is it a genetic feature? most people say they have not chosen to be that way? then surely they is a faulty gene somewhere or they just want to try out something new?
2007-01-11 22:44:37 · 20 answers · asked by Goldfish" 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Cultures & Groups ➔ Other - Cultures & Groups
theres likely to be a genetic basis for being gay. however it is not a "faulty" gene as you inadequately described it. its true that people dont tend to choose to be gay. however their sexuality could be determined by something other than their genes. for example, if a boy grows up without a strong male role model to look up to, he is more likely to become gay. this is not genetics influencing his sexuality - its his environment. therefore i would say that while there may be a genetic basis for sexuality, sexuality is mainly determined by a persons environment. and faulty gene? thats just STUPID! youre saying being gay is a hereditory genetic condition!!! GROW UP!!! thats completely ridiculous!!! scientists would have spotted that by now!! genetic conditions are well documented and known about. i hope youre young so that you have time to develop into a less narrow minded, ignorant person.
2007-01-12 01:52:49 · answer #1 · answered by john9999999 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
We will probably never know this one, as humans do not hit the main part of psychological puberty until age 11-15, depending.
But it seems likely that they are, as nobody ever becomes gay in their 30s or 40s, nor do they stop being gay. So genetic or chromosomal or back-boneal or so seems right.
It is only a "faulty" gene if you are convinced that all people were ment to be the way you are, which is a bit like racism. And no, truly gay, bi or lesbian people do not become it through wanting to try out something different.
I'd say it's something we are, by the age of 12 born- or predestined to become. It does not come from the parents' genes, nor does it come by means of influence from a gay person you meet as a child. It just evolves.
S & M / submissive domination-urges on the other hand, I believe I got that through what I experienced (and saw on TV) as a kid. But am not entirely sure.
2007-01-12 08:32:38 · answer #2 · answered by profound insight 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I think in some way people are born gay in some cases. Because nobody actually brings their child up to be gay. So there must be something there already that makes them feel that way. In other cases, like you said, some do just want to try something new or are curious and then find out they like it that way.
I wouldn't really call it a 'faulty gene' though. I don't really see anything wrong with it. They still feel the same things and love the same way as heterosexual people, they just feel it for poeple of the same sex instead of someone of the opposite sex.
2007-01-12 07:00:40 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Yes they are. It's not a genetic feature. Rather, during the later stages of foetal development certain hormones make a person's brain develop in a certain way. Generally these hormones make male babies chemically programmed to be attracted to women and visa-versa but this is not always the case. More than 10% are born chemically programmed to be attracted to the same sex. It's entirely natural and happens throughout the animal kingdom. However, some people do become gay either because they have terrible experiences with they opposite sex or they are confined to a same-sex environment. I hope this answers your question.
2007-01-12 13:00:40 · answer #4 · answered by snowshoe134 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Actually what you are saying makes perfect sense to me. Some still suggest that their maybe a genetic aspect to it.
There are several theories as to why a person is gay. The most prominent I have read is a work by Simon Le Vay. He determined - through autopsy - that gay men and straight men have one single difference: the size of their hypothalamus (a gland in the middle of your brain and well known to be the source of sexual stimulation in human beings). With gay men it is small and fluffy were as in straight men, it is solid and large. He repeated this experiment with lesbian and straight women and found the reverse. Straight women had small/fluffy gland were as lesbian has large/denser gland.
So hypothalamus size wise:
Gay men = Straight women
Lesbian women = Straight men
Following years of studies, he determined that this gland is developed before birth. When he examined pregnant mothers during period of pregnancy he found that this gland gets developed during the 6th month of pregnancy. If the mother body thinks she has a daughter, she would give Oestrogen (female hormone). If she thinks she has male son, she would give Testosterone (male hormone). For some un-explained reason, the mother would give the wrong hormone. Depending on how long this hormone is given, the child may come up as Bisexual, straight acting gay guy, camp gay guy, or in extreme cases transsexual (a person who believes he is in the wrong body!).
Research into how to determine why this switch happens has been blocked. From one side, the church and religious groups would not accept it (because this would mean centuries of prosecuting gay/lesbians was a crime but more importantly it is a serious shake to their belief). From the other side, gay groups have pressured government and other organisation not to proceed in such research because this would mean there is a way to eliminate gays from existence! Hospital scans can determine if a mother has son/daugther and a simple blood test can determine what hormone the mother is giving. The latest work as done by an Italian scientist two years ago who tried to determine if the mother had a genetic differences that results in this switch and managed to find some correlation in that most mothers with gay/lesbian children had actually gay/lesbian brothers and sisters! But nothing more. Since several studies found that sometimes identical twins are born with different sexual orientations (but we all know twins have identical genes), the only conclusion is that maybe the mothers' gene is behind this switch in hormones.
There is a deadlock in this front of research. Maybe in the next few years more research will help determine a complete answer to this.
2007-01-12 08:36:13 · answer #5 · answered by Fadi S 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Interesting question, and lots of replies.
My best mate is gay, and he had a terrible time comming out (early 20's). It wasn't that he had a tough time or anything, it was just himself dealing with it and telling people.
When he told us (after years of dropping hints), absolutely no-one was surprised. Although even 10 years on his mum still doesn't really accept it. He comes from a middle class back ground - parents split but both re-married. Older brother is getting married this year - so he was hardly bought up in 'gay' surroundings...
One thing that is interesting (and I don't know the answer), is how many gay people wish they weren't gay. That they didn't have to put up with abuse, religioius ho-har and just live an easier life.
Perhaps its just a 'different' gene?
2007-01-12 06:57:21 · answer #6 · answered by Simon C 3 · 4⤊ 0⤋
Tough question , i think that there probably is a gay gene although i wouldn't call it a faulty gene , whats wrong with being gay !???
each to their own i say!!
there are animals out there that show homosexual behaviours , so how can that be down to environmental reasons ? Upbringing and such like ?
2007-01-12 06:55:25 · answer #7 · answered by jizzumonkey 6 · 5⤊ 0⤋
absolutely,and i say this from the point of view of a gay woman! I knew i was gay from being 5 years old,it was nothing to do with my environment,upbringing etc...I certainly wouldn't have chosen this!It has been proven to be genetic but some people choose to ignore fact and go with their own belief system instead,which is fine,everybody is entitled to their own opinion!
2007-01-12 14:05:22 · answer #8 · answered by munki 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I do believe that homosexuals are born gay. However there are instances of otherwise (would be) normal people being perverted by pedophiles and other forms of sexual abuse. Most of them are born that way though.
I've known children in normal, healthy families that I could identify as gay when they were no more than toddlers and was proven right at they matured. Please don't say the I influenced them with my beliefs because I little or no interaction with these kids.
2007-01-12 06:55:47 · answer #9 · answered by PRS 6 · 3⤊ 0⤋
It's been proven scientifically, that most Gays are born with a predilection for the opposite sex, due to a Hormone 'wash' that covers the foetus in the first few weeks of life.
Too much Testosterone and a female Foetus will be 'Butch' at birth. A Male foetus getting too much Oestrogen and the Boy Child will be feminine and play with Dolls etc.
Others of course choose to change gender in later life.
2007-01-12 06:56:43 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋