biological factors associated with sexuality

[psycho_drama]

I have gotten so tired of the EX-Gays so I am here to show the science they refuse to acknowledge.

Most of these are factors in shaping sexuality, not necessarily the cause.

Brain anatomy
i.e. a neural cluster in the hypothalamus smaller in gay men that hetero men(Simon LeVay 1991). This discovery came after LeVay performed examinations on the hypothalamus of both gay and straight corpse, the orientation intentionally kept from him. " I wanted to do something that was connected to my gay identity."

Genetics
"First, homosexuality does appear to run in families. Second, twin studies have established that genes play a substantial role in explaining individual differences in sexual orientation. Identical twins are somewhat more likely than fraternal twins to share a homosexual orientation.(Mustanski & Bailey 2003)

Prenatal Hormones
In animals and in some exceptional human cases, abnormal prenatal hormone conditions have altered a fetus' sexual orientation. (Gunter Dorner1976, 1988).

Discuss( I know that I am total nerd, but I that something that I am proud of.)

[Alecto]

Honestly? I've said before on this board that I think the causes are the biggest red herring EVER in this whole "debate". I know that for me, my sexuality wasn't a choice. This means a couple of things:
1)That's my experience. It's an outrage that it's even up for debate.
2)That this is my experience doesn't mean that it's everyone's experience. Some people may choose their sexuality and that doesn't have to be threatening in any way for me. If they do, that doesn't mean that I did.
3)Even IF I chose my sexuality, it's a choice that I should be allowed to make in a free society that has a separation of church and state. There aren't really any non-religious reasons that homosexuality is "wrong" in today's society.
4)IF we're going to go there, it's always fascinating to me that the arguments are either "it's a choice!" or "it's genetic!". There's other options going on there (which you totally acknowledged; but I run into this often enough that it bears repeating): biopsychosocial model anyone?

[Gennee]

All throughout my life I always felt that I was different. Every gay and lesbian person I know tell me that they known since they were children. Science has proven that these things are true.

Gennee

[BishopIoan]

Me, too, Genee. I just knew even if I couldn't put it into words. When I hit puberty it was always ladies I was attracted to. I didn't know it was "bad" until my mother said something about it (Luckily, I got over that and so did my mum).

Years later, my mother said she was pretty certain I was gay by the time I was five or six and that my father said he had an idea that I was by the time I was twelve. I am firmly of a mind that most LGBTQ children (and sometimes the parents as well) know that something is "different" from a very young age.

Interesting information. Thanks for posting, psycho drama!

[Daniel]

Originally Posted by psycho_drama

I have gotten so tired of the EX-Gays so I am here to show the science they refuse to acknowledge.

Most of these are factors in shaping sexuality, not necessarily the cause.

Brain anatomy
i.e. a neural cluster in the hypothalamus smaller in gay men that hetero men(Simon LeVay 1991). This discovery came after LeVay performed examinations on the hypothalamus of both gay and straight corpse, the orientation intentionally kept from him. " I wanted to do something that was connected to my gay identity."

Genetics
"First, homosexuality does appear to run in families. Second, twin studies have established that genes play a substantial role in explaining individual differences in sexual orientation. Identical twins are somewhat more likely than fraternal twins to share a homosexual orientation.(Mustanski & Bailey 2003)

Prenatal Hormones
In animals and in some exceptional human cases, abnormal prenatal hormone conditions have altered a fetus' sexual orientation. (Gunter Dorner1976, 1988).

Discuss( I know that I am total nerd, but I that something that I am proud of.)

I rather like the science- that is- genetic- perspective. That said, the 'evidence' for someone being gay is 'post- facto' - that is- after-the-fact. It is self-reported.

Perhaps the fear here is that, if genes are identified for same-sex attraction, then straight parents are going to do a test to 'change' their children.

This strikes me as a fear-based argument. Besides which, it is science fiction to posit that one's same-sex attraction can be changed, much less any other genetic 'condition'.