Can a Stroke Turn You Gay? Rugby Player Says It Did

Neal Broverman

Neal Broverman is the Editorial Director, Print of Pride Media, publishers of The Advocate, Out, Out Traveler, and Plus, spending more than 20 years in journalism. He indulges his interest in transportation and urban planning with regular contributions to Los Angeles magazine, and his work has also appeared in the Los Angeles Times and USA Today. He lives in the City of Angels with his husband, children, and their chiweenie.

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Neal Broverman

November 08 2011 6:15 PM EST

November 17 2015 5:28 AM EST

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After breaking his neck attempting a backflip and then suffering a stroke, Welshman Chris Birch went from a sports-loving heterosexual to an out and proud homosexual, or so he says.

Birch made headlines last month in the United Kingdom when he told The Mirror about his accident and subsequent reversal of orientation.

"It sounds strange, but when I came round I immediately felt different," the 26-year-old told the paper. "I wasn't interested in women any more. I was definitely gay. I had never been attracted to a man before -- I'd never even had any gay friends."

Birch then became more obsessed with his appearance, which he believes is a gay trait. He also started training to be a hairdresser. CBS News asked Britain's Stroke Association if the organization was familiar with someone "becoming gay" after a stroke -- not really, officials with the group responded, but they did say people often reassess their lives after such an ordeal. Read more here.