Your biography, written by Fernando Morais and recently published in Brasil, makes scandal because it pointed out that you had had three homosexual relations being younger. So what you think about homosexuality; about the vision of the Catholic church and others religions as well as of the political suppression concerning it in many countries?
It is not for me to judge the sexual choices of people(I wrote a book on that, “Eleven Minutes”). I had three homosexual relationships when I was 19, because my parents used to say “if you want to be an artist, this also means that you are homosexual”. They planted this doubt in my mind, and I decided to check by myself - I could never live with this interrogation mark for the rest of my life. I tried, I did not like, and I realized by then that I am not a homosexual. That said, I am convinced that people are free to choose, and sexuality, with few exceptions that involve forcing others to do something that they don’t like ( like rape and pedophily ) , is a personal choice.
Dear Paulo Coelho, I felt a blow on my stomach and my heart, reading how your parents tried to impose on your their will. They tried to ruin you and your self-confidence, at the age you most needed them. I remember the “PROPHET” by Kahlil Gibran speaking about our children. The mirror, we first look to see who we are,is the eyes of our parents. There is a Greek saying, that a mother sees her baby the most beautiful, the best of all… My Mother is 90 years old and whenever I am near her I feel her immense love. The same love that I feel for my own children and …grand-children.I feel, that since God has entrusted their souls to us, the only thing we have to do is love them, and love shows us the way. LOVE from my heart, THELMA
My dear dear THELMA, my eyes are still moist with tears as I anwer your post. So touching and so true. All they need is Love…. and Trust… and the Freedom to grow. Children are the most important responsibility that we are ever entrusted with, and we dare not waste a single moment to show our implicit and never ending love.
Because the world of tomorrow depends on the way we treat the children of today.
“Teach your children well… and know they love you” Crsosby Stills Nash & Young.
Love, understanding & tolerance, Paul
I think people should have free will as far as their sexual choices go ,who are we to judge if our children ,family or friends decide that they are gay ,straight -or both ..point is we should accept them as they are ..alot of people have doubt though about themselves when they are younger ,so they experiment to see I guess .Some poeple want to eat the same cereal everyday for the rest of there lives ,some like to change or try other things ,I am a woman /man type of Gal ,but if there where no men left on the planet I might swing the other way .Blessings Tania
Dear Paulo.
I think homosexuality is a natural sexual expression for homosexual people, as natural in my eyes as homosexuality is for those who are homosexual. I think the the prejudices and judgements and fears that the Catholic Church or any other religion has over homo-sexuality are exactly that, prejudice, fear and judgement. Political suppression of homosexuals is in my eyes abuse of power.
One very dear friend of mine is a very, very gay man and I really get sad and angry being faced with the fact, that in some parts of the world, he is in danger just because of his sexuality.
And I have a lot of respect for what you dared to do when you were 19 in spite of your parents judgements over you. Ideally, we have our teenage years to get to start knowing ourselves, also sexually.
Sibila Maria India
My dearest Thelma and Paul from Austria, i m so happy everytime reading your comments, knowing that there are Parents like you in the world….it gives me relief…
what you say is true…all anyone needs is Love…
That fills me with tears of joy..
Love and Graditude
Annie
Whatever one choose it’s not up to us to decide whether it is right or wrong. Everyone has his/her own conscious, values and preferences, besides for me sexuality is usually something you do not choose; it’s a part of who you are, and sometimes it takes time to figure it out.
One thing I know.. we are learning our whole life.
love
Agnieszka
My parents had the same explanation when I wanted to become an artist, I don’t know if that’s the reason why I met a woman in my life some years later but i don’t regret…it’s a part of myself that needed to be explored to see that I need a man in my life.
Love
All Ways
Hildegarde
My oldest son is homosexual, and I helped him to love his way to express his sexuality. It does not matter if we express our love as a homosexual, heterosexual or bisexual, the most important thing is the expression of love…
I have very strong opinions about children (especially my own) and the importance of allowing them to follow their own hearts and their own paths. Support them emotionally, love them with all your heart, and guide them as best as you can when they ask you to do so. If you do your job well, as a parent, you raise strong, capable and loving individuals who step out into the world ready to live their life fully and follow their own path.
Hi Paulo,
Could you please explain to me why you had to personally engage in homosexual relationships (for 3 times) in order to be sure of your sexual orientation. Couldn’t someone decide on his/her sexuality without having to try it personally?
As for me, I wouls de a “jude”, as if it was a defect… I’m smiling, because I always thought we are all creators, and that thos kind of sentences are there for many reasons. But sometimes, coming from the fact people would not want others to succed in what they found no solution, or never have thought about only one.
In the case you would be homosexual: what’s the story? How could it “make scandals?”
If God had refused only one of Its nature’s principle, could we talk now?
I guess you’d be a monk, they would find something to say. :)
Light.
As for me, I wouls de a “jude”. No, this is not a new language.
Da’ told me: “If you want to make cinema, you’ll have to be jude”, and in some terms suggested: “you won’t be a part of the family anymore.
Though, I was already not facing a real family…