Full Breakdown
Rod Joseph Claims Homosexuality Is Not Biological as He Seeks Florida’s 20th District Seat
7/10/2026, 4:54:53 PM
Core Campaign Claim
Former Democratic Senate candidate Rod Joseph announced his Republican run for U.S. Congress in Florida’s 20th District and told the *South Florida Sun Sentinel* that “you cannot be born gay” and that the notion is “impossible biologically.” He linked same-sex attraction to early sexual abuse and argued that homosexuality is a modern invention dating only from the Roman Empire.
Background & Context
Florida’s 20th District encompasses Wilton Manors, a suburb of Fort Lauderdale consistently ranked among the nation’s largest gay communities. In the 2020 presidential election, roughly 68 % of district voters supported Kamala Harris. Joseph, who previously ran as a “moderate” Democrat, switched parties after disagreeing with Democratic positions on abortion and LGBTQ issues. This is his first congressional bid as a Republican in a district where LGBTQ residents form a significant voting bloc.
Key Figures
- Rod Joseph – Republican congressional candidate, former Democratic Senate hopeful.
- Elijah Manley – Out Democratic challenger in the same district, former state representative.
Official Statements & Responses
Joseph’s campaign narrative frames homosexuality as a product of abuse rather than innate orientation. He asserted that “most of the people, they’re victims of sexual abuse at the very young age” and dismissed historical evidence of same-sex couples, claiming “sexual preference from the Roman Empire to date, it’s always a preference.” He also argued that non-human species do not exhibit lasting same-sex pairings, stating, “you never see a lion that mates with a male lion for life…you never see a giraffe…that mates with a giraffe.”
Manley responded sharply, labeling Joseph’s remarks “incredibly ignorant” and emphasizing that sexual orientation is innate: “You’re born the way you are.”
Criticism & Opposition
Scientists and historians counter Joseph’s claims. Evidence of documented same-sex relationships dates back to at least 2400 B.C., predating Roman society. Biological research documents same-sex behavior in numerous species, including male lions, giraffes, penguins, clownfish, bonobos, seahorses and other animals. While some scholars argue certain animal interactions serve social bonding rather than sexual orientation, the prevalence of same-sex activity challenges the assertion that homosexuality is absent from nature.
Data & Statistics
- District voting: 68 % supported Kamala Harris in 2020.
- Historical record: Same-sex couples documented as early as 2400 B.C.
- Animal studies: National Geographic photographs show male lions engaging in sexual behavior; giraffes have been observed engaging in more same-sex than opposite-sex copulations.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Joseph maintains that same-sex behavior in animals is either non-reproductive bonding or misinterpreted, whereas biologists cite peer-reviewed observations of sustained same-sex pairings and reproductive outcomes (e.g., seahorse male pregnancy). The article does not provide a definitive scientific consensus, highlighting a gap between political rhetoric and current zoological research.
Verbatim Quotes
- “That’s impossible biologically.” — Rod Joseph
- “Most of the people, they’re victims of sexual abuse at the very young age,” — Rod Joseph
- “Sexual preference from the Roman Empire to date, it’s always a preference,” — Rod Joseph
- “You’re born the way you are,” — Elijah Manley, Democratic candidate
These statements illustrate the stark divide between Joseph’s biologically deterministic stance and the scientific and community opposition he faces in a district known for its LGBTQ advocacy.
