Homosexuality genetic?

[dianaholberg]

Jedi recently claimed that it is "scientific fact" that homosexuality is genetic. I have been unable to find a single study in which this conclusion was made.

I found a fruit fly study where it was proven that a DNA transplant can cause male flies to lose interest in female flies. Does this sound conclusive?

I don't doubt that genetics enters into ones' sexual inclinations -- particularly how much of an influence one's sexual thoughts have over one -- after all, it's generally accepted that women do not struggle with those thoughts the way men do, and our differences are certainly genetic.

Studies like the fruit fly one can, at best, be said to prove that genetics have an impact on this sexual influence. But losing sexual interest in females does not equate to being homosexual.

Here's a site devoted to the study and research of homosexuality.

By the way, I find it interesting that many homosexuals don't desire a genetic conclusion to be reached, since it would then be all to easily be described as a genetic defect.

[Mestemia]

I have not been able to find anything that conclusively proves that homosexuality is genetic.
But then, I have yet to find anything that conclusively proves the existance of God either.

I can't help but wonder why it is perfectly natural for people to believe in the Bible without any conclusive proof, but will fight to the death the idea that homosexuality is genetic?

I know that it is simply because the Bible says it is sin.
In fact, there has not been one single arguement against homosexuality that isn't a fallacy.
But I am likely taking the thread into the wrong direction.

Nice agenda filled website you linked to.

[teancum79]

arguments that homosexuality are wrong are not all based on the Bible, but to be sure it does speak on the issue like most other moral problems that where known in the times that is was being written.

I think the primary difference in those who are pro or anti homosexuality is their view on life. If we are only animals here to have some fun before we die than aside from all the medical problems that homosexuality is liked to it is not so bad.

If however we are more than a hairless ape and there is more to life than base pleasures. Than there is tons of grounds for forbidding homosexuality.

sense science can not address issues such as God, an after life or even sin. Science is not fit to make a morel decision.

As far as genetics goes, last I checked guys are sex crazed as a general rule however there is a big difference form this or other genetic tendency's and a cause.

Race is genetic, homosexuality like other sexual sins is a choice.

[jedivelariuskenobi]

I'm going to have to disagree with the idea that people "decide" to become gay. While that may certainly be how it happens for some people most people just ARE gay just like im straight. I didn't decide to be straight, i just am, like an instinct, the same with those who are gay. Whether or not there is a gene or dna, it doesn't change that for most, sexual orientation is not a decision, it just IS.

[teancum79]

Some blats from a the past on the Sexuality thread:

Okay here is my summery of information on Homosexual child molestation I’ve posted some of this before some ware (sorry I’ve counted at lest 3 boards where this topic is being discussed)

From: Comparative Data of Childhood and Adolescence Molestation in Heterosexual and Homosexual Persons.

“Forty-six percent of the homosexual men in contrast to 7% of the heterosexual men reported homosexual molestation. Twenty-two percent of lesbian women in contrast to 1% of heterosexual women reported homosexual molestation.”
(sorry the link has paid subscription guard)

This does not mean that homosexuals molest more children. What it does mean is that same sex molested children are far more likely to be a homosexual.

My conclusion while being gay molested is not the only factor in a person being gay it is a very significant one. Therefore trying to explain it all on being born that way is incorrect. I’d have a hard time thinking that persons are born with a genetic trait to get them molested.

[dianaholberg]

polytheist said:

Nice agenda filled website you linked to.

Hey, I'd have linked a scientific homosexual website... I just couldn't find one. Looked again just now... found some "statements" on studies, but no studies.

[cenk]

Apparently it is alleged that Homosexuals have a different sized Hippocampus region of the brain than compared to Heterosexual people. However experiments of this nature are controversial and ethically charged so I dont expect to find any studys claiming that people are Gay because they have a larger Hippocampus than straight guys.

However I should remind you that this sort of thing is alleged by people all the time i.e. some people say there is a criminal gene or that apparently criminal men are more likely to have a "XYY" karyotypes as opposed to the XY karyotype. As it is claimed that Alcoholics have some sort of gene.

[littlepea]

if homosexuality is genetic, does that mean that it is also hereditary? so if we encourage all gays to come out and they never have children then it will die out after a few generations?

i think the feelings are too complex to be attributed to a small collection of genes that could be bred out of humanity if we encouraged all homosexuals to come out, if they are attributable to genes at all (rather than just upbringing and other external influences). people have all sorts of different fetishes and i think it's more likely that some people are more susceptible to fall for certain pleasures due to external influences at key moments in their life than to attribute each one purely to a gene. why is homosexuality any different from a rubber fetish, for instance?

[teancum79]

The only major difference I see is that we still call many other sexual deviances bad and there is a large group in our society that has been convened that no matter how wrong another's actions are it is not their place to tell them.

[jedivelariuskenobi]

All of these talk of sexual deviances still leaves me wondering if you guys could answer my question.

Did any of you decide to be straight, as your claiming people decide to be gay? Becuase i know for me as a straight person, it wasn't a decsion it was more like i looked at the opposite sex and realized, yea im attracted to that, not im going to make a concious choice and make a decision either way.

[Tara]

I just wanted to add an element to the conversation....

What about those who are born with two sexes? (I forget what that is called...) Some of these people claim they have known before puberty which sex they are attracted to.

[dianaholberg]

Hermaphrodite... or something like that.

[littlepea]

jedi - i'm sure no-one "chooses" any of their fetishes but that doesn't mean it's genetic. it could just be that it's entirely external causes which lead to homosexuality but it's just impossible to pin it down to any specific events in a person's life. teancum's stats indicate the single external factor of being abused as a child has a massive influence, is it likely that the few homosexuals who weren't abused as children can attribute their homosexuality to other external causes?

[jedivelariuskenobi]

is it likely that the few homosexuals who weren't abused as children can attribute their homosexuality to other external causes?

His statistis state that people are more likely to be homosexual if they are abused and that a significant minority have been, not that a majority of them have been. If this is what your claiming i think you'll need more statistics to back that one up.

This is not a disease that needs to be cured, its a class of people that needs understanding from the rest of us

[teancum79]

There are very few studies (that I can find) addressing this issue. Although I've heard it repeated many times that sexual behavior is learned and not innate. It has been wholly accepted that prison homosexuality is a direct result of the environment rather than a predisposition.

I would speculate (and would love the means to test it) That the more a person is subjected to sexual stimulation the more they desire it. Also that the manner in which that stimulation occurs they will likely seek the same.
Thus the environment far more though not necessarily excluding genetics would explain peoples sexual behaviors.
If a person is stimulated to want sex and the more conventional means of satisfying that are unavailable or they have tired of it they would be prone to experiment. There are many deviant sexual behaviors that look more like pure desperation than a preference.