Are homosexuals really born that way?

[Starkiller101]

Hell no its there choice Not a gene if there was gene we would know about it.

Back again?

Yeah im back who are you

[Herrebrugh]

Back again?

Yeah im back who are you

Don't you remember our little rendevouz a while back?

[Starkiller101]

Yeah im back who are you

Don't you remember our little rendevouz a while back?

yeah i remember

[Farnhamia]

Yeah im back who are you

Don't you remember our little rendevouz a while back?

Did he get warned for that? I'd be happy to turn him in, if not.

[Czechanada]

Don't you remember our little rendevouz a while back?

Did he get warned for that? I'd be happy to turn him in, if not.

Farn: Bounty Hunter of NSG.

[Northern Dominus]

Hell no its there choice Not a gene if there was gene we would know about it.

Alright. Well then demonstrate it for for us if you don't mind? Be "gay" for a year, document your findings, then report back. That should clear up any doubts.

[Herrebrugh]

Don't you remember our little rendevouz a while back?

Did he get warned for that? I'd be happy to turn him in, if not.

Eh. I personally don't think it's necessary.

Don't you remember our little rendevouz a while back?

yeah i remember

Are you being nice to people?

[Farnhamia]

Did he get warned for that? I'd be happy to turn him in, if not.

Farn: Bounty Hunter of NSG.

Just call me Paladin. I always liked his tag line, "Have gun, will travel." It's so succinct and concise.

[Starkiller101]

Did he get warned for that? I'd be happy to turn him in, if not.

Eh. I personally don't think it's necessary.

yeah i remember

Are you being nice to people?

yes

[Frisivisia]

Hell no its there choice Not a gene if there was gene we would know about it.

Alright. Well then demonstrate it for for us if you don't mind? Be "gay" for a year, document your findings, then report back. That should clear up any doubts.

Day 56:

I have found my way into one of their "Gay Bars". It appears I'm a superstar at the gay bar. Hmmm. Will report further findings.

[Czechanada]

Hell no its there choice Not a gene if there was gene we would know about it.

When did we figure out what every single gene does? I must have missed that. We've mapped the human genome but do we understand it? I think not.

Forget the gay gene. I can't wait until they isolate the gene that makes people vulnerable to Irritable Bowel Syndrome.

[Herrebrugh]

Eh. I personally don't think it's necessary.



Are you being nice to people?

yes

Good job, sport, keep it up

[Farnhamia]

When did we figure out what every single gene does? I must have missed that. We've mapped the human genome but do we understand it? I think not.

Forget the gay gene. I can't wait until they isolate the gene that makes people vulnerable to Irritable Bowel Syndrome.

That would be useful, yes. Or the one that sends every carbohydrate I eat to my hips.

[Northern Dominus]

Alright. Well then demonstrate it for for us if you don't mind? Be "gay" for a year, document your findings, then report back. That should clear up any doubts.

Day 56:

I have found my way into one of their "Gay Bars". It appears I'm a superstar at the gay bar. Hmmm. Will report further findings.

Day 121: I've heard the phrase "grizzlies" thrown around left and right for awhile now. Unsure as to what ursine mammals have to do with being gay. Will investigate further.

[Frisivisia]

Day 56:

I have found my way into one of their "Gay Bars". It appears I'm a superstar at the gay bar. Hmmm. Will report further findings.

Day 121: I've heard the phrase "grizzlies" thrown around left and right for awhile now. Unsure as to what ursine mammals have to do with being gay. Will investigate further.

Day 153: I still have yet to feel the urge to design clothes or home interiors. That must come later. Will investigate further.

[New England and The Maritimes]

Actually, if you think about it, what seems most plausible is that we're born asexual. During our first years we show no distinct interest in the other sex, but as soon as puberty kicks in we start developing our taste.

There might be a hormone (or several of them) in that pubescent cocktail that triggers the activation of the genes that determine your sexual orientation, which might also rely on environmental or other factors.

Seems plausible, no?

Ehhh...somewhat, but not entirely.

Here's the thing: when I was in preschool, I had a crush on a little boy in my class and wanted him to be my "boyfriend." I tried to get him to "marry" me. I wanted to hold his hand every time the class had to hold hands with each other. I'm a straight woman.

One of my gay male friends has described the exact same experience.

Now, I'm not saying that this proves sexuality is set in stone when one is three. I think sexuality is in many ways as much a process as a state, and that it can evolve over time (up to a point, anyway) - but I think there is a LOT of evidence that small children have sexual orientations, just not sexual orientations that tend to involve desire for intercourse so much as for hand-holding and mock wedding ceremonies.

Yeah, but you wouldn't have known what any of those things were without a social environment that told you "Boys and girls like each other."

[EnragedMaldivians]

Day 56:

I have found my way into one of their "Gay Bars". It appears I'm a superstar at the gay bar. Hmmm. Will report further findings.

Day 121: I've heard the phrase "grizzlies" thrown around left and right for awhile now. Unsure as to what ursine mammals have to do with being gay. Will investigate further.

I've heard Stone Cold Steve Austin called a 'bear'. I think it means muscular and good looking; grizzlies probably means the same.

Edit.

Okay, I just replied seriously to a facetious conversation. Slooow day for me.

[United Republics of Aralon]

*rips out eyeballs*

This.

And it is inborn.Probably not one gene, but a combination of many define sexuality.
But the mere existence of this thread is a disgrace, if you are as tolerant as you claim to be, you would not care.

[Dusk_Kittens]

If I may, ...

I believe some of the difficulty with answering these questions lies in the use of the term "sexual preference." "Preference" is choice. A more accurate term is often used, namely, "sexual orientation."

However, i myself believe that there really is sexual preference, but also sexual orientation.

Some people are born gay. The evidence is overwhelming, and anyone who denies it is either ignorant of the evidence or simply biased.

However, some people choose to engage in homosexual relations without any genetic cause. Anyone who doubts this should spend some time observing inmates in correctional facilities. Some of those who engage in homosexual relations while in prison stop when they get out, while others do not and have self-identified as "gay."

I alluded to this much earlier in the thread, here:

Homosexuals are born that way.
Homosexual people may be born that way or may choose to be gay.
Note the difference. One is a noun, the other is an adjective. I realize this is very odd language (and someone is bound to toss unfounded allegations of prejudice at me, a bisexual woman, but using a noun "homosexual" and contrasting it with an adjective used in the phrase "homosexual people" should not be misinterpreted to suggest that I don't believe homosexuals are people; THEY ARE PEOPLE, TOO), but I use it because I hope it may help some understand.
In the case of the noun, those people are indeed innately gay (born that way, or genetic), whether they ever have a homosexual relationship or not.
In the case of the adjective, those people are in some cases innately gay (born that way, or genetic) and embrace being gay (this doesn't always happen easily, due to social bullshit), and in other cases have an experience that they use to define themselves as gay (environmental).

Is there "a gay gene"? As others have said, I doubt it's quite that simple. There is, however, most definitely a physical factor involved in some cases, which may suggest one gene or several, or a genetic predisposition.

Again, we have encountered the scourge of Western culture: dualism and its influence on society (which includes, among other things, rampant bifurcation fallacy). It doesn't have to be "either-or." It can be "both," in different situations (as noted above) or even in the same situation: yes, those who are born gay have often struggled with that orientation (very few embrace it from their first awareness of the situation, due to, as I said previously, social bullshit), but eventually, even they do make a choice, notwithstanding the innate, physical (genetic) orientation (so in this case, it is both orientation and preference, or, to put it another way, both genetic and chosen).

[Risottia]

Hell no its there choice Not a gene if there was gene we would know about it.

Apart from your evident cluelessness about the current state of our knowledge of the human genome...

Does it really matter if it's purely inborn, or a pure choice, or a mixed state of the two? I'd say no, but I guess you will have a different opinion on it, am I not right? And would you care to explain why?

[Mirage]

*rips out eyeballs*

This.

And it is inborn.Probably not one gene, but a combination of many define sexuality.
But the mere existence of this thread is a disgrace, if you are as tolerant as you claim to be, you would not care.

How did you find out it is inborn again ?

[The God-Realm]

Yes, no gay gene.

[United Republics of Aralon]

This.

And it is inborn.Probably not one gene, but a combination of many define sexuality.
But the mere existence of this thread is a disgrace, if you are as tolerant as you claim to be, you would not care.

How did you find out it is inborn again ?

I am no geneticist, so I did not find out personally. According to the wikipedia article, the two common beliefs among scinetists(and psychologists too.) are that it is a, partly genetic, partly enviromental(which is unlikely given that most homsexuals/bisexuals are raised by heterosexual parents, and there are heterosexuals raised by homosexual people, so this sounds bullshit to me), or fully genetical.
And the article cites a number of papers to back these claims.Note that no one could back the claim of sexual orientation being a willful choice.

General
Main articles: Biology and sexual orientation and Environment and sexual orientation
The causes of homosexuality, and more generically the causes of human sexual orientation, have been the subject of abundant scientific inquiry, and the activity has been developed mainly in the direction of biological and environmental factors. The biological factors that have been researched are genetic and hormonal, particularly during the fetal developmental period, that influence the resulting brain structure, and other characteristics such as handedness.[3][4] There are a wide range of environmental factors (sociological, psychological, or early uterine environment), and various biological factors, that may influence sexual orientation; though many researchers believe that it is caused by a complex interplay between nature and nurture, they favor biological models for the cause.[1][3]
The American Academy of Pediatrics stated in Pediatrics in 2004:
“ Sexual orientation probably is not determined by any one factor but by a combination of genetic, hormonal, and environmental influences. In recent decades, biologically based theories have been favored by experts. Although there continues to be controversy and uncertainty as to the genesis of the variety of human sexual orientations, there is no scientific evidence that abnormal parenting, sexual abuse, or other adverse life events influence sexual orientation. Current knowledge suggests that sexual orientation is usually established during early childhood.[4][145][146] ”
The American Psychological Association, American Psychiatric Association, and National Association of Social Workers stated in 2006:
“ Currently, there is no scientific consensus about the specific factors that cause an individual to become heterosexual, homosexual, or bisexual—including possible biological, psychological, or social effects of the parents' sexual orientation. However, the available evidence indicates that the vast majority of lesbian and gay adults were raised by heterosexual parents and the vast majority of children raised by lesbian and gay parents eventually grow up to be heterosexual.[2] ”
The Royal College of Psychiatrists stated in 2007:
“ Despite almost a century of psychoanalytic and psychological speculation, there is no substantive evidence to support the suggestion that the nature of parenting or early childhood experiences play any role in the formation of a person's fundamental heterosexual or homosexual orientation. It would appear that sexual orientation is biological in nature, determined by a complex interplay of genetic factors and the early uterine environment. Sexual orientation is therefore not a choice.[4] ”
The American Psychological Association states "there are probably many reasons for a person's sexual orientation and the reasons may be different for different people", and says most people's sexual orientation is determined at an early age.[1] Research into how sexual orientation in males may be determined by genetic or other prenatal factors plays a role in political and social debates about homosexuality, and also raises concerns about genetic profiling and prenatal testing.[147]
Professor Michael King states: "The conclusion reached by scientists who have investigated the origins and stability of sexual orientation is that it is a human characteristic that is formed early in life, and is resistant to change. Scientific evidence on the origins of homosexuality is considered relevant to theological and social debate because it undermines suggestions that sexual orientation is a choice."[148]
Innate bisexuality (or predisposition to bisexuality) is a term introduced by Sigmund Freud, based on work by his associate Wilhelm Fliess, that expounds that all humans are born bisexual but through psychological development—which includes both external and internal factors—become monosexual, while the bisexuality remains in a latent state.
Garcia-Falgueras and Swaab state in the abstract of their 2010 study, "The fetal brain develops during the intrauterine period in the male direction through a direct action of testosterone on the developing nerve cells, or in the female direction through the absence of this hormone surge. In this way, our gender identity (the conviction of belonging to the male or female gender) and sexual orientation are programmed or organized into our brain structures when we are still in the womb. There is no indication that social environment after birth has an effect on gender identity or sexual orientation."[149]

Also you can go ask around homosexual people whether they chose to be homosexual.Most reliable source.
I am trough here.

[Mirage]

I am no geneticist, so I did not find out personally. also according to the wikipedia article, common belief among scinetists(and psychologists too.) that it is a, partly genetic, partly enviromental(which is unlikely given that most homsexuals/bisexuals are raised by heterosexual parents, and there are heterosexuals raised by homosexual people, so this sounds bullshit to me), or fully genetical.
And the article cites a number of papers to back these claims.

General
Main articles: Biology and sexual orientation and Environment and sexual orientation
The causes of homosexuality, and more generically the causes of human sexual orientation, have been the subject of abundant scientific inquiry, and the activity has been developed mainly in the direction of biological and environmental factors. The biological factors that have been researched are genetic and hormonal, particularly during the fetal developmental period, that influence the resulting brain structure, and other characteristics such as handedness.[3][4] There are a wide range of environmental factors (sociological, psychological, or early uterine environment), and various biological factors, that may influence sexual orientation; though many researchers believe that it is caused by a complex interplay between nature and nurture, they favor biological models for the cause.[1][3]
The American Academy of Pediatrics stated in Pediatrics in 2004:
“ Sexual orientation probably is not determined by any one factor but by a combination of genetic, hormonal, and environmental influences. In recent decades, biologically based theories have been favored by experts. Although there continues to be controversy and uncertainty as to the genesis of the variety of human sexual orientations, there is no scientific evidence that abnormal parenting, sexual abuse, or other adverse life events influence sexual orientation. Current knowledge suggests that sexual orientation is usually established during early childhood.[4][145][146] ”
The American Psychological Association, American Psychiatric Association, and National Association of Social Workers stated in 2006:
“ Currently, there is no scientific consensus about the specific factors that cause an individual to become heterosexual, homosexual, or bisexual—including possible biological, psychological, or social effects of the parents' sexual orientation. However, the available evidence indicates that the vast majority of lesbian and gay adults were raised by heterosexual parents and the vast majority of children raised by lesbian and gay parents eventually grow up to be heterosexual.[2] ”
The Royal College of Psychiatrists stated in 2007:
“ Despite almost a century of psychoanalytic and psychological speculation, there is no substantive evidence to support the suggestion that the nature of parenting or early childhood experiences play any role in the formation of a person's fundamental heterosexual or homosexual orientation. It would appear that sexual orientation is biological in nature, determined by a complex interplay of genetic factors and the early uterine environment. Sexual orientation is therefore not a choice.[4] ”
The American Psychological Association states "there are probably many reasons for a person's sexual orientation and the reasons may be different for different people", and says most people's sexual orientation is determined at an early age.[1] Research into how sexual orientation in males may be determined by genetic or other prenatal factors plays a role in political and social debates about homosexuality, and also raises concerns about genetic profiling and prenatal testing.[147]
Professor Michael King states: "The conclusion reached by scientists who have investigated the origins and stability of sexual orientation is that it is a human characteristic that is formed early in life, and is resistant to change. Scientific evidence on the origins of homosexuality is considered relevant to theological and social debate because it undermines suggestions that sexual orientation is a choice."[148]
Innate bisexuality (or predisposition to bisexuality) is a term introduced by Sigmund Freud, based on work by his associate Wilhelm Fliess, that expounds that all humans are born bisexual but through psychological development—which includes both external and internal factors—become monosexual, while the bisexuality remains in a latent state.
Garcia-Falgueras and Swaab state in the abstract of their 2010 study, "The fetal brain develops during the intrauterine period in the male direction through a direct action of testosterone on the developing nerve cells, or in the female direction through the absence of this hormone surge. In this way, our gender identity (the conviction of belonging to the male or female gender) and sexual orientation are programmed or organized into our brain structures when we are still in the womb. There is no indication that social environment after birth has an effect on gender identity or sexual orientation."[149]

So, not everyone agrees that they are born that way. In other words more data/research is needed to find out for sure.

Maybe it is better as a whole if we didn't find out though. I could imagine some scenarios that i would rather not see.

[Euroslavia]

I am no geneticist, so I did not find out personally. also according to the wikipedia article, common belief among scinetists(and psychologists too.) that it is a, partly genetic, partly enviromental(which is unlikely given that most homsexuals/bisexuals are raised by heterosexual parents, and there are heterosexuals raised by homosexual people, so this sounds bullshit to me), or fully genetical.
And the article cites a number of papers to back these claims.

General
Main articles: Biology and sexual orientation and Environment and sexual orientation
The causes of homosexuality, and more generically the causes of human sexual orientation, have been the subject of abundant scientific inquiry, and the activity has been developed mainly in the direction of biological and environmental factors. The biological factors that have been researched are genetic and hormonal, particularly during the fetal developmental period, that influence the resulting brain structure, and other characteristics such as handedness.[3][4] There are a wide range of environmental factors (sociological, psychological, or early uterine environment), and various biological factors, that may influence sexual orientation; though many researchers believe that it is caused by a complex interplay between nature and nurture, they favor biological models for the cause.[1][3]
The American Academy of Pediatrics stated in Pediatrics in 2004:
“ Sexual orientation probably is not determined by any one factor but by a combination of genetic, hormonal, and environmental influences. In recent decades, biologically based theories have been favored by experts. Although there continues to be controversy and uncertainty as to the genesis of the variety of human sexual orientations, there is no scientific evidence that abnormal parenting, sexual abuse, or other adverse life events influence sexual orientation. Current knowledge suggests that sexual orientation is usually established during early childhood.[4][145][146] ”
The American Psychological Association, American Psychiatric Association, and National Association of Social Workers stated in 2006:
“ Currently, there is no scientific consensus about the specific factors that cause an individual to become heterosexual, homosexual, or bisexual—including possible biological, psychological, or social effects of the parents' sexual orientation. However, the available evidence indicates that the vast majority of lesbian and gay adults were raised by heterosexual parents and the vast majority of children raised by lesbian and gay parents eventually grow up to be heterosexual.[2] ”
The Royal College of Psychiatrists stated in 2007:
“ Despite almost a century of psychoanalytic and psychological speculation, there is no substantive evidence to support the suggestion that the nature of parenting or early childhood experiences play any role in the formation of a person's fundamental heterosexual or homosexual orientation. It would appear that sexual orientation is biological in nature, determined by a complex interplay of genetic factors and the early uterine environment. Sexual orientation is therefore not a choice.[4] ”
The American Psychological Association states "there are probably many reasons for a person's sexual orientation and the reasons may be different for different people", and says most people's sexual orientation is determined at an early age.[1] Research into how sexual orientation in males may be determined by genetic or other prenatal factors plays a role in political and social debates about homosexuality, and also raises concerns about genetic profiling and prenatal testing.[147]
Professor Michael King states: "The conclusion reached by scientists who have investigated the origins and stability of sexual orientation is that it is a human characteristic that is formed early in life, and is resistant to change. Scientific evidence on the origins of homosexuality is considered relevant to theological and social debate because it undermines suggestions that sexual orientation is a choice."[148]
Innate bisexuality (or predisposition to bisexuality) is a term introduced by Sigmund Freud, based on work by his associate Wilhelm Fliess, that expounds that all humans are born bisexual but through psychological development—which includes both external and internal factors—become monosexual, while the bisexuality remains in a latent state.
Garcia-Falgueras and Swaab state in the abstract of their 2010 study, "The fetal brain develops during the intrauterine period in the male direction through a direct action of testosterone on the developing nerve cells, or in the female direction through the absence of this hormone surge. In this way, our gender identity (the conviction of belonging to the male or female gender) and sexual orientation are programmed or organized into our brain structures when we are still in the womb. There is no indication that social environment after birth has an effect on gender identity or sexual orientation."[149]

So, not everyone agrees that they are born that way. In other words more data/research is needed to find out for sure.

Maybe it is better as a whole if we didn't find out though. I could imagine some scenarios that i would rather not see.

Where it is genetic and you're proven wrong? The horror!