Is an individuals' sexual orientation inherited, a choice, or because of one's environment (culture, family).

Answer 1

It's not a singular factor contributing into People's sexuality & sexual choices.

For most parts, the Orientation/drive can be inherited.
It's all Genetics.

But, way the genes make us behave is moulded by aspects such as culture & family.

Answer 2

I do believe its inborn. The evidence becomes more overwhelming every year.

Two things in particular I'm going to point to. A number of major studies have been done of animals. All the species studied had homosexual behavior -- and all the species that had pair bonds at all had homosexual pair bonding TO THE EXCLUSION OF MATING WITH THE OPPOSITE SEX IN HEAT. Explain how that is even possible as a choice for animals? (the best book in this particular field is probably Dr. Bruce Bagemihl's book "Biological Exuberance" from St. Martin's Press -- from its bibliography you can find many others, and you can easily find other studies that look at the same phenomena.)

2nd -- the Fruit-fly study. The results for fruit-flies can't be denied (link below). People are trying to say that just because it applies to fruit-flies it doesn't have to to people. Alright, while I accept that the genetic mechanism is much more complex among humans -- why on earth would something like homosexuality be completely genetic in simple species and not genetic at all in the most complex species? It makes no sense, particularly given that no gay person I know EVER remembers being attracted to a female. Bisexuals are attracted to both. Gays are only attracted to same sex. So -- how is that a choice? Isn't it just the opposite of what straight people feel? An inborn automatic response. Period.

Standing against science, common sense, and logic -- you have a bronze age book that people keep telling each other is divine, but which says the earth has corners (Isaiah 11:12), sits on pillars (I Samuel 2:8), and is on top of the water (Psalms 24:1-2). The book says beetles have 4 legs not 6 (Leviticus 11: 21-23) and states that rabbits chew cuds (which they do NOT) (Deuteronomy 14:7). Given that choice, despite the emotional benefits that I'm sure some people gain from believing that the bronze age book is correct on this, just like it is on the corners -- I'll go with the logic, science and common sense.

Regards,

Reynolds Jones
Schenectady, NY
http://www.rebuff.org

Answer 3

I agree with Janie. I have read some where that if the mother produces too much estrogen while pregnant with a male, the male may act more feminine. Vice versa with a female except the mother produces too much testoterone while carrying the baby.
I think that bisexuality is a choice. I think that it is human nature to be curious. So one may stray from their original sexual orientation.
Now lets say, for example, a 10 yr. old boy is sexually molested for years by a male. Chances are very high that he will be gay. I know of two very close males in my life that were molested by other males and are now gay. That is an environmental factor.
For the most part I believe all 3 are contributing factors but in the end I think that choice is the least likely. I dont think very many homosexuals want to be different. They just are. They find sexual interest in the same sex normal. Just as most of us find the opposite sex appealing. We should all walk in someone else's shoes just to know how the "different" (as society notes) ones think and feel. Then we would all accept the unknown. I, myself, dont understand. My motto is -dont hate, educate.

Answer 4

Yes I think our sexuality is inherited, but not by the blood line we came from. As a species, we have inherited sexuality characteristics because we needed to be ready when we, as a species, evolves. The next level of sexuality is androgyny. That means that we are neither male nor female and nothing will hold gender value.

I think that there are a thousand influence to be pushing in this direction whether we can believe it or not. It is a choice we make, because of our environment culture and family.

Answer 5

Thats a good question. I studied psychology in college. Matter of fact that was my major.

I guess I can give the "medical" answer then give you my answer

The books say its inherited and based on one's environment. They say in all cases of homosexuallity that there is a gene that is present that a non-homosexual has. They say this gene causes a attraction to the same sex . They also have discovered that a person who was straight then turned homosexual does not have the gene but was based on the way their mother or father lived or even turned homosexual because of bad relationships. Personally, I believe it is a choice because even with the knowledge I recieved, I have a few homosexual friends and they all say that it was their choice to be gay. (mostly because of bad relationships) so i guess really there is no answer because its different for every person. Even though medically there is a gene that is present most will tell you it is a choice they decided to make. But either way they are human and shouldn't be judged by their sexual preference.

Answer 6

Well...

That's a very interesting question!

Basically I think it's whether (A Choice OR based on ones Environment "Family & Culture).

I would actually exclude the part were it might be Inherited, cause I don't think Genes form any kind of Human needs.
That's just desires, it's what you desire and want to be and that's how you CHOOSE it!
And about the other part, somehow Yes its based on one's Culture; because simply I'm living in a normal basic religious family and an Arab one too! So I don't think if I were a Lesbian girl they would've been okay with it.
I was raised to be a Muslim young girl following a certain tradition and rules. I choose things in my life but this isn't included! I choose what to wear, whether I want to put on a Veil or not, what college I wanna join, who I wanna get married to... And so on...
But I don't think being Gay would be much of a choise to me!
Nope... !

Answer 7

What one is born with certainly has a huge say in the matter. Your sexual orientation is as much a part of you as is your blue eyes or black hair. The mind is a very powerfull thing indeed, but it is also a part of one's body, just as much as one's legs and arms, and while people can be born "different" - eg: very short or with funny toes - so can people be born with different sexual orientation.

Nevertheless, I do feel the society and culture play a very large part in the sexual orientation of people. Take a very "condensed" scenario - just to explain the point. A young boy is brought up in an isolated hippy village, where same-gender sex is as common place and casual as eating. For him, sex with a male is the same as sex with a female. He may enjoy one more than the other, but to him, sex with a person of the same gender can be enjoyable and fulfilling. Why would he feel "sick" or "crooked"? Let's say he moves to the gib city to look for a relationship. Is he bent because he is seeking a relationship with a man?

We only think same-sex is against nature, because we were brought up like that. If a person's culture tells him that it is normal, he would go for it in the same way a "straight" guy would go for a woman. On the other hand, if a person is brougt up to belive that it is wrong and wicked, why should he not be curious to find out what the forbidden fruits taste like? A lifetime of hating "bent" people may make his liking for it all the more strong.

To alot of people, being "bent" is a defiant pose. Until recently, being "bent" was not only frowned upon, but was downright ugly, and a reason for hatred and ostracisation. You will always, in every society, have people who need to speak out, and in the gay and lesbian world, the act of being so is speaking out against the world which says "fit in."

So yes, I do belive that it is part within one's make-up as a complex human, and part due to upbringing and culture.

Answer 8

It is a matter of the individuals creation/make-up. Science is in the process of actually identifying the "Gay Gene"

I do believe that culture and family influence our behaviors and some people rebelling will perform sexual acts and adopt behaviors that are homosexual in nature but not deep down who they are. Conversely some under pressure will perform sexual acts and adopt behaviors that are heterosexual nature but are not deep down who they are.

I am gay. I have tried being straight. I can not even say I really enjoy most of the gay sex activities (non of the straight one) I can do them but to be honest I am more of an Asexual being. Emotionally and psychologically I am gay. I relate best to men. I prefer the company of men. I prefer the look and non-sexual feel of men. there is little about women that even comes closet to interesting me.

I certainly would not choose being a social pariah, no one talked me into being gay and I would love to have a relationship with my family that being out gay does not allow.

I was made/created gay.

Answer 9

This is truly difficult to pass on in this forum but... here goes! I used to wonder the same thing a few years ago, so I did some research on the subject myself, (because listening to everyone's personal opinion stated as fact just aggravated me!).
Long, long story short... I came to understand that it's due to what they call "sins of the father". In other words, it's inherited. Through both secular and non-secular books alike, the conclussions were the same, (worded differently, but still, the same!). Simply put, if your Grandfather was a sex addict, chances are good that the chldren or grandchildren with have some form of sexual disfunction! An alcholic mother might have a child with tendencies toward some form of addiction. The list goes on and on, but basically it means that whatever sins the parents commit, the children are doomed to follow on in the same type of sin. Believe it or not, (and, like it or not!), it's stated in the Bible several places that the "sins of the father shall be passed down up to 4, 7, or 10 generations, (depending on which Biblical verse you go by). Soooooo...... imagine a grandfather that was an alcoholic, with a son who is a child-molestor, who has a son who is a wife-beater. Already you have three sins carried down through just three generations! Each now, (for example), can go on for a total of 7 generations, plus any new ones generated from each successive generation! Can you see how screwed up our society is now already? All this stems, (as I have come to realize), from some spiritual law that our God implemented into the human race as a consequence of our sins, and is somehow carried out by, (depending on how you believe), through our genes or by demons assigned to us through the permission of our sins. Don't believe me? I challenge you, (or anyone), to test it for yourself, (as I did), and see if it isn't true! Look into some of your friends' background, (like what their up-bringing was like and what their parents were like, such as alcoholics, child-molesters, drug addicts, womanizers, or even if they were raised in a single-parent family), and I promise you that you'll be amazed!!!

Answer 10

I think it's a little of all of the above. Also, I think it has to do with how much female or male Hormones a person is born with, no matter what their sex is! And I feel it has a lot to do with the worldly pressures of today and how a person believe in God also.