Are people really born homosexual?

Question

I know I am beating a dead horse with this question but I want to bring up a new point. First off I want to say that I am pro gay and all for gay rights and marriage, however I do not believe that homosexuals are born "gay". Humans were created to be baby making machines and therefore are programmed to be attracted to the opposite sex with the motive of creating life. This leads me to think that society and how an individual is brought up changes one's view on this, not making homosexuality wrong, but I do think it is something that a person is not born with.

Answer 1

While it's true that humans are genetically programmed to reproduce, that doesn't necessarily mean that all humans are programmed to make babies. For example, some people are born infertile. But on the question of homosexuality, what do you make of the fact that homosexuality exists in other species as well? Many pecies of apes, rodents and even birds demonstrate homosexual tendancies, even to the exclusion of engaging in heterosexual sex and therefore procreation. They have the sexual drive, but something directs that drive away from partners with whom they would reproduce. Studies on this are scant, but there are a handful of theories of why homosexuality might develop, possibly even at the genetic level. One theory is that if a species faces over-population then a rise in homosexual behavior might prevent a population from depleting local resources and starving itself out. Another theory is that homosexuality is a part of social stratification. Many animals fall into complex social roles (meerkats are a good example). In some species of primates homosexual members have been observed as care-takers for the clan's young. What is clear is that animals other than humans do not make a conscious decision to be heterosexual or homosexual - they simply respond to a sexual instinct. Why would it be any different for humans?

Consider also that while an animal, even higher primates, acts upon the sexual instinct as just that - an instinct - a human does, to a certain degree, have control over how he or she expresses sexuality. Given the social stigma of homosexuality, choosing to be gay is ludicrous choice. In the nature vs. nurture argument one might put forth the idea that people become gay because of something that happened in their childhood, but thus far no consistent factor in the "nurture" catergory has been isolated. We know, however, that most gay men and women report knowing from an early age that they were attracted to members of their own sex. Moreover, when asked they consistently say that they did not choose to be gay. Not being gay myself but knowing quite a few gay men and women, I see no reason to dismiss what they have to say about their personal experiences.

I realize that this isn't a conclusive answer, but consider: certainly a heterosexual instinct is necessary for the continuation of our species, but that doesn't mean that every human needs to be heterosexual; and there is no evidence at all that a person's upbringing would lead to one sexuality or another, so if homosexuality is not ingrained at birth then it must come from something other than the way a child is raised. I am at a loss as to what that might be.

Answer 2

Well Ninja, I didn't even read the other answers first before answering.

First, I'm straight and I'm not bi-curious. Frankly I find a man's hairy butt and bony legs disgusting. Also, I don't care if you screw tree stumps (as long as the tree's of age)! Although, like most piggish males, two women turn me on!

However, ever since I was a little boy there were girls who were very "tomboyish" and boys who were very prissy or effeminate. When I saw these folks at my 20th high school reunion, most were openly gay. I mean, do we have to talk about brain structures and autopsies. You need to use your keyboard and do some honest searching. I'm not gay but I have "gay-dar."

There have been gays since the beginning of time (Alexander the Great, for example). Some gays (men and women) may "choose" a sexual "preference," but most do not. Frankly, most bi-sexuals I've met are more "try-sexual" - man, women, plant, animal, mineral or even the damn vacuum cleaner! But why would a person choose to persecuted and ostracized by society? I think not.

I'm straight. I know that deep in my soul. So do gays. Get over it. Besides, as I said I find bony, male butts unattractive. So what if others do - male or female.

Plus, remember, who's responsible for parenting and raising gays? Other gays? NO! Heterosexuals!!

Answer 3

I don't believe that all humans are born programmed the same way, and not all the programs run perfectly. That's like saying humans are born programmed to function perfectly - which doesn't explain how some people are born with disabilities.

After all, who would CHOOSE to be gay? Who would choose to be shunned, beaten up, insulted, discriminated against, called names? Why would someone CHOOSE a life that is destined to be so much more difficult than a heterosexual life? Why do some people keep their gayness a secret for years, if it was a choice? No one does. They don't have a choice.

... and just because some call it a sexual "preference" doesn't mean the person CHOSE to have that preference.

Answer 4

Homosexuality is a hot topic of debate in the scientific community. While the search for a "gay gene" continues (and has yet to be found) there are some things that are probably true about gayness.

Homosexuality is probably like any other human characteristic (such as Intelligence, musical ability, etc.) We are born with certain predispositions that are enhanced (or decreased) by our environments. People are probably born with a higher (or lower) tendency towards homosexuality, which is then amplified by environment. Just as there is not one gene that says "genius" there is likely that there is not one gene that says "100% gay."

Answer 5

I'm gay, I was born gay. Yes people ARE born homosexuals, but not all homosexuals were born to be homosexual. Some do make a conscious decision for different reasons to "become" gay. I have a friend who is a lesbian, but made the choice. I used to challenge her a lot on this, but who am I to question. I have learned that people are unique, what works for one does not work for another, and we need to accept the differences as well as the likenesses.

Answer 6

We went over this in my science class. People are born gay, and not just people, but animals too. (we are animals but thats not the point lol) Anyways, it is a mutation, but its not a bad thing, Mutations are what allowed us to evolve. So some mutations are not fitted to survive and die out, others change the species. But for homosexuality... they dont reproduce (I think) because they dont like the opposite sex so it will just stay constant.


Joe C quoting the bible is just stupid, it isnt meant to be taken literal. Its like saying
Person A: I know God exists!
Person B: Really how?
Person A: It says so in the Bible!

Answer 7

Not trying to be rude here... But what about gay animals? there has been animals that are in zoo's that are gay and will not mate with the opposite sex..

Ok now what about people who are born with both sex organs? male and female? What about people who are born sterile? or have no other reason to believe they were not born steril because of lack of injury or medical reasonings through out life?

Me being gay has nothing at all to do with how I was brought up. If my sexuality was based on how I was brought up then that means I would be a hetero narrowminded christian.. I was not brought up around any other gay person until I was in my 20's. and that person was my gay male cousin who was also brought up the same way I was... I have always been attracted to females, I lied to myself to get me to believe I was str8 but finally decided it was not worth living a lie and pretending to be something I was not.. I dated men but there was nothing there,, I was never attracted to them, I was always attracted to women...

Answer 8

Several scientific studies have shown that homosexuality actually promotes procreation.

An October 2004 scientific research publication stated that scientists at the University of Padua have found that women tend to have more children when they inherit the same genetic factors linked to homosexuality in men. This fertility boost more than compensates for the lack of offspring fathered by gay men, and keeps the “gay” genetic factors in circulation. Mothers of gay men produced an average of 2.7 babies compared with 2.3 born to mothers of straight men. And maternal aunts of gay men had 2.0 babies compared with 1.5 born to the maternal aunts of straight men.

A Canadian university study published in June of 2006 stated that, although researchers have known for years that a man's likelihood of being gay rises with the number of older biological brothers, that the new study found that the so-called "fraternal birth order effect" persists even if gay men were raised away from their biological families.

A January 2007 report suggested to be gay you need to receive one gay gene from both parents, and that those with only one gay gene have a selective advantage because they are heterosexual but have increased style, male sex drive, charm and seductiveness towards women.

Answer 9

Mutations???? LoL!! I read that and couldn't stop laughing.

As a lesbian I believe that people's upbringing and circumstances might affect the outcome of their sexual preference.
But, on my own experience, I have no trouble saying out loud that I was, in fact, born a lesbian. For years I struggled with something that was different about myself, guys made me feel nothing and girls made me fly.

At the beginning, when it still wasn't sexual, I was eager to be around girls, and I loved boys just because they were so much fun when there was dirt envolved. I have two brothers, so I had access to many boys, again, I saw them as play buddies, they did not attract me in any way. My environment and upbringing was that of any normal girl, no weird stuff.

As I got older, I discovered myself and I discovered the difference in me, I was infatuated by girls. As I said, I struggled with it for years, actually all through school I ran around dating one or two guys, pure peer pressure, not by choice. I thought of myself as "sick". Yup, that was the bible talking.

Finally, I let go of everything and everyone and plain out accepted myself. I accepted that guys were not for me and I began dating girls. This was in college.

By now, I'm open about my sexuality, I love how and because I want to and I encourage people not to torture themselves because they're different. I'm getting married and everything's in perfect order.

I do plan to have children, and no, we are not "baby making machines", we're human beings. If we discovered a way to procreate without changing our sexual preference, then we're still human beings who can and will keep up with life.

Answer 10

Seems to me that people aren't 'born' gay, but some characteristics they have *do* help them become gay, so to speak. Like you said, they're born to procreate and need the opposite sex to survive, and keep the race going. Your point is very valid... I'm betting some scientists of the human mind would itch to know this for sure ;)