Sexuality Changes After Stroke: Can It Alter Orientation?

Can a stroke turn you gay? This question has sparked media frenzies and divided scientific opinion. One of the most famous cases is that of Chris Birch, a Welsh rugby enthusiast and banker who was engaged to his girlfriend. After a freak accident, he woke up in the hospital and found himself attracted to men. Birch's neurologist told him that the stroke likely played a role in opening up a part of his brain he was previously unaware of. While some experts say that it is uncommon to see full-blown personality changes in patients following a stroke, others argue that the brain is a delicate organ, and a stroke can affect it in multitudinous ways.

Chris Birch's experience

Chris Birch was a 26-year-old heterosexual man from South Wales. He was a banker, rugby enthusiast, and was set to marry his fiancée. However, in 2011, he suffered a stroke after breaking his neck while attempting a backflip, and his life changed drastically.

When Birch woke up in the hospital, he immediately felt different. He said, "I wasn't interested in women anymore. I was definitely gay." He found himself attracted to a handsome actor on TV, experiencing the same feelings he used to have for women. Birch's sexuality shift took time to process. He told his mother about his new sexuality, and it was a bigger deal than he had anticipated. He also wanted to be certain about his feelings before dating men, so he waited six months before meeting his boyfriend, Jack.

The stroke also led to other significant changes in Birch's life. He lost interest in his old hobbies and friends, quit his job as a banker, and adopted a healthier lifestyle. He focused more on his appearance, lost weight, and became more confident. Birch's neurologist attributed these changes to the stroke, explaining that it likely "opened up" a different part of his brain.

Birch's story sparked a media frenzy and raised questions about whether a stroke could alter someone's sexual orientation. Some, including Birch's ex-fiancée, believed that he might have always been gay. However, Birch is convinced that the stroke caused the change. He struggled to remember and identify with his old self, looking at past pictures of himself as if he were a different person.

Birch's experience with the media attention was not always positive. He participated in a BBC3 documentary, "I Woke Up Gay," but found it disappointing and overly sensationalized. He faced criticism and accusations of lying, with some claiming that his story promoted the idea of a "gay cure." As a result, he dealt with fake social media accounts and negative comments, which left him heartbroken.

Despite the challenges, Birch moved on with his new life. He taught hairdressing part-time and owned a professional cleaning business. He lived in Cardiff with his boyfriend, Jack, and their four dogs. Birch found happiness and acceptance in his new identity, stating, "I'm happier now than I ever have been, why would I want to change?"

The science behind it

A stroke occurs when the blood supply, and therefore the oxygen supply, to the brain is disrupted. Without oxygen, brain cells die, leaving the brain to make new connections, which can affect how a person thinks, moves, or feels.

It has been extensively documented that strokes and brain injuries can cause significant alterations in personality and sexual behaviour. However, sexual orientation changes are in the minority. Hyposexuality is a far more common outcome, and, to a lesser degree, hypersexuality.

There are a handful of studied cases where heterosexual men developed paedophilia after brain trauma. In one such example, a middle-aged man suddenly began to sexually abuse his 8-year-old stepdaughter. It was discovered that he had a large brain tumour, and after it was removed, his sexual interests returned to normal.

In another case, a 57-year-old man's stroke appeared to change his orientation from gay to straight. The authors of the case report struggled to explain why this might be, noting that the mechanism by which a person acquires their sexual orientation is complex, ranging from psychological theories to biological concepts.

Research has found that in a small sample of men, voluntary androgen deprivation can lead to changes in sexual orientation. Androgens are steroid hormones that play a key role in male sexual development, with testosterone being the most well-known example. By extension, if a stroke knocks out certain centres in the brain with androgen receptors, it is possible for a stroke to alter sexual orientation.

These cases may prove especially useful in our evolving understanding of human sexuality. One study speculated that "alterations in sexual preference associated with brain lesions may suggest which areas of the brain influence sexual orientation in humans."

However, it is important to note that major personality changes in stroke sufferers are rare, and the underlying cause of sexual orientation changes is still not fully understood. While a stroke can affect how a person thinks, moves, or feels, the idea that it can turn a straight person gay remains controversial and divisive among scientists.

The media frenzy

Chris Birch's story sparked a media frenzy when it first hit the headlines. The tabloids went wild with the story of a macho, heterosexual rugby player and banker who, after a freak accident, suddenly found himself attracted to men. The story was covered by several news outlets, including the Daily Mail, the Mirror, the Sun, CBS News, BBC News, and Vice.

The media coverage of Birch's story played into stereotypes and often included sensationalised details. The Daily Mail, for instance, reported that Birch "traded in his fiancé for a live-in boyfriend" and "opted for hair styling over banking." The tabloid also provided a "sassy" photo of Birch posed with a blow dryer. Other media outlets picked up on the story, with headlines like "A Stroke Made Me Gay" in The Mirror and "The Stroke Had Turned Me Gay" in the BBC.

Birch himself was disappointed with some of the media coverage, particularly the BBC documentary "I Woke Up Gay," which he felt was "dumbed down" and "ridiculous." He also faced backlash and accusations of lying, with some claiming that he had always been gay and was using the stroke as an excuse. He was criticised by writers from publications like Gawker, The Metro, and Anorak, who suggested that his story was "counterproductive to the equality cause."

Despite the media frenzy, some journalists and experts questioned whether a stroke could truly alter a person's sexual orientation. Joe Korner, director of communications for The Stroke Association in the UK, told CBS News that he had never personally heard of a stroke changing someone's sexuality. Dr. Ira G. Rashbaum, a professor of rehabilitation medicine, also stated that while personality changes are common after a stroke, full-blown personality changes are rare.

The ethics of the media coverage

The ethics of media coverage are brought into question in the case of Chris Birch, whose story of a stroke "turning him gay" sparked a media frenzy. While some outlets sensationalised Birch's story, others questioned the accuracy and ethics of such coverage.

Birch's story was first reported by the British tabloids, including the Daily Mail, Mirror, and Sun, and quickly went viral. The tabloids' coverage was criticised for being stereotypical and inaccurate, with one commentator, Tracy Clark-Flory, describing the Daily Mail's reporting as "laughable pseudo-science". Clark-Flory also noted that the tabloids' uncomplicated take on the story ignored the complex nature of sexual orientation, which encompasses both psychological and biological factors.

Birch himself expressed disappointment with the media's portrayal of his story, particularly with the BBC documentary "I Woke Up Gay". He felt that the documentary dumbed down his experience and forced a narrative that he woke up gay, which was not an accurate representation of his journey. He also faced backlash and accusations of lying, with some suggesting that he had always been gay and was using the stroke as a cover. Birch was deeply affected by the negative response, stating that he wished he hadn't shared his story publicly.

The ethical implications of the media coverage of Birch's story are significant. The sensationalism and simplification of a complex issue may have contributed to misinformation and misunderstanding. Additionally, the media's portrayal of Birch's story as a dramatic transformation could perpetuate stereotypes and contribute to stigmatisation. Furthermore, the media frenzy may have overlooked the more nuanced and individual nature of sexual orientation and the potential impact of a stroke on an individual's sense of self.

While the media's interest in Birch's story may have stemmed from a desire to raise awareness about strokes and their potential consequences, the ethical implications of the coverage highlight the importance of responsible and nuanced reporting, especially when dealing with sensitive and complex issues.

The impact on Birch's personal life

Chris Birch's life changed dramatically after his stroke. He went from being a heterosexual rugby-loving banker to a gay hairdresser. He broke up with his fiancée and started dating men, losing touch with his mother in the process. He also quit his job and pursued further education, eventually training as a hairdresser. He found a new passion for art and sculpture, and his personality became more confident and less inhibited.

Birch's sexuality shift took some time. He told his mother about his new sexuality, and it was a bigger deal than he had anticipated. He also wanted to be certain that his new feelings were not temporary, so he waited six months before he started dating men. He also experienced physical changes to his body, such as his left eye drooping when he was tired, and he noticed that he now liked animals, which he had never been fond of before.

Birch's story sparked a media frenzy, with some questioning whether a stroke could truly alter someone's sexual orientation. Dr Qazi Rahman, a researcher at Queen Mary University, tested Birch and found that on some tests, he performed in the "expected direction" for a gay man, but on others, he was within the range of a straight man. Birch himself is convinced that his stroke caused the change in his sexual orientation, and he is happier now than he has ever been.

The impact of the stroke on Birch's personal life was profound and far-reaching. He had to rediscover himself and move on with a new life, facing controversy and media scrutiny along the way.

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