Are people born gay or is it a choice?

[barfolemew]

I asked this question about a year ago, just looking to see some new thoughts on the issue.

 

[danarhea]

I asked this question about a year ago, just looking to see some new thoughts on the issue.

I do not believe that anyone is born gay, but whether or not someone is gay is determined by environment. We are all born "tabula rasa", with a blank slate. Think of that as a painting, and the environment we are brought up in as a palette. We start with a blank canvas, and what we learn, or experience, are painted on it. It could be a "gay" paint, a "straight" paint, a highly religious paint, an atheist paint, a hunter's paint, a vegan's paint, etc. etc. etc.

What we ultimately become, IMHO, whether gay or straight, is a learned behavior. There is no gay gene.

 

[ARealConservative]

I don't know.

I know firsthand of identical twins where only one was a lesbian.

 

[rivrrat]

Of course it's innate. No one sits down and chooses to be hetero-, bi-, or homosexual. We just *are*.

Just like any other sexual preference, it's just a part of who we are. We don't "learn" sexual attraction.

 

[Kelzie]

I do not believe that anyone is born gay, but whether or not someone is gay is determined by environment. We are all born "tabula rasa", with a blank slate. Think of that as a painting, and the environment we are brought up in as a palette. We start with a blank canvas, and what we learn, or experience, are painted on it. It could be a "gay" paint, a "straight" paint, a highly religious paint, an atheist paint, a hunter's paint, a vegan's paint, etc. etc. etc.

What we ultimately become, IMHO, whether gay or straight, is a learned behavior. There is no gay gene.

So you think it's all nurture huh? Out of curiosity, do you think there is a schizophrenia paint? Or is some behavior due to genetics?

 

[niftydrifty]

Being gay isn't a choice.

However, some gays choose to marry members of the other sex and raise families. And just look at the damage that causes.

 

[Adrian]

I do not believe that anyone is born gay, but whether or not someone is gay is determined by environment. We are all born "tabula rasa", with a blank slate. Think of that as a painting, and the environment we are brought up in as a palette. We start with a blank canvas, and what we learn, or experience, are painted on it. It could be a "gay" paint, a "straight" paint, a highly religious paint, an atheist paint, a hunter's paint, a vegan's paint, etc. etc. etc.

What we ultimately become, IMHO, whether gay or straight, is a learned behavior. There is no gay gene.

That doesn't make sense. As a species we are highly tribal - we need to belong. To choose to follow a behavior that makes one a social pariah would be antithetical to our evolutionarily programmed need for survival. I can't think of a better example of this than high school, where the need to belong and conform reaches a fevered pitch not matched by any other point in a person's life. To choose to be gay in a an environment that is popular for being hostile to difference and in particular to homosexuality is completely illogical.

 

[RightOfCenter]

I think they must have to be born that way due to some biological process. To say they are "painted" that way leads me to point out that many homosexuals are brought up in conservative families and homosexuals adopt children without turning them gay.

 

[Gibberish]

Yes and No. However, it is not a choice though you can choose to accept it or not.

I know two people who are gay who fought it for years. They did not want to be gay but couldn't help their attraction (one is male and one is female). They believe they were born this way and no matter how hard they tried they couldn't fight their attractions. Dylan (the female) is bisexual now and James (the male) is openly homosexual. Dylan is obviously still struggling.

 

[rathi]

Twin studies suggest a genetic component of around 30% to 50% for homosexuality. Thats pretty significant.


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biology_and_sexual_orientation

But please, continue with the completely unfounded speculation.

 

[RightOfCenter]

Twin studies suggest a genetic component of around 30% to 50% for homosexuality. Thats pretty significant.


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biology_and_sexual_orientation

But please, continue with the completely unfounded speculation.

Unfounded speculation is what politics are all about! You think politicians know anything about anything? Hell no!

 

[Summerwind]

I might buy that being gay or lesbian is influenced by genetics; but bi-sexuals? Are they genitically disposed to being greedy? I don't get that one. Bis seem to me to just be over-sexed and indiscriminate. Then there are the transgenders. I know three transgenders and have information regarding a fourth through my daughter (one of her better friends). . . anyway, of the four, three have or are changing from men to women so they can be lesbians. Only one changed sex in order to be with men as a woman. From other reports, I hear this is pretty typical. This makes me pause and wonder about it all. If sexual preference is primarily genetic than why do so many men who like to have sex with women; get a sex change to become a lesbian? Is lesbian sex itself so different that a man can't immulate it with a woman? I doubt it; I think they just choose to become part of the lesbian culture.

For those on this thread who have commented that "no one would choose to intentionally put themselves as such odds with society." . . .poppycock! I know loads of folks that choose the hard road in so many areas. Some folks, myself included, just can't stand to be part of the "norm" or the moral majority. So I do believe based on my own inclinations to do the opposite of what everyone around me is doing and to do it so that I am noticed being different; well some others must also be inclined to make CHOICES for the same reason.

 

[Hatuey]

Yeah I can't imagine just one day randomly "choosing" to go down on some guy or asking a gay guy to just randomly go down on me. It's something you really have to have inside so to speak...

PS : I miss my wife

 

[rivrrat]

I might buy that being gay or lesbian is influenced by genetics; but bi-sexuals? Are they genitically disposed to being greedy? I don't get that one. Bis seem to me to just be over-sexed and indiscriminate.

Not necessarily. We're just turned on by both genders. Nothing really to "get" about it. If you "get" why people are hetero, and you "get" why people are homosexual, then you should likewise be able to understand how someone can find both genders sexually attractive.

 

[Summerwind]

Okay, then why don't we simply solve this whole issue by saying everyone is bisexual; but due to environment some choose to only indulge in one sex, given a choice. For example, are men in prison all gay? From reports they make due by having sex on each other; is this a genetic situation? I don't think so. Perhaps sexuality choices have much to do with comfort and opportunity. It is undeniable that a certain culture exists with alternative sexual choices; perhaps individuals simply prefer the open and welcoming culture that exists in these groups. Or conversely, the group prefers the individual more than any other group has preferred the individual making it more rewarding for the individual.

I don't know. No one does. But if a homosexual woman had to do time in an all male prison; or vica versa, I bet he/she would find a way to make do with what was available till a "preferred" choice became available.

 

[RightOfCenter]

Yeah I can't imagine just one day randomly "choosing" to go down on some guy or asking a gay guy to just randomly go down on me. It's something you really have to have inside so to speak...

PS : I miss my wife

How would one account for prison rapes? I haven't seen the show Oz but I've heard some ****ed up stories...Remember that scene from American History X? Think that big neo nazi was gay on the outside?

 

[Navy Pride]

I don't think anyone knows for sure if gay people are born that way or not.....

 

[Jerry]

I asked this question about a year ago, just looking to see some new thoughts on the issue.

You've been a member for a year and only have 19 posts?

 

[RightOfCenter]

You've been a member for a year and only have 19 posts?

I only have over a thousand and I've been here since Dec 2005. It's about quality, not quantity.

 

[Jerry]

PS : I miss my wife

I'll tell her you said "hi"

 

[Jerry]

I only have over a thousand and I've been here since Dec 2005. It's about quality, not quantity.

That means you should only have about 40 posts.


I agree with that principal.
Look at Tashah, she only had @ 400 posts before she was moded.

Now, I'm not gona rip on barfolemew here, but judging from his post history he's no Tashah.

As for the OP, it's not a this-or-that sort of thing. Neither option applies to all homosexuals.

 

[aps]

I might buy that being gay or lesbian is influenced by genetics; but bi-sexuals? Are they genitically disposed to being greedy? I don't get that one. Bis seem to me to just be over-sexed and indiscriminate. Then there are the transgenders. I know three transgenders and have information regarding a fourth through my daughter (one of her better friends). . . anyway, of the four, three have or are changing from men to women so they can be lesbians. Only one changed sex in order to be with men as a woman. From other reports, I hear this is pretty typical. This makes me pause and wonder about it all. If sexual preference is primarily genetic than why do so many men who like to have sex with women; get a sex change to become a lesbian? Is lesbian sex itself so different that a man can't immulate it with a woman? I doubt it; I think they just choose to become part of the lesbian culture.

For those on this thread who have commented that "no one would choose to intentionally put themselves as such odds with society." . . .poppycock! I know loads of folks that choose the hard road in so many areas. Some folks, myself included, just can't stand to be part of the "norm" or the moral majority. So I do believe based on my own inclinations to do the opposite of what everyone around me is doing and to do it so that I am noticed being different; well some others must also be inclined to make CHOICES for the same reason.

How many bisexual people do you know to have such an opinion? I consider myself to be bisexual. I am not greedy, I'm not over-sexed, and I am certainly not indiscriminate. Where the heck did you come up with these opinions? Just off the top of your head? While I am bisexual, that doesn't mean that I treat both sexes equally. I couldn't "date" a woman or marry a woman--ewwwwww. I prefer men, but sexually, I can go both ways. I have been with my husband since 1996 and I have been intimate with NO ONE else since then. Does that make me over-sexed or indiscriminate?

 

[Jerry]

How many bisexual people do you know to have such an opinion? I consider myself to be bisexual. I am not greedy, I'm not over-sexed, and I am certainly not indiscriminate. Where the heck did you come up with these opinions? Just off the top of your head? While I am bisexual, that doesn't mean that I treat both sexes equally. I couldn't "date" a woman or marry a woman--ewwwwww. I prefer men, but sexually, I can go both ways. I have been with my husband since 1996 and I have been intimate with NO ONE else since then. Does that make me over-sexed or indiscriminate?

I'll bet he wishes you were

 

[WI Crippler]

It depends on the situation.

Certainley there are people ( mostly women ) who perform homosexual activity, more for attention than really being sexually attracted to someone of the same sex ( of which I thank those college co-eds for videotaping ).

Then there are people that you look at, and there is no denying that they are gay, and if they aren't they don't know it yet. There was a guy who worked at the same hospital as my wife. 100% gay but didn't know it yet, or admit to it.
I'll give the breakdown

1. Male Nurse- ok by itself, this doesn't mean anything but it kinda figures when you add in the following....
2. Made college football team at a major university(a perrienial top 25 program), but quit to be a male cheerleader instead.
3. Was upset that the movie "The Notebook" was different than the book.
4. Went to see a midnight screening of "The Family Stone"
5. Was aware of the Sex and the City references made by female counterparts, and could engage in discussions about the show with knowledge.
6. Dated a nice looking female who, was self admittedly sex starved, but he did not have sex with her, because of his religious upbringing.
7. Was unaware of how to put on a condom cathitor(Sp??), which apparently goes on just like a condom.
8. Would actually notice new things about females, like new earrings, perfume scents etc...

That guy was born gay.......

 

[aps]

I'll bet he wishes you were

Hee hee hee Actually, Jerry, he doesn't. He is very conservative when it comes to that kind of stuff.