Man Cheats On Girlfriend, Claims 'Altitude Made Him Gay'

When a partner confesses to cheating, it’s hard to know how to process the betrayal, especially when the explanation sounds unbelievable.

This woman’s boyfriend admitted to cheating on her with another man while on a work trip, but his explanation left her stunned. He claims that the high altitude in Utah caused him to “temporarily become gay,” an excuse that has her questioning the entire situation.

Now, she’s unsure if she’s overreacting or if his bizarre reasoning is just an attempt to avoid accountability. Should she believe him, or is she right to doubt his story? Read on to find out how others are reacting to this perplexing situation.

A woman confronts her boyfriend about cheating, and he claims he “became gay” due to the altitude in Utah

Man Cheats On Girlfriend, Claims 'Altitude Made Him Gay' — not the actual photo

When someone suggests that altitude can change a person’s sexual orientation, that idea isn’t supported by scientific evidence.

Sexual orientation, whether someone is straight, gay, bisexual, or otherwise, is understood by researchers as an enduring pattern of emotional, romantic, and sexual attraction, not something that can flip on or off due to short‑term environmental factors like altitude.
American Psychological Association

Research in psychology and biology shows that sexual orientation is influenced by multiple factors, including genetic, hormonal, and early developmental elements.

Most scientists agree that orientation is not a choice and not something that changes spontaneously due to immediate physical conditions. While some individuals may experience shifts in how they label or express their orientation over time, this is about identity and self‑understanding, not sudden biological changes triggered by altitude.

The American Psychological Association describes sexual orientation as stable and not something people can flip in an instant due to external influences like altitude or dinner conversations.

Some people may come to recognize or redefine their orientation at different points in their lives, but that process is about personal reflection and identity, not environmental physics.

To address the specific claim about altitude affecting sexual orientation: there’s no credible scientific evidence supporting that idea. Altitude can have measurable effects on the body (for example, on oxygen levels and mood in some individuals), but there’s no research showing it alters sexual attraction or inherent orientation.

If major physiological phenomena could shift someone’s pattern of attraction temporarily and reversibly just by going to a place with higher elevation, that would be well‑documented in psychological and medical literature, but it isn’t.

That said, sexual orientation is complex. Some studies point out that people’s labels and identities can evolve as they gain more self‑understanding, especially in supportive environments.

This is known as sexual fluidity, and it is different from the idea that sexual orientation can be instantly caused or reversed by external factors.

Here’s the input from the Reddit crowd:

This group finds the ex’s explanation ridiculous and manipulative, asserting that cheating is a personal choice, not something caused by external factors like altitude

These commenters mock the absurdity of the ex’s excuse, with some comparing it to a comedy sketch and reinforcing that cheating is a betrayal regardless of the reason