Do you believe that being gay or lesbian is a choice, or part of one's genetic make-up?

While many gay individuals certainly never made the choice to become homosexual (as shown by increased teenage suicide rates among the gay population), some experts believe that both sides of the story may hold some truth. Increasing evidence is surfacing that genetics do seem to make some contributions to one’s later sexuality, however to what extent and specifically how this occurs is currently unknown. Of course, there are individuals who may have an attraction to both sexes and experiment with men and women to find out which sex they make greater connections with.

Yes, there are definitely choices involved in some sexual behavior that includes same-sex individuals, but the choice-theory is simply not the whole story. There were some studies done with male rats, that showed that the suppression of the neonatal testosterone surge in early life severely affected the male rats’ later interest in mating with female rat partners. They also showed less male-like behavior, that normally includes aggression or rough-and-tumble play with other rats, and acted more like their female rat counterparts.

Conversely, female rats injected with excess testosterone during the critical stages (up to 7 days after birth) became permanently sterile and no longer showed an interest in mating with male rats. They also acted in more masculine ways thereafter. While absence of (in males) or an excess of (in females) testosterone is certainly not a determining factor in homosexuality, it could play somewhat of a role in the gender-reversed behaviors sometimes exhibited by gay individuals (gay men are often more sensitive and less aggressive, while lesbian woman are often portrayed as “tougher” than heterosexual women, which may or may not be true).

Whatever the case may be, this and other types of research do attribute much credit to genetic factors that are believed to influence a person’s sexuality. However, as with everything else in this world, there are no specific black or white sides, only shades of grey and so there are likely a number of factors that together comprise a person’s sexual interests (environment, upbringing, genetics, hormonal influences, choice, past experiences, etc).

While many gay individuals certainly never made the choice to become homosexual (as shown by increased teenage suicide rates among the gay population), some experts believe that both sides of the story may hold some truth. Increasing evidence is surfacing that genetics do seem to make some contributions to one’s later sexuality, however to what extent and specifically how this occurs is currently unknown. Of course, there are individuals who may have an attraction to both sexes and experiment with men and women to find out which sex they make greater connections with.

Yes, there are definitely choices involved in some sexual behavior that includes same-sex individuals, but the choice-theory is simply not the whole story. There were some studies done with male rats, that showed that the suppression of the neonatal testosterone surge in early life severely affected the male rats’ later interest in mating with female rat partners. They also showed less male-like behavior, that normally includes aggression or rough-and-tumble play with other rats, and acted more like their female rat counterparts.

Conversely, female rats injected with excess testosterone during the critical stages (up to 7 days after birth) became permanently sterile and no longer showed an interest in mating with male rats. They also acted in more masculine ways thereafter. While absence of (in males) or an excess of (in females) testosterone is certainly not a determining factor in homosexuality, it could play somewhat of a role in the gender-reversed behaviors sometimes exhibited by gay individuals (gay men are often more sensitive and less aggressive, while lesbian woman are often portrayed as “tougher�

Than heterosexual women, which may or may not be true). Whatever the case may be, this and other types of research do attribute much credit to genetic factors that are believed to influence a person’s sexuality. However, as with everything else in this world, there are no specific black or white sides, only shades of grey and so there are likely a number of factors that together comprise a person’s sexual interests (environment, upbringing, genetics, hormonal influences, choice, past experiences, etc).

Genetic 70% Choice 30% (numbers pulled out of cheapgamers hat of convincing sounding percentages. ) I believe it is mostly genetic but people can be socialised to be more or less prone to suppress these feelings, or more or less likely to experiment. Here is a very interesting page about the topic of genetics and sexuality.

livescience.com/health/060224_gay_genes.....

Don't leave out environmental factors like estrogen-mimicking chemicals in our environment, such as the recent bisphenol A flap. These chemicals have been know to cause hermaphroditism in reptiles, among other issues. They could alter the sex hormone balance enough to create these shifts, or have an influence on them.

I'm not saying the only cause, but adding to these other factors. Another similar effect is seen in girls reaching puberty at much earlier ages, again possibly from these chemicals in the environment.

I believe sexuality is a complete gray scale. I believe that what you are is imprinted from birth, but you may not fit into the strict labels of "gay," "lesbian," or "straight. " As such, it may appear that some people decide to "switch" or "become" something else, when in actuality they are just expressing a part of themselves that has always existed.

Some people will of course know that they are attracted to members of the same gender and suppress this, but I don't think it's choosing to be straight. They are not straight. They are a gay person living a lie, living as if heterosexual.In short, I would say our actions are choices, but our feelings related to sexuality are not, and those feelings are from our biology.

You are what you are, whether or not a label fits you or not.

Sexual orientation is not a choice! I can't believe people still believe this. There's so much cognitive dissonance in people's believes, too.

Take your average Joe Homophobe. Ask him if he could ever make the choice to have sex with another guy or even to be attracted to one, and he'd probably deny it, very, very angrily. Yet for people who DO happen to be gay, it's totally their choice, and they could just choose not to at any time.

Sure, you might argue that people choose to live this lifestyle. But that isn't a matter of not "being" gay or lesbian or bisexual so much as it's a matter of having that suppressed until people are afraid to confront it. That's what's behind all the "ex-gay" people, I think.

And it's rather sad. There's nothing wrong with being attracted to someone of the same gender. Period.

I can only hope that in a few decades, those who believe there is will be viewed as no better than people against interracial marriage.

I did not choose to be straight, so it would make sense that someone that is gay was born that way. Those who choose to be gay are just confused about their own sexuality. Not that this is bad, they just need to figure somethings out, one way or the other.To quote The Pledge Allegiance "liberty and justice for all".

I cant really gove you an answer,but what I can give you is a way to a solution, that is you have to find the anglde that you relate to or peaks your interest. A good paper is one that people get drawn into because it reaches them ln some way.As for me WW11 to me, I think of the holocaust and the effect it had on the survivors, their families and those who stood by and did nothing until it was too late.