Missouri state senator Bob Dixon, who is running in the Republican primary for governor, says that he used to be a homosexual but decided it was wrong for him and changed his behavior.

When Missouri state Sen. Bob Dixon (R), announced his candidacy for governor in early July, he touted his staunch conservative ideals, a desire to "get government out of the way" and his firm belief in traditional marriage. Last week, he also released a statement clarifying his past as a young gay man -- an experience he attributes to a bout of "teenage confusion."

In the release, Dixon says abuse during childhood led to uncertainty about his sexuality and a five-year spell of being gay, the Springfield News-Leader reported. But a "religious experience" in 1988 helped him change his sexual orientation, and the gubernatorial candidate has been forthcoming about the experience in hopes of squelching the "blood sport" aspect of politics.

“I have put the childhood abuse, and the teenage confusion behind me," the statement reads. "What others intended for harm has resulted in untold good. I have overcome, and will not allow evil to win." 

Dixon has been married to a woman for about 25 years and has three children.

We are constantly told that homosexuality is not a choice, but obviously, for people like Bob Dixon, it is.  If it is a choice, why are we obligated to cater to people who choose this lifestyle – this very dangerous lifestyle, which can lead to AIDS, hepatitis, and anal incontinence?  If it is a choice, why are we teaching our children to embrace this unhealthy lifestyle?  If it is a choice, why are states like California and New Jersey banning people from choosing gay conversion therapy?

Advocates for homosexuality claim that people are born that way and cannot help themselves.  But stories like Dixon's show that that is not the case.  People have urges of many kinds – to be gay, to smoke marijuana, to rob a bank – but society is not required to cater to these urges or encourage our children to act on them.

This article was produced by NewsMachete.com, the conservative news site.