Are people really born homosexual?

Question

First of all, I would like to state that I have nothing against homosexual people.

I understand this questions has been asked millions of times and there will always be conflicting views. However, I have never really been given the opportunity to put my views across.

I for one believe that an individual can not be born homosexual/gay. I believe that one is influenced by their surroundings. If you were to run an experiment where you had two children, if you placed one in a hypothetical society of heterosexual people and the other in a homosexual society, the outcomes most likely will be different. The child in the gay society will he influenced just like the child in th heterosexual society. If a child has gay parents, gay friends, gay teachers etc, they most likely will be influenced and so their chances of becoming a homosexual will be greater and vice versa.

A human being has no sense of sexuality at a young age, as they grow they are introduced to new surroundings, new people. Our minds become open to different types of media, we start interpreting things our own way. You see little kids of the same set running around interacting with each other, they may even kiss each other as a form of affection, they have no idea that what they are doing is considered "gay" to a large majority of people, even though it shouldn't be.

There's not enough characters to express all my views so I'll leave it here. I'd like to know what you guys think, can one really be born gay?

Answer 1

There's a book called Biological Exuberance that studies homosexuality in the animal kingdom. It exists throughout the animal kingdom -- in fish, in birds, in mammals, etc. Since the interest of a species is survival, sometimes procreation is not in the best interest of survival (such as when there are food shortages, disease, or overpopulation). Even though gays can and do have children (with surrogates, for instance), it's quite possible that nature has an interest in having gay people. It's not like there's a shortage of people in this world. Most experts agree the environment plays some role. A person is born with a tendency to be gay or straight, but not a guarantee. Sexuality exists on a continuum. Most people are not 100% gay or straight, but have a little bit of both. For instance, n our society, if you're 60% gay, there's a good chances you'll try to live a straight life. On the other hand, there are people who have witnessed or are survivors of terrible heterosexual relationships, and choose to embrace their gay side.

Answer 2

There is little reason to doubt that at least some gay people are "born that way." Studies of twins separated at birth show that if one of identical twins is gay, the other is much more likely to be gay than if the twins are fraternal, and in turn, if one of fraternal twins is gay, there is a much greater chance that the other will be gay than a random unrelated child will be gay.



(Split twin studies are often used to determine whether other qualities, such as intelligence, are genetically or environmentally determined.)



Earlier studies have shown that sexuality is determined before the third birthday and is unchangeable after that. Moreover, no one has been able to show that any particular environmental factors are associated with people becoming gay.



Now you are right that human biology suggests that people would be completely pansexual (that is, more generally sexual than bisexual). And indeed, people overall are pansexual, being capable of being sexually aroused by persons of both sexes, persons who are infertile owing to age, accident, or disease, pictures, motion pictures, music, items of clothing, nonbiological scents, and so forth. But why individuals do not often exhibit the whole range of human sexuality is still something of a mystery. There is no better understanding of why some people are exclusively heterosexual than of why other people are decidedly homosexual.



A likely reason the waters are so muddy is that scientists keep looking for one cause. It seems to me that many factors may be involved in determining sexuality (that is, in how individuals develop sexualities more specific than the pansexuality that human sexuality would suggest). So long as people are looking for just one factor, there may never be a complete explanation.

Answer 3

You've just argued against yourself there, so what you've said makes no sense. If it really were about society/nurture and not nature, then due to the majority if people in the world being straight, it would mean homosexuality didn't exist. It also does not explain why people from 'straight' families turn gay when they have been exposed to the exact same media etc as straight people. Plus, kids don't know sexuality because they do not have sexual feelings towards each other full stop, and I have yet to meet a person who calls a toddler 'gay'.

Answer 4

Well here's my story and you look for yourself. I was born in a little village near russia. I didn't have any knowledge of the rest of the world till I turned 15. Like in my village there was no internet no tv no media we didn't have newspapers (well only local like Bob stole chicken from Meg). Since a little girl I've always felt different I never felt any emotions towards man what so ever now for girls it's a whole different story and that scared me like every girl finds a boy. Why do I feel different. Then I moved to Canada and acted out on my feelings (still not knowing what gay or lesbian is), I just kissed a girl and to my surprise she didn't pull back. Later on of course I learned pretty much everything there is on LGBT. So yeah I had no influence and still am gay, that kinda changes your argument a bit. I personally believe we are born gay.

Answer 5

I think your theory is full of hogwash. Gay people are born to straight parents in most cases. And few gay people, of my generation at least, had any contact with gay adults or gay culture as children, yet still turned out gay.



Nurture has nothing to do with it. There have been studies of children growing up with gay parents and the only thing they are more likely to develop is a stronger sense of empathy.

Answer 6

I cant say anything about other people, but I myself never knew anyone homosexual and was never exposed to anything to influence me, and yet from the age of 8 I knew I was attracted to girls. I am now 21 and in a committed 6 year long relationship with a girl who also knew from a young age she was interested in girls. This leads me to believe that maybe some people are born homosexual and maybe others are influenced by socialization.

Answer 7

You seem to assume there is only one possible explanation for a person being gay. I think it can happen either way. Some people are gay because they were born with that tendency, some people had experiences that caused their emotions to become sexualized in certain ways.

Answer 8

I believe so. If you get to really know a lot of people you will encounter gays. It becomes pretty obvious if your mind is open, that they are who they are, as are you and me.

Answer 9

Let me give you a shortened demonstration of my life story. (BARE WITH ME)



When I was in 1st grade (that's the farthest into childhood I can remember anything from), I used to play with girls ALL the time. The game we played most of the time was tag. And I would always want to be the person tagging everyone. I would act like a monster, and roar, and chase after the girls. Because I loved it.



In 3rd grade, I had a "lustful" attraction to my friend called Sarah. Of course, I thought it was normal back then since I knew nothing. But I did have a boyfriend in 3rd grade. Now that I look back on it, I never really "liked" him emotionally. I don't know why we got together, but I liked to play with him. I guess that's the magic of children. All we cared about was playing games with each other.



In 6th grade, I met one of my first ex-best friends. I just loved hanging out with her because we get each other. We make jokes constantly, and I loved to make her laugh. It was a friendship I adored. But she was closer to my twin, as do all people who meet us. I did have an unofficial boyfriend in 6th grade as well, but again, it wasn't really based on feelings. I just thought he was a little cute.



Well in 8th grade, I realized that I adored my ex-best friend very much. I didn't want her to leave us, and I loved it when she came over to our house every day. Again, at that time I was not very aware of what a lesbian or bisexual was. I just thought I really liked her as a friend.



Here comes 9th grade, lost my best friend here because she went to another high school. I was alone.



In 10th grade, I fell majorly in love with a girl my friend introduced me to back in 8th grade. Turns out she was fascinated by me too, but we never got together. We never even really spoke to each other. It was just a silent understanding between us two. I always flushed red or felt hot when she was around me. But again, this wasn't an emotional attachment. I later realized it was just lust. And gradually, I forced myself to lose feelings for her in 12th grade. It was a painful process. We still talk now though. In fact, we play League of Legends together occasionally. :)



Speed forward to junior year of college, and I meet this freshman girl. Rather, she talked to me first and wanted to get to know me. At first, I didn't think much about our relationship. We were just friends. But the more I got to know her, the more I fell genuinely IN LOVE. I was smitten at one point. But I never told her. And I don't think I will. Because she's straight with a Christian background. Right now, she's my best friend and she doesn't know she is.



I'm graduating in June and I think I'll never tell her. I don't want to ruin the little time we have left together, you know? I guess you could say I'm cursed. Went through my whole young life without a single real relationship.



Do you get the point here? I have had guy friends, but I NEVER felt an emotional connection to them like I have with girls. And it's rare for me to even like anybody these days. The thing is, I didn't choose to like girls. I don't know how many times I've asked God to change me, or asked him why he made me this way. But if I could be "normal," I would.



Now I've given up my feelings on this girl I met. We still talk, but I try not to read into anything anymore (because she gave off VERY mixed signals). Either way, I believe people are born the way they are. Sure, there are some people who have gone through very tragic experiences with a specific gender and turned to the same gender. But it's all very closely tied. They wouldn't REALLY be with the same gender if they didn't feel any kind of emotional attachment to them, would they?



I grew up in a family full of girls. Didn't really have a father, and honestly all the guys in my life liked my twin. Under these circumstances, one could say "look, she never had contact with males in her life. This is why she likes girls."



No. I started liking girls in 1st grade. And I knew my father then. I had my grandpa (who I ADORED). My uncles. Etc.



We are born this way whether we like it or not. And I'm not fully lesbian either because there are actually a few guys I become interested in. My identity is a tumultuous one. It's complicated.