Open Forum: Do We Have a "Gay Lifestyle?"

LGBTQ people are quick to be on the defensive when someone invokes the word "lifestyle" with regards to LGBTQ lives. Sometimes the term "gay lifestyle" is used to disparage LGBTQ people and insinuate that our sexual orientations or gender identities are but a mere choice. Anyone with some common sense knows that nobody chooses to be gay. Nobody chooses to feel isolated for years, face discrimination, and live as a second class citizen in a society that does not regard you as an equal.

The notion that we choose to be queer is illogical. However, the question as to whether we live a "queer lifestyle" is legitimate debate in my opinion. Living in a gayborhood, reading queer-centric news/publications, being an LGBT activist, going to an LGBT church or house of worship, going to gay clubs, restaurants, inns/hotels, choosing queer books and films, and socializing with other queer folks. At some point one has got to wonder, does a huge chunk of my life revolve around queerness? If it does, wouldn't this constitute as being a practitioner of the "gay lifestyle?" Thoughts?