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.
{ 19 comments… read them below or add one }
I believe we are born to choose, we choose many things, we as humans are curious and always try new things, especially when we’re young, that’s how we learn.
For you Mr.Coelho it was just an experience, and I am sure you are not the only one who experienced that, too bad that your parents influenced it, but that’s called peer pressure, and I’ve succombed to that too.
As for religion, well that’s a vast field to write about, I am sure that God doesn’t condamn homosexuals or lesbians to hell, God is love. I believe God created all of us and loves all of us either way we are, regardless of what religion says.
God Bless You, you are a wonderful human being with a beautiful soul, and that sums it up.
Love always
Dentro de los limites del hombre se escapan la imaginacion , los sueños y el amor, Dios nos dio unicamentes tres libertades. Poder inmaginar, soñar y amar y creo que podemos usarlas de forma libre y sin prejuicios.
as someone who chooses his words carefully Paulo – i must confess i am so dissapointed that you think homosexuality is a choice for people? it certainly wasn’t a choice for me – a (early) life of self hatred and torment – who would choose this over being straight?
Homosexuality is NOT a choice – I was born this way – i now accept and love myself, this certainly wasnt always the way
It was just a question, not my opinion
the choices we make are because of the way we were born, and teh way we are born is because we choices we make, having said that, in spirituality they say u need to die as u are and be reborn. U can always curn your ‘natural’ tendencies, to be whatever u want to be.
Live your life fully and love whomever you choose, God loves you. I don’t believe homesexulaity is a choice either, I know some and they are the sweetest of people.
Your honesty is another of the reasons why I feel drawn to your writting, I don’t feel you are making things up for this I thank you.
I think all should be allowed to live as they so wish as long as they do no harm to another being, surely it is the sharing of love that matters, there is so much hate in the world at this time a time of great changes where we should be joyous is others find the love that sings in their hearts.
I like your honesty.
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…
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.
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?
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.
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…
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
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
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 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
May I add something and you do not need post it?
According to Sylvia Browne (I have a friend who reads her books all the time after both her parents were killed in car crash, she couldn’t cope and she tried to commit suicide). I just want to tell you that according to her(S.Browne) a soul that is not meant to be born never enters the body. I’m writing this because of Gisa chapter which by the way is a beauty, how could you have said she was ugly????
Anyways, back to work.
Love always