--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: People shouldn’t be forced to categorize…" description: "\"“People shouldn’t be forced to categorize themselves as “gay,” “straight,” or “bi.” People are just people. Maybe you’re mostly attracted to men. Maybe..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8d5/aaron-swartz-11684_homosexuality_people-shouldn-t-be-forced-to-categorize_1730731.jpg" --- # People shouldn’t be forced to categorize themselves as… ![“People shouldn’t be forced to categorize themselves as “gay,” “straight,” or “bi.” People are just people. Maybe you’re mostly attracted to men. Maybe you’re mostly attracted to women. Maybe you’re attracted to everyone. These are historical claims — not future predictions. If we truly want to…” quote by Aaron Swartz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8d5/aaron-swartz-11684_homosexuality_people-shouldn-t-be-forced-to-categorize_1730731.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8d5/aaron-swartz-11684_homosexuality_people-shouldn-t-be-forced-to-categorize_1730731.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8d5/aaron-swartz-11684_homosexuality_people-shouldn-t-be-forced-to-categorize_1730731.jpg) > ““People shouldn’t be forced to categorize themselves as “gay,” “straight,” or “bi.” People are just people. Maybe you’re mostly attracted to men. Maybe you’re mostly attracted to women. Maybe you’re attracted to everyone. These are historical claims — not future predictions. If we truly want to expand the scope of human freedom, we should encourage people to date who they want; not just provide more categorical boxes for them to slot themselves into. A man who has mostly dated men should be just as welcome to date women as a woman who’s mostly dated men. So that’s why I’m not gay. I hook up with people. I enjoy it. Sometimes they’re men, sometimes they’re women. I don’t see why it needs to be any more complicated than that.”” [Aaron Swartz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-swartz/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Identity should be fluid, not forced into rigid categories; personal attraction varies and should be respected without labels. **In simple terms:** People should be free to date anyone without labels. Key Takeaway Embrace flexible, label‑free relationships. Themes freedom identity sexuality inclusion Mood thoughtful open‑minded Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - dating apps - social circles - personal relationships - sexual education Key Concepts fluidity personal autonomy social constructs Questions to Reflect On - How would society change if labels were optional? - What challenges arise from fluid identity? A Different Perspective Labels can simplify communication but may also limit personal expression. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Homosexuality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/homosexuality/) [Human freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-freedom/) ## Related quotes > [“I love how everything must always be defined. Gay, straight, bi. Why can’t people just fuck whoever they want without feeling the need to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elle-kennedy/i-love-how-everything-must-always-be-defined-gay-straight-bi-why-can/) [Elle Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elle-kennedy/) > [“I have never, nor will I ever, have an issue with anyone’s sexuality. Gay, straight, bi, lesbian, it doesn’t matter to me. I believe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-have-never-nor-will-i-ever-have-an-issue-with-anyone-s-sexuality/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Gay, straight, bi, whatever - it doesn't matter. Love is love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amber-liu/gay-straight-bi-whatever-it-doesn-t-matter-love-is-love/) [Amber Liu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amber-liu/) > [In my opinion it's not about gay or straight or bi, we're attracted to spirits, whatever body they're in. There are other reasons too,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-plato/in-my-opinion-it-s-not-about-gay-or-straight-or-bi-we-re-attracted-to/) [Dana Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dana-plato/) > [No matter gay, straight or bi, lesbian, transgendered life, I'm on the right track baby I was born to survive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lady-gaga/no-matter-gay-straight-or-bi-lesbian-transgendered-life-i-m-on-the/) [Lady Gaga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lady-gaga/) > [“Gay, straight, bi - labels, schmabels.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olley-white/gay-straight-bi-labels-schmabels/) Olley White > [For some people, they may categorize it as "gay love". And for me, I simply see it as love. And there's no corner of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-beals/for-some-people-they-may-categorize-it-as-gay-love-and-for-me-i/) [Jennifer Beals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-beals/) > [There are gay people in every community, there are bi people in every community and they can come together with a bit of strength.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/courtney-act/there-are-gay-people-in-every-community-there-are-bi-people-in-every/) [Courtney Act](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/courtney-act/) > [Bisexuality often needs an explanation. It isn't something you can often 'read' on a person, and because of that, bi people sometimes feel like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-beatriz/bisexuality-often-needs-an-explanation-it-isn-t-something-you-can/) [Stephanie Beatriz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-beatriz/) > [I've spent a lot of years confused. Am I straight? Am I bi? Is there something wrong with me that I'm not attracted to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liz-cambage/i-ve-spent-a-lot-of-years-confused-am-i-straight-am-i-bi-is-there/) [Liz Cambage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liz-cambage/) > [I would love to lecture to women on men. I'd tell them everything about men: gay, straight, bi, how we're all the same, how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-barrowman/i-would-love-to-lecture-to-women-on-men-i-d-tell-them-everything/) [John Barrowman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-barrowman/) > [We are male and female. We are artists, athletes, students, and business owners. We have depression, DID, PTSD, eating disorders, borderline personalities, bipolar disorder,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/we-are-male-and-female-we-are-artists-athletes-students-and-business/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I don't see anyone as being different than anyone else, whether you're gay or straight or whatever - everyone's the same. That's how I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lea-michele/i-don-t-see-anyone-as-being-different-than-anyone-else-whether-you-re/) [Lea Michele](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lea-michele/) > [ “\[...\]he‘s a man you‘d be proud to bring home to mom. Gay or straight. Unfortunately, if your mother is anything like mine, you‘d probably… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adrienne-wilder/he-s-a-man-you-d-be-proud-to-bring-home-to-mom-gay-or-straight/) [Adrienne Wilder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adrienne-wilder/) > [I don't want to be a gay or a straight artist. I don't make gay records - I make records.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darren-hayes/i-don-t-want-to-be-a-gay-or-a-straight-artist-i-don-t-make-gay/) [Darren Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darren-hayes/) ## More by Aaron Swartz > [Without the ability to talk about government power, there's no way for citizens to make sure this power isn't being misused.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-swartz/without-the-ability-to-talk-about-government-power-there-s-no-way-for/) [Aaron Swartz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-swartz/) > [Most people, it seems, stretch the truth to make themselves seem more impressive. I, it seems, stretch the truth to make myself look worse.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-swartz/most-people-it-seems-stretch-the-truth-to-make-themselves-seem-more/) [Aaron Swartz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-swartz/) > [As the Internet breaks down the last justifications for a professional class of politicians, it also builds up the tools for replacing them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-swartz/as-the-internet-breaks-down-the-last-justifications-for-a/) [Aaron Swartz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-swartz/) > [Normally, I just sit in my quiet little room and do the small things that bring me pleasures. I read my books, I answer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-swartz/normally-i-just-sit-in-my-quiet-little-room-and-do-the-small-things/) [Aaron Swartz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-swartz/) > [But like all power, there are those who want to keep it for themselves. 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Not every book on sale, or every important book, or even every book in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-swartz/what-if-there-was-a-library-which-held-every-book-not-every-book-on/) [Aaron Swartz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-swartz/) > [Books are totally useless unless you take their advice. If you just keep reading them, thinking "that's so insightful! that changes everything," but never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-swartz/books-are-totally-useless-unless-you-take-their-advice-if-you-just/) [Aaron Swartz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-swartz/) > [But all of this action goes on in the dark, hidden underground. It’s called stealing or piracy, as if sharing a wealth of knowledge…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-swartz/but-all-of-this-action-goes-on-in-the-dark-hidden-underground-it-s/) [Aaron Swartz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-swartz/) > [With enough of us, around the world, we'll not just send a strong message opposing the privatization of knowledge - we'll make it a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-swartz/with-enough-of-us-around-the-world-we-ll-not-just-send-a-strong/) [Aaron Swartz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-swartz/) > [There's all sorts of stuff people want to publish anonymously.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-swartz/there-s-all-sorts-of-stuff-people-want-to-publish-anonymously/) [Aaron Swartz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-swartz/) > [Now, as far as I know, nobody has ever put up the U.S.'s nuclear missiles on the Internet. I mean, it's not something I've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-swartz/now-as-far-as-i-know-nobody-has-ever-put-up-the-u-s-s-nuclear/) [Aaron Swartz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-swartz/) > [What is "this drive"? It's the tendency to not simply accept things as they are but to want to think about them, to understand…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-swartz/what-is-this-drive-it-s-the-tendency-to-not-simply-accept-things-as/) [Aaron Swartz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-swartz/) > [Life is short ... so why waste it doing something dumb?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-swartz/life-is-short-so-why-waste-it-doing-something-dumb/) [Aaron Swartz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-swartz/) [Explore all 58 Aaron Swartz quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-swartz/) ## More Homosexuality quotes > [I don't think there's a direct correlation between my sexuality and my skiing ability. 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In all of his teachings about multiple things - he never said that gay people should be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-carter/jesus-never-said-a-word-about-homosexuality-in-all-of-his-teachings/) [Jimmy Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-carter/) > [Since 'coming out,' I've marched in gay pride parades all around the world, I've filled my home full of rainbow tat and I've become…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liz-carr/since-coming-out-i-ve-marched-in-gay-pride-parades-all-around-the/) [Liz Carr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liz-carr/) > [“Now, in the old days, Indians used to be forgiving of any kind of eccentricity. In fact, weird people were often celebrated. Epileptics were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherman-alexie/now-in-the-old-days-indians-used-to-be-forgiving-of-any-kind-of/) [Sherman Alexie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherman-alexie/) > [I think, even though homophobia still exists, there is much more of a dialogue and a taboo around being homophobic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacqueline-woodson/i-think-even-though-homophobia-still-exists-there-is-much-more-of-a/) [Jacqueline Woodson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacqueline-woodson/) > [“The motive behind my arguments have always been to come at truth. I am not interested in conquering anyone with my ideologies or seeking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/crystal-evans/the-motive-behind-my-arguments-have-always-been-to-come-at-truth-i-am/) [Crystal Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/crystal-evans/) > [I'm homosexual. How and why are idle questions. 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I am gay, and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-lynch/i-didn-t-want-to-be-gay-i-wanted-to-be-i-wanted-an-easy-life-and-you/) [Jane Lynch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-lynch/) > [I believe that those who promote discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or any other grounds are gravely mistaken about the values that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-clinton/i-believe-that-those-who-promote-discrimination-on-the-basis-of/) [Bill Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-clinton/) [Browse all 3,495 Homosexuality quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/homosexuality/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“People shouldn’t be forced to categorize themselves as “gay,” “straight,” or “bi.” People are just people. Maybe you’re mostly attracted to men. Maybe you’re mostly attracted to women. Maybe you’re attracted to everyone. These are historical claims — not future predictions. If we truly want to expand the scope of human freedom, we should encourage people to date who they want; not just provide more categorical boxes for them to slot themselves into. A man who has mostly dated men should be just as welcome to date women as a woman who’s mostly dated men. So that’s why I’m not gay. I hook up with people. I enjoy it. Sometimes they’re men, sometimes they’re women. 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