Meadmaker:
Oh, and I neither said nor implied that homosexuality was a choice. All I did was ask you to post some evidence for your assertion. In doing so, a reasonable reader could infer that I believe it is not known at what point sexuality is determined, whether it is by genetics, neo-natal influence, early childhood physical or social environment, or some other factor that creates it. If you have conclusive evidence, you really should post it. Scot would be interested. The studies he has posted suggest that a great deal more research would be necessary to figure it out.
I want to be clear on what I’ve posted. My short spiel:
In past posts, I’ve posted (and can post for those interested) the journal references to these findings:
Many repeated twin studies show a genetic component to homosexuality. I like to compare it to handedness: The monozygote rate above the background is about 1.5 times higher for left-handedness and 10 for homosexuality. If only people cared more about the sinister threat of southpaws… I hear Upchurch is one of’em!!
But that’s not the end of the story. To genes, add crossover phenomena in meiosis. It has been shown the extent and location of crossover adds to the probability a mother may produce a gay child. Thus, that is a near totally random influence on the genes that seems to cause gayness.
Then there are the hormones of the mother. Some research has suggested that certain hormone levels produced by expecting mothers may add to the odds their kid will be gay.
In a similar vein there are correlations to a mother’s immune response to their child, particularly male children. Again, this may practically be a random cause of homosexuality.
Of the peer reviewed journal results I’ve seen and posted, the only possible cause involving “early childhood physical or social environment” with a significant correlation is the number of older brothers a person has. The more older brothers the more chance you are gay. But that may have nothing to do with early childhood environment as older brothers also seem to have significant effects on a mother’s hormones and immune response, which are already linked to homosexuality.
So, the major causes I know of are:
1. Inherited genes.
2. Random crossover.
3. A mother’s hormones.
4. A mother’s immune response.
5. The presence of older brothers.
It’s probably an interplay of all of them and pretty darn complicated.
In the end, I think you’d have to be completely and willfully daft to think someone would want to be attracted to their same sex, put up with the stigma, and not be able to have children with the person they innately couple-up with. I also don’t think it should matter or anyone should care. Gay people exist regardless of how they came into existence. But many do care.
