Question:

Answer:

The studies are mistaken. One of the major tenets of Judaism is that people are born with free choice. Just as a person is not born a thief from birth, he or she is not born a homosexual or lesbian. Indeed, there is an evil inclination to steal, and to speak badly about others, to eat forbidden foods, to commit sexual transgressions, and the like, but every individual has free choice to give in to his lust, or overcome it.

While one person may be born with a stronger sexual inclination than another, so that one man may have a hot, passionate nature, while another man may be sexually indifferent and cold, no one is given a passion at birth that he cannot properly direct and control. The Torah states, "If a man also lie with a man, as one lies with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination; they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them." (Vayikra, 20:13). This clearly shows that homosexuality is considered a willful transgression, and not something inherited at birth. If this were the case, then the Torah could not classify homosexuality as a sin.

Just as a person is not born a kleptomaniac, a compulsive gambler, an alcoholic, drug addict, or child molester, he is not born a homosexual.

Rabbi Eliahu Leon Levi

So too, people who engage in homosexual behavior can be guided to overcome their temptations and the emotional and spiritual weaknesses that accompany them. In addition to professional psychological counseling, a person seeking to escape from the clutches of sin needs to form a meaningful connection to G-d. This requires a true desire for reform, a path of devout repentance, a commitment of Torah study, rabbinical counseling, and spiritual tikunim, in order to awaken and strengthen the person's good inclination in the battle over his evil inclination, until the latter no longer controls his behavior.