Stroke victim wakes up gay

wonderfulname

Kind of surprised this hasn't showed up here, I was curious as to peoples take on it:

Times wrote:

A Welsh rugby player who suffered a stroke ditched his fiancee after claiming he woke up gay.

Chris Birch (26), has since slimmed down from 19 stone to a lithe 11 stone, retrained as a hairdresser and moved in with a teenage boyfriend.

He now works at J’s Hair Salon in Ystrad Mynach, south Wales, after giving up his job in a bank.

He was injured during a rugby training session when he attempted a back flip, broke his neck and suffered a stroke.

His parents and girlfriend endured an anxious bedside vigil waiting to discover whether he would recover.

The man who eventually emerged was different in almost every way and found he hated sport and was no longer interested in women. Plans to get married and settle down were dropped as he embarked on a new life as a gay man.

“I was gay when I woke up and I still am,” Mr Birch said today, speaking from J’s Hair Salon.

He has also detailed the life-changing impact of his stroke in a series of newspapers.

“It sounds strange but when I came round I immediately felt different. I wasn’t interested in women any more,” he is reported as saying.

“I had never been attracted to a man before - I’d never even had any gay friends. But I didn’t care about who I was before, I had to be true to my feelings.

“Suddenly I hated everything about my old life. I didn’t get on with my friends, I hated sport and found my job boring.

“I started to take more pride in my appearance, bleached my hair and started working out. I went from a 19-stone skinhead to an 11-stone preened man.”

I went trawling the net to see were there any responses to this story and all I found was this:

Experts say that although rare, a stroke sufferer waking up from the event gay makes scientific sense.

Birch's own neurologist explains the circumstances as the stroke "opening up" a part of his patient's brain to which he was previously unaware; while Joe Korner, director of communications for the U.K.'s Stroke Association, says, "Strokes are traumatic, life-changing experiences, which can make you reassess life and your feelings so perhaps that's the reason behind it," Korner said. "Whether or not the stroke turned Chris gay, or whether he was gay anyway but unaware of it, his experience seems to be a positive one, which is great."

Now I don't know who these experts are or how much sense the above explanation makes but I found it kind of interesting. The idea that you'd be gay and not know it is one that doesn't rest easy with me, I simply don't understand how that's possible, especially not when it's relatively visible these days. As for the idea that he was turned gay, well that's pretty interesting in that it suggests something in the brain controls sexuality.

Another observation on this is that most of the coverage is painfully stereotypical:
Gay = skinny effeminate hairdressers
Straight = manly buff rugby skinheads

And two final ones:
At least he's happy, which is kind of cool.
What the hell is a 19 stone man doing attempting to back flip? That was never going to end well.

So what do you guys think?

Canard

I thought the exact same when I read it! Like seriously, hes a straight, rugby playing man who turns gay, but then in turning gay he also becomes feminine and a hairdresser? It was so stereotypical that I almost thought the article was a joke for a minute. :pac:

jaffacakesyum

I'm not saying it's not possible but I'd love to hear the Science behind it from a neurologist I trust and not just what the tabloids are reporting.

A stroke is basically when part of the brain's blood supply is cut off due to blockage or a haemorrhage. Typically this manifests as a range of symptoms including hemiparesis, muscle weakness, difficulty speaking etc.

I can't really think about how it would make someone gay!

jasper11

my guess that it was a good excuse to come out tbh. seems really far fetched but then again who knows

L.Jenkins

I heard the local radio station poke some fun at his situation. Stating that he used the stroke as an excuse to come out, saying it changed him. I would be inclined to believe Doctors myself, but on the flip side do ye think its possible that he may have known for quite awhile and seized the opportunity?

df1985

whoever he got the stroke off in his sleep must be serioiusly good at it :P

L.Jenkins

Aparently he was showing off while attempting a back flip. He inadvertently landed on his head, breaking his neck and his stroke may have been a symptom. Hey, if someone could induce a stroke though, I'd love to meet them.

BanzaiBk

“It sounds strange but when I came round I immediately felt different. I wasn’t interested in women any more,” he is reported as saying.

This is the part that is strange to me.

L.Jenkins

BanzaiBk wrote: »

This is the part that is strange to me.

Well I thought that too. You wake up and the first thing that shoots to mind is your sexual interests.

dermiek

I wonder if the gf was a babe or a dog? We need pics.

Sonics2k

ItsThatManAgain wrote: »

Well I thought that too. You wake up and the first thing that shoots to mind is your sexual interests.

To be fair that is quite typical of us men :pac:

/ontopic
I read the article when it was up on After Hours, all seemed a little bit to convenient to me.
Maybe a little bit of looking for a way to come out, but didn't know how to before so used the incident as an excuse.

stephen_n

BanzaiBk wrote: »

This is the part that is strange to me.

Well if a straight man woke up and started checking out the male nurse instead of the female one i'm sure he would be struck by the thoughts alright

Caiseoipe19

BanzaiBk wrote: »

This is the part that is strange to me.

Ah but sure if you're to believe him that he was straight before the accident, and then turned gay, lost all interest in sport and became camp...there must surely be a fairly big difference in the way he sees things between before and after...not that I'm fully convinced but just saying...

And yeah, it wouldn't take long until he had some though that would be influenced be his sexuality...could've been in the coma for a while and doubt he got any action while he was under...

danjo-xx

jasper11 wrote: »

my guess that it was a good excuse to come out tbh. seems really far fetched but then again who knows

I think if I had broke me neck the last thing I would be thinking about would be declaring my sexuality in public, unless of course the brain damage decided otherwise.

anotherlostie

You hear a lot of people ask the question - would you take a pill to make you straight if you could? Many answer yes, I probably would have once upon a time.

I wonder how many of those that would take it would live with gaining 8 stone if that was part of the side effects of living a straight life

Annasopra

ItsThatManAgain wrote: »

Aparently he was showing off while attempting a back flip. He inadvertently landed on his head, breaking his neck and his stroke may have been a symptom. Hey, if someone could induce a stroke though, I'd love to meet them.

Does breaking your neck not lead to immediate death?

MagicMarker

mango salsa wrote: »

Does breaking your neck not lead to immediate death?

Only in Hollywood.

baalthor

mango salsa wrote: »

ItsThatManAgain wrote: »

Aparently he was showing off while attempting a back flip. He inadvertently landed on his head, breaking his neck and his stroke may have been a symptom. Hey, if someone could induce a stroke though, I'd love to meet them.

Does breaking your neck not lead to immediate death?

No, many people have broken their necks and survived. Bert Trautmann and Nigel Mansell being well known examples.

foggy_lad

It is possible that he has been gay all his life but buried deep in the closet and only his near death experience has made him re-evaluate his priorities and his aim now is his own happiness rather than appeasing family and friends etc with a straight lifestyle.

Aard

It's not just "20-something stroke victim wakes up gay". It's "Burly uber macho masculine heavyset rugby player has stroke and wakes up G.A.Y with fierce hair, slim figure, great skin, fab accessories, jailbait-esque boyfriend, and yuppie loft in the city".


WHAT.

THE.

FCUK.

Dwn Wth Vwls

Why is this in the news again? It was published on the 22nd September, and now suddenly it's doing the rounds again because a different newspaper picked it up.

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/top-stories/2011/09/22/having-a-stroke-made-me-gay-115875-23436853/

stephen_n

Dwn Wth Vwls wrote: »

Why is this in the news again? It was published on the 22nd September, and now suddenly it's doing the rounds again because a different newspaper picked it up.

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/top-stories/2011/09/22/having-a-stroke-made-me-gay-115875-23436853/

Because it's an important public health message about the affects of attempting back flips in gyms! Duh!!!

Rick_

My cynical self is thinking that he was always gay, but was afraid to admit it. The life-threatening situation he was in made him realise that life is short and he should do whatever makes him happy. Although I don't understand why he had to lose 8 stone and become a hairdresser, surely he could have just stayed the way he was and continued to be a rugby player.

Something about the whole thing doesn't add up...

foggy_lad

Brain injuries can significantly alter people's personalities as well as their attitudes thoughts values etc and the person suffering a stroke and being in a coma resulted in a brain injury. this was obviously what is called a life changing injury.

44leto

It seems a nice Daily Mail story who generally hate gays and when they come across them they like to Mail stereotype them.

There is something not quite right about this story, so the guy was macho, had a girlfriend, and played rugby.

Then has an injury and he becomes effeminate, has a boyfriend and becomes a hairdresser. Now why didn't that happen to Garret Thomas.

Although it could be possible for a stroke to flip a switch (perhaps) but you will still have your experiences, your memories, it wont be that automatic, you just don't flip. So either the guy is lying about his "previous life" the extent of his gayness or the mail is omitting details about the story.

If it is true I am sure other media and the scientific community will take up the challenge of understanding and then we will either gain a new understanding about sexuality (which I doubt) or the full truth will be revealed.

easychair

Its curious about how this all seems to be one way traffic. I've never heard of a gay man cheating on his partner with a woman, but have frequently heard of a heterosexual man cheating on his female partner with a man.

I wonder if anyone gay has aver had a stroke and woken up heterosexual?

anotherlostie

easychair wrote: »

Its curious about how this all seems to be one way traffic. I've never heard of a gay man cheating on his partner with a woman, but have frequently heard of a heterosexual man cheating on his female partner with a man.

I wonder if anyone gay has aver had a stroke and woken up heterosexual?

I'm sure there's a lot of men that after a few strokes, wake up heterosexual the next morning. Until the next time...

I was surprised the Daily Mail was covering this until someone pointed out that it might allow their readership to extrapolate that homosexuality was some sort of brain damage.

Azure_sky

There's a double entendre in this thread title somewhere.:pac:

stephen_n

anotherlostie wrote: »

I was surprised the Daily Mail was covering this until someone pointed out that it might allow their readership to extrapolate that homosexuality was some sort of brain damage.

The Irish Times carried it too and so did alot of media outlets in the same way that a lot of media outlets would or have covered stories of stroke victims waking up speaking foriegn languages that they previously never knew or whatever other changes that can be caused. So looking for some sort of right wing redneck agenda ( which in fairness the daily fail is guilty of all to often) is probably stretching it. I don't think this article or the way it was reported in any of the outlets I have seen was in any way anti gay!

anotherlostie

stephen_n wrote: »

The Irish Times carried it too and so did alot of media outlets in the same way that a lot of media outlets would or have covered stories of stroke victims waking up speaking foriegn languages that they previously never knew or whatever other changes that can be caused. So looking for some sort of right wing redneck agenda ( which in fairness the daily fail is guilty of all to often) is probably stretching it. I don't think this article or the way it was reported in any of the outlets I have seen was in any way anti gay!

Ok I guess we'll agree to disagree on that one then.

wonderfulname

easychair wrote: »

Its curious about how this all seems to be one way traffic. I've never heard of a gay man cheating on his partner with a woman, but have frequently heard of a heterosexual man cheating on his female partner with a man.

I wonder if anyone gay has aver had a stroke and woken up heterosexual?

Did you ever consider that perhaps the "straight" men in these scenarios are not straight at all? It's not at all curious that it's mostly one way, ostracization, hate crimes etc. are all mostly one way too.

xxoo_jojo

watch this link on "THE DOCTORS" , it explains the connectivity of the nerve fibers in the brain between men & women heterosexual & homosexual& the dude is on for an interview. Their explination complete w/ brain scans..... very interesting!! http://thedoctorstv.com/videolib/init/5525

easychair

wonderfulname wrote: »

easychair wrote: »

Its curious about how this all seems to be one way traffic. I've never heard of a gay man cheating on his partner with a woman, but have frequently heard of a heterosexual man cheating on his female partner with a man.

I wonder if anyone gay has aver had a stroke and woken up heterosexual?

Did you ever consider that perhaps the "straight" men in these scenarios are not straight at all? It's not at all curious that it's mostly one way, ostracization, hate crimes etc. are all mostly one way too.

I have no way of knowing whether ostracisation or hate crimes are one way, two ways, or multiple ways. Crime is crime.

Sonics2k

easychair wrote: »

Its curious about how this all seems to be one way traffic. I've never heard of a gay man cheating on his partner with a woman, but have frequently heard of a heterosexual man cheating on his female partner with a man.

I wonder if anyone gay has aver had a stroke and woken up heterosexual?

I, personally, know 3 Gay men who slept with women when they were in a relationship.
I believe the excuses were something like 'I was curious.'

It didn't work out to well :pac:

stephen_n

It's funny, well not really, it's odd that within the gay community there seems to be a largely held belief that if a man in a heterosexual relationship sleeps with another man that he must be a gay man in the closet. Or if a man in a gay relationship sleeps with a women it's because of some sort of internalized homophobia or lack of comfort with himself. What is really strange about this is how easily the most obvious answer of bisexuality is completely disregarded.

Freiheit

It's a cliche I know but I believe that most people are capable of sexual attraction to either gender,not absolutely everyone and not in equal measure,but I'd say 80-90% of people are capable of going either way in certain circumstances. Most probably are unaware of this though as most people are not that introspective. A lot of 'straight' women I know have been with other women too,including an ex girlfriend of mine.

policarp

Freiheit wrote: »

It's a cliche I know but I believe that most people are capable of sexual attraction to either gender,not absolutely everyone and not in equal measure,but I'd say 80-90% of people are capable of going either way in certain circumstances. Most probably are unaware of this though as most people are not that introspective. A lot of 'straight' women I know have been with other women too,including an ex girlfriend of mine.

Have seen this a few times when alcohol or something else was involved.
Natural curiosity when the norms are breached.

foggy_lad

There is a program on about this guy on BBC3 now, started at 9pm, it will probably be repeated at a later time and date.

He also claims he was going home after playing squash with his friends when they were crossing the local playing fields which had a grassy incline, they all tunbled down the incline for a laugh and he went back to do it again and had a stroke.

The story about it happening during some rugby training session is untrue but it was thought up by some journalist so nothing unusual there!

Babybuff

Just watched it, good story. Was nice to see him putting his old life into a book of memories and finally being able to move on with his new one.

Xevkin

foggy_lad wrote: »

Brain injuries can significantly alter people's personalities as well as their attitudes thoughts values etc and the person suffering a stroke and being in a coma resulted in a brain injury. this was obviously what is called a life changing injury.

It's well documented that damage to the brain can cause major changes to s person's behaviour and personality - below is a link to what is the textbook case. I know that there is a lot to dislike about this story, with the stereotypical betrayal of gay men, but it is entirely possible that damage to brain cells induced by the blood clot caused the change.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phineas_Gage

foggy_lad

Babybuff wrote: »

Just watched it, good story. Was nice to see him putting his old life into a book of memories and finally being able to move on with his new one.

Whether he was gay before but in the closet or whether the stroke had some effect on him so that latent homosexuality was no longer inhibited it is nice to see that he has done well and is happy and those around him are also happy and accepting of him just as he is!

Babybuff

I can understand why it's caused a bit of controversy but it isn't all that uncommon for people with an acquired brain injury to have a complete change of personality. This is probably where the issues stem, most people consider sexual orientation as something more complex than a personality trait.

foggy_lad wrote: »

Whether he was gay before but in the closet or whether the stroke had some effect on him so that latent homosexuality was no longer inhibited it is nice to see that he has done well and is happy and those around him are also happy and accepting of him just as he is!

bit sad that his mother wouldn't accept him as being gay after the stroke though

foggy_lad

Babybuff wrote: »

bit sad that his mother wouldn't accept him as being gay after the stroke though

we can't always have everything we want.

TylerIE

foggy_lad wrote: »

we can't always have everything we want.

A mothers acceptance is a basic expectation and fairly, not just a flimsical blue jumper instead of a black one or crying because you dont get an easter egg.

Nyan Cat

Web I read this story months ago I was in disbelief really. But now I see it pop up again and I see the controversy it caused I think I understand why it caused the controversy and why I reacted with disbelief: because the story suggests that homosexuality can be caused by a brain injury which leads to two things: one - homosexuality being equated with an illness or injury. And 2- that all it takes is flicking some switch in the head to be gay or straight which we might also feel repulsed at as it's already been something quacks try to 'cure'
Either way is not very palatable. But it is interesting.
I'd rather believe that homosexuality is not caused by hormones or something in the brain but there is evidence to suggest it might be the case so I'll keep an open mind on it.

A thought : perhaps he always had homosexual feelings but he never paid attention to them or even knew what they were and it was the stroke that woke him up to it. Seems more likely at least to me. But maybe even he can't swear on a stack of bibles about it.

stephen_n

There is no one theory that can explain sexuality or sexual attraction. However as time goes on and neuroscience advances it would appear that maybe 35% of the population who are rigidly heterosexual or homosexual have observable brain formations. This in no way suggests than homosexuality is a misformation in the brain anymore than heterosexuality is. It simply points out that nature has a strong influence on primary sexual attraction. There is however an inherent risk in this understanding in particular the effects of hormones in the womb on brain development in embryo's but that is not necessasarily where the development of sexual attraction occurs. We know the brain is still very much developing and evolving after birth and that babies produce hormones in response to their environments and interactions with it that continue to shape the brain. The nature of our attachments post birth could have a far greater influence on primary sexual attraction than what happens in the womb and the neuroplacticity involved in the case of this stroke victim could easily be seen to support that notion. Science has no interest in a cure for homosexuality but unfortunately there will always be people who wish to pervert it for their own ends.

Dr. Baltar

I'm watching this documentary right now about thisguy if anyone else wants a peak:

foggy_lad

The more I think about this I am settling on this guy being gay all along but too afraid to come out and then an accident that he can blame his being gay on solved all his problems!