Why do those who believe that "one is born gay", and "once gay always gay", do so?

Question

It appears to me that scientific research and the Bible indicate otherwise.

Concerning the sci research about causation: 1) From Simon LeVay, regarding his own brain study: "It's important to stress what I didn't find. I did not prove that homosdexuality is genetic or find a genetic cause for being gay...." DISCOVER Vol. 15, No.3, March 1994, pages 64-71.
2) Dean Hamer re: his own gene study: "These genes do not cause people to become homosexuals... ultimately, it is the environment that determines how these genes will express themselves." J. Madeleine Nash, "The Personality Genes," TIME, Vol. 151, No. 16, April 27th, 1998, pages 60-61. Hamer also said:
"Absolutely not. (About his study proving genetic causation) From twin studies, we already know that half or more of the variability in sexual orientation is not inherited." 3) Bailey & Pillard's 2 identical twin studies in the 90's. The last one had a concordance (when one became gay, the other did too) rate of approximately 25% of the cases. Btw, all these scientists are self-identified gay males!

2) Regarding change: Check out Robert L. Spitzer's study in the Archives of Sexual Behavior, Vol. 32, No. 5, October 2003 He was a past president of the APA, and was actually the authority at the time to remove homosexuality from the DSM of the APA's in 1973! He said at the annual APA convention in 2001: "Like most psychiatrists I thought homosexual behavior could be resisted - but that noone could really change their sexual orientation. I now believe that's untrue - some people can and do change." Also, check out the latest study finding change to be a viable option. In book form, it's called "Ex-gay?: A Longitudinal Study" by Jones and Yarhouse (2007).
As for the Bible, 1 Corinthians 6:11, after mentioning homosexual behavior as one of a list of sinful behaviors in verse 9-10, says the following"...and such WERE some of you." If one can experience transformation in their sexuality by faith in Jesus Christ, that must mean that homosexualty couldn't possibly be innate, correct?

And, it is widely true that gays don't choose their propensities, anymore than "straights"; however, neither do alcoholics. Many people believe that this is the reason why "gays" are born that way; which is a non-sequitor in logic. Certainly, childhood environmental factors are not chosen. And what occurs via environment influences, can be changed by choice with the same. It is why researchers who specialize in these areas of study have found that there are predispositonal factors to human sexual propensities and alcoholism, not predetermined.

Please back up your views with research, else why bother?

Answer 1

Like global warming, people have been and will probably always be prone to manipulate the evidence to advance their agendas.

To those insisting animals are born gay, there's a genetic factor most people seem to overlook. Let's say there IS a genetic explanation for homosexuality. That does not imply the behavior is normal any more than it would if the genes produced pedophilia. A scientist MUST consider the possibility of genetic disorder and not solely conclude the phenomena is merely genetic variation.

Male homosexuals naturally produce cells which can cause conception and female homosexuals have ovaries (naturally). They are sexually geared for heterosexual relationships, so if they engage in "unnatural" sex, and they also insist their behavior is genetic, they they must also consider the fact that their behavior could be the result of a genetic disorder.

As the identical twin studies now demonstrate, the overwhelming majority of identical twins of homosexuals ARE NOT gay. Since these twins have identical DNA, one CANNOT scientifically say the behavior is exclusively genetic.

Answer 2

They don't understand the human heart. Technically they are right...but we could also say that we are all born liars, theives, murderers, adulteres, lusters, idoltars...anything that breaks the Ten Commandments.

In Jer. 17:9 we read that the human heart is wicked. Choosing to be gay is the result of a wicked heart. Only God can change the heart after we repent. (PS. 51)

Answer 3

Don't know if a homo can be made straight and vice versa. All I know is that whatever reasons to justify this behaviour, it is a serious sin.

Yes, we all are made in God’s image which we so happily tend to corrupt. One thing that I have observed from past experience is this: if anyone who has been leading a sinful life (according to the Bible) whether sexual (fornication, adultery, homo etc) or otherwise, truly become Christian, they have a very strong tendency to at least try to give up what they consider are their addictions.

Does anyone ponder over this question: why is homosexuality so openly expressed and fought over in communities that have plenty of wealth and a relatively easy life style? It’s like folks have too much time on their hands to experiment left and right, families don’t matter anymore and society more or less starts to crumble - as is happening around and ask any children born in broken homes or the horror they face of not even knowing who their real parents (or father) are or the nonsense that happens between two men or two women that children though they can’t understand everything yet perceive is all wrong.

That’s what corrupts their little personalities rather than issues with disciplining children and look how wonderfully happy are they when they grow up that they do even worse than what their so called parents have been up to... including all the bloodbaths in schools.

I have seen children in such broken homes who felt disgusted going home after school suspecting what their parents were involved in and they were really hurt. Not physically, but emotionally traumatized. While the only people who mattered to them went about their whoring ways, and then would use made-up stories to justify perverted behaviour and it’s likes, homo or adultery etc.

I am sorry for all those who daily face such horrendous lives just because some have no control over their lusts...

And pray for the little ones in God’s care as He is able to redeem them. We’ll all find out one day, sooner or later. Hope we are reconciled before that to our Maker.

Answer 4

Homosexuality is a choice (a mental illness) and yes you can go straight after being gay for a while. Science has shown that there is a link to being gay and the experiences in one's childhood. Many gay people have experienced one of the following: sexually molested when growing up,mentally unstable (for men- no father figure, a lack of guy friends in school, etc)

Answer 5

http://www.rockhawk.com/Gay%20Animals.htm

http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G1-20164884.html

http://www.metro.co.uk/news/article.html?

in_article_id=49942&in_page_ID=34

http://www.livescience.com/bestimg/index.php?url=gay_bottlenose_dolphin_03.jpg&cat=gayanimals

Gob makes allot of gay animals.

Answer 6

All the gay people I know believe that they were born thus.
The "scientific research" you quote is personal thought about genetics, and the factors that encourage a gene to express itself.
Primitive religion relies on making more of the same belief, best acheived by having normal sex; that is why the Bible indicates to behave thus.

Answer 7

Here's my reasoning: with hateful nuts like you running around, there's NO WAY that any person would choose their own sexuality, knowing that they would be discriminated against and stigmatized for the rest of their life.

And you cannot use religious text in a rational argument. Proof needs to be logical, not "my religious books says this so it's true".

Answer 8

What factors affected your decision to be straight?

Answer 9

Well first just quickly looking at that list it shows studies that failed to find a link. That doesn't preclude other evidence that finds that it does. Like these:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/3735668.stm
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?db=pubmed&uid=17904267&cmd=showdetailview&indexed=google
http://www.lib.latrobe.edu.au/AHR/archive/Issue-November-1997/wilson.html

There are actually three root genetic causes that have been isolated. And they are still working on it. They could probably test a baby now and get an estimate of the odds.

Answer 10

In my life I have been acquainted with six men who were definitely gay. By coincidence all were Christian.

Two of them never admitted they were gay. One of them married a woman, never consummated the marriage and died a miserable death. Another became a thug who had sex with his mates. He maintained that they were gay not him because they let him do it to them. It was because of him that for many years I hated gay people.

I should think that the other four asked themselves 'Why me?' and tried their damnedest to be straight at some point in their lives, probably with prayer involved.

There is also the fact that studies of which you speak are highly suspicious and developed by people with an agenda to push. Organizations like 'Exodus' are proven frauds - the founder of that one was very publicly caught in a gay bar after his 'conversion'.

Experience and real life have shown that trying to be something you're not wrecks lives (and not just with regard to sexual orientation). As for the Bible's indication, it's not exactly trustworthy, but people will continue to interpret it in about 10,000 ways and fight over it, as they always have done.