MORE on lesbianism

I was reading an old copy of MORE today. (Yes, I know this is a magazine for women over 40. No, I am not over 40 or even close. Yes, I know I'm weird.)
A while ago, I read an issue, the one before the May 09 one most likely, that had an article titled, "Over 40 and Over Men". As you can guess, it was about women who come out as lesbians in midlife. Some were even married. I found it very interesting, and I think it shows how deep-seated our assumption that we are straight is.
But my focus is on the issue I was reading today, and the letters from readers section. Here is one comment:
"My surprise when reading "Over 40 and Over Men was not that some women become lesbians later in life but rather that the writer portrayed the women's coming out as a positive choice for their families. Are all husbands of wives who announce they are gay and ending their marriage going to encourage them to "explore their new feelings"? The article also glossed over how a woman's decision to leave her family for a lesbian lifestyle affects her children. A more balanced view of such an important life decision would have been more appropriate." ~ Ann L., San Diego, California, "Letters." MORE May 2009: 16
The main assumption this letter is based on is that lesbianism (sorry, guys, but like I said, MORE, and therefore the articles in it, are for women) is something that 'happens', or is our choice, as though these women are bored of their straight marriage, and seek excitement in starting over in a same-sex relationship.
The question I would like to pose is, who in their right mind would choose this?
I don't mean this to say we should try to force ourselves to be straight. The kind of choice that involves accepting yourself is one I wholeheartedly support. But back when you thought you were straight, as I'm sure many of us did, would you have simply decided to be gay? Many of us even wished we were straight. And why not? It would sure save a lot of persecution, coming-out stress, and annoyance at having to correct people. It would bypass a whole lot of moral questions, too.
I believe that the decision to accept oneself as gay, and on a bigger scale, the decision to come out, is simply and purely a decision to be honest, with yourself and everyone else, about something close to the center of your being.
Oddly enough, this applies to me very little. If I were given that choice, to be gay or straight, I would, and may have, chosen to be gay.
As a wrap-up, I would like to say that in no way am I criticizing MORE. In the same issue, it mentions Ellen Degeneres (page 63), whom you probably know as a lesbian with her own TV show, and this letter:
"This was a great article and very tastefully written. As a woman who came out at 40, I found it to be right on the money. Thanks for writing it!" ~ Teresa Dominik (via MORE.com), Bryan, Texas, also page 16.