriend rather than boys, Mellissa could have developed a thought that she was attracted to girls. By searching information about homosexuality as she did by finding the meaning of the word in a dictionary, Mellissa was to find reasons to justify her feeling (Harrison, 2004). This helped to water the seed which later developed to lesbianism.
At the age of 16, the seed that had been more than ten years before had developed to maturity. At this age, Mellissa concluded her search for identity accepting that she was attracted to women rather than men. When she joined University at the age of eighteen, she strengthened her new identity by joining and becoming actively involved with the gays. Despite of later getting a gay partner, Mellissa is not settled. This shows that lesbianism was natural to her.
Just as Mellissa’s childhood experience helped to plant a seed of homosexuality, it required another person to plant seed of salvation that helped her overcome the habit. Bill Martinez was a different Christian. Unlike her mother, Bill was caring, loving, understanding and patient. Mellissa’s encounter with him changed her perception of Christianity. With different perception of her world, Mellissa’s self identity changed with time leading her to abandon homosexuality.
Conclusion
Homosexuality is a learnt habit that develops from our perception of our world. The environment in which a person is brought up can facilitate if planting a seed of homosexuality which develop gradually. As with the case with Mellissa, sexual abuse contributes highly to development of our sexuality. In our contemporary world, acceptance of gay marriages in some states and portrayal of gay marriage as a right through the media can facilitate growth of the seed of homosexuality in some teens leading into increased cases of the behavior.
Reference List
Harrison, M. (2004). The Impact of Prior Heterosexual Experience on Homosexuality in Women.