Homosexuality: Nature v. Nurture

TheLoveDoctor · 03-13-2006, 06:37 PM

Being gay is certainly not something to be ashamed of, but it is definitely a difficult life to live in our society today. Therefore many people often ask "are you born gay, or are you raised gay?"

I'd like to see what you guys have to say about this.

I watched a news report the other day (Datline, 20/20 or one of those) that had a segment on this topic. Some scientists claimed they were able to turn some lab rats "gay" based on the hormones it was introduced to in the fetus (i.e. testosterone).

Others claimed that it wasn't based on hormones, but by genes, and that it can be hereditary...Still others claim that it is simply based on how one is raised.

Of interest were indentical twins - one gay, and one straight. Also fraternal twins (young) with one boy claiming he thinks he should be a girl, and the other more than happy to be a boy.

Some surprising findings: the more older brothers a man has, the more likely he is to be gay (2% more each time). Some say that perhaps a mother develops anti-bodies to the Y-Chromosome after initial exposure, and each subsequent male is exposed to more and more of it, "feminizing" him. Again, all theories.

Here is where it gets strange, if the younger brother is left-handed, then the effects of having older brothers are meaningless. Lesbians do not have this same sort of familial tracing.

Kind of some interesting points to think about it - so what do you guys think?

freakypunkdixie · 03-13-2006, 07:52 PM

My best friend wrote a report about this!! Maybe if I can get her permission to, I'll post it. Anyways, the amout of Androgiens (sp?) can determine a person's femininity/masculinity. The more androgiens the more masculine, less means more feminine. There is also a proven fact that homeosexuals have a portion in their brain that is enlarged compared to hetrosexuals.

Her essay explains it alot better than me. We are both Christians so don't think that I am biased here anyway. I think that the act homeosexuality is a sin. However, a homeosexual can go to heaven because the person choses to do this act. A liar can chose to lie or not to lie. A murderer can chose not to murder.

DazedAndConfused · 03-17-2006, 02:27 AM

I can't say anything here... I might start a riot. I got so much to say about this !

Leave me Alone you Haters!!

acesorcerer17 · 05-12-2006, 04:22 PM

I know a few gays/lesbians in my school. I've asked them this out of curiosity, and they are more leaning toward they think they are born with it. my girlfriend is actually bisexual, and she believes she was just born that way. of course, none of them have any theories about how they were born this way, they just tend to believe it.

I guess it's hard to know, but I would believe them over a scientist with some theories, or anyone else for that matter.

Ðanisty · 05-12-2006, 08:47 PM

It's probably a little of everything and most importantly, I don't think it matters since it's not something they have control over. People just are who they are. I would not say that I've known since childhood that I'm bisexual, but I am certain at this point that I always was. I just didn't understand it back then. I think this is the kind of answer you'll get from most gay or bisexual people.

acesorcerer17 · 05-13-2006, 10:55 PM

I agree with you there, that is typically the answer I've gotten.

Ðanisty · 05-14-2006, 10:49 AM

Well, I've never really understood why it's so important to understand why people are gay. I don't see how it matters. I understand that for homosexuals it's very important to make people understand that it's not a choice, but this need arises from religious folks needing to make it a choice for some reason. Maybe someone could explain that to me. It seems to me that a lot of religious people want homosexuality to be a choice so that they can condemn it. This is not what Jesus would have done...

April · 05-14-2006, 05:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ðanisty

Well, I've never really understood why it's so important to understand why people are gay. I don't see how it matters.

You and me both.

TheLoveDoctor · 05-15-2006, 06:27 PM

People are just curious to know if being gay is an "actuality" or just someone's choice or "preference" - it seems very "contrary" to nature so people want to know "why" homosexuality exists...

It seems like something we'll never know the complete answer to - but I tend to think it's mostly nature - I mean are people ever "nurtured" to be straight?

Ðanisty · 05-16-2006, 11:23 AM

Well, I guess I can see what you're saying, but homosexuality really isn't contrary to nature at all (I understand you know this, since you had it in quotes...I'm just expanding on it a little). In fact, homosexuality occurs in nature for many reasons. It also isn't new in any way. Many ancient people participated in same-sex activities. The ancient Greeks, for example, didn't really view themselves as bisexual even. The concept didn't really exist...you just had sex with people you wanted to have sex with and their gender really didn't make much of a difference.

I don't believe that homosexuality is necessarily genetic, but I do think it's entirely natural and not something that can be changed. Nurture affects how we handle our sexuality. If a homosexual grows up in an open-minded environment and feels accepted, he will probably be a well-adjusted person with a healthy sex life. If he grows up in an intolerant environment, he'll probably suppress his sexuality until late adolescence or adulthood and may have difficulty accepting himself and therefore his sexuality. He'd be way more likely to either hide it or flaunt it. I don't believe there is any way a person can cease to be a homosexual. They can merely cease to act on it.

People try to understand things too much in general. The only thing that really needs to be understood is that homosexuals aren't any different than everyone else. They experience all the same emotions as heterosexuals. They have all the same needs as any other human beings.

By the way, has anyone else here seen Brokeback Mountain?

03-13-2006, 06:37 PM	#1 (permalink)
TheLoveDoctor Moderator Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: California Posts: 531	Homosexuality: Nature v. Nurture Being gay is certainly not something to be ashamed of, but it is definitely a difficult life to live in our society today. Therefore many people often ask "are you born gay, or are you raised gay?" I'd like to see what you guys have to say about this. I watched a news report the other day (Datline, 20/20 or one of those) that had a segment on this topic. Some scientists claimed they were able to turn some lab rats "gay" based on the hormones it was introduced to in the fetus (i.e. testosterone). Others claimed that it wasn't based on hormones, but by genes, and that it can be hereditary...Still others claim that it is simply based on how one is raised. Of interest were indentical twins - one gay, and one straight. Also fraternal twins (young) with one boy claiming he thinks he should be a girl, and the other more than happy to be a boy. Some surprising findings: the more older brothers a man has, the more likely he is to be gay (2% more each time). Some say that perhaps a mother develops anti-bodies to the Y-Chromosome after initial exposure, and each subsequent male is exposed to more and more of it, "feminizing" him. Again, all theories. Here is where it gets strange, if the younger brother is left-handed, then the effects of having older brothers are meaningless. Lesbians do not have this same sort of familial tracing. Kind of some interesting points to think about it - so what do you guys think?

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03-13-2006, 07:52 PM	#2 (permalink)
freakypunkdixie In Love Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Tennessee Posts: 209	My best friend wrote a report about this!! Maybe if I can get her permission to, I'll post it. Anyways, the amout of Androgiens (sp?) can determine a person's femininity/masculinity. The more androgiens the more masculine, less means more feminine. There is also a proven fact that homeosexuals have a portion in their brain that is enlarged compared to hetrosexuals. Her essay explains it alot better than me. We are both Christians so don't think that I am biased here anyway. I think that the act homeosexuality is a sin. However, a homeosexual can go to heaven because the person choses to do this act. A liar can chose to lie or not to lie. A murderer can chose not to murder.

05-12-2006, 04:22 PM	#4 (permalink)
acesorcerer17 Virgin Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 14	I know a few gays/lesbians in my school. I've asked them this out of curiosity, and they are more leaning toward they think they are born with it. my girlfriend is actually bisexual, and she believes she was just born that way. of course, none of them have any theories about how they were born this way, they just tend to believe it. I guess it's hard to know, but I would believe them over a scientist with some theories, or anyone else for that matter.

05-12-2006, 08:47 PM	#5 (permalink)
Ðanisty In Love Join Date: Nov 1999 Location: Savannah, GA Posts: 148	It's probably a little of everything and most importantly, I don't think it matters since it's not something they have control over. People just are who they are. I would not say that I've known since childhood that I'm bisexual, but I am certain at this point that I always was. I just didn't understand it back then. I think this is the kind of answer you'll get from most gay or bisexual people.

05-13-2006, 10:55 PM	#6 (permalink)
acesorcerer17 Virgin Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 14	I agree with you there, that is typically the answer I've gotten.

05-14-2006, 10:49 AM	#7 (permalink)
Ðanisty In Love Join Date: Nov 1999 Location: Savannah, GA Posts: 148	Well, I've never really understood why it's so important to understand why people are gay. I don't see how it matters. I understand that for homosexuals it's very important to make people understand that it's not a choice, but this need arises from religious folks needing to make it a choice for some reason. Maybe someone could explain that to me. It seems to me that a lot of religious people want homosexuality to be a choice so that they can condemn it. This is not what Jesus would have done...

05-15-2006, 06:27 PM	#9 (permalink)
TheLoveDoctor Moderator Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: California Posts: 531	People are just curious to know if being gay is an "actuality" or just someone's choice or "preference" - it seems very "contrary" to nature so people want to know "why" homosexuality exists... It seems like something we'll never know the complete answer to - but I tend to think it's mostly nature - I mean are people ever "nurtured" to be straight?

05-16-2006, 11:23 AM	#10 (permalink)
Ðanisty In Love Join Date: Nov 1999 Location: Savannah, GA Posts: 148	Well, I guess I can see what you're saying, but homosexuality really isn't contrary to nature at all (I understand you know this, since you had it in quotes...I'm just expanding on it a little). In fact, homosexuality occurs in nature for many reasons. It also isn't new in any way. Many ancient people participated in same-sex activities. The ancient Greeks, for example, didn't really view themselves as bisexual even. The concept didn't really exist...you just had sex with people you wanted to have sex with and their gender really didn't make much of a difference. I don't believe that homosexuality is necessarily genetic, but I do think it's entirely natural and not something that can be changed. Nurture affects how we handle our sexuality. If a homosexual grows up in an open-minded environment and feels accepted, he will probably be a well-adjusted person with a healthy sex life. If he grows up in an intolerant environment, he'll probably suppress his sexuality until late adolescence or adulthood and may have difficulty accepting himself and therefore his sexuality. He'd be way more likely to either hide it or flaunt it. I don't believe there is any way a person can cease to be a homosexual. They can merely cease to act on it. People try to understand things too much in general. The only thing that really needs to be understood is that homosexuals aren't any different than everyone else. They experience all the same emotions as heterosexuals. They have all the same needs as any other human beings. By the way, has anyone else here seen Brokeback Mountain?

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Homosexuality: Nature v. Nurture

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