Is Homosexuality Genetic?
One fellow I read today, who denied the posibility that homosexuality has genetic roots, cited the completion of the gnome mapping of human genes as proof that there’s no gene that determines sexual orientation. So I responded as follows:
Homosexually may not result from a single gene; but perhaps from a combination of many genes together that separately, mean nothing in the evolution of desire in the individual. Sometimes, people display gayness when younger than three years old; even when raised in heterosexual families. So it’s hard to fathem that they decided at that age to be homosexual. In fact, while the gnome project may have mapped our genes, it will take decades or centuries perhaps, to fully understand the ramifications of each gene or gene group, and the influences that each exerts on sexual orientation. So as you say, while there may not be factual evidence that proves that homosexuality is genetic, there’s also no clear evidence that refutes the homosexuality genetic theory either.
Besides, even if you could rule out the genes, this by no means implies that homosexuality is chosen. Many other factors besides genes also help determine our orientation; factors that are equally as unchangeable as genes.
Then, he suggested that homosexuals marrying, somehow degrades prevailing family values. So I asked him if he meant to suggest that gays don’t have family values.
Finally, he said that people choose to be gay. Others called him on this and asked if he chose to be straight. I jumped in too, saying that it’s hard to imagine that someone would choose to be gay and persecuted over being straight and at peace — if they could choose that is. But it’s more clear that they cannot than that they can choose it. Given the early ages that many homosexuals know that they’re gay, it’s hard to avoid suspecting that a person’s genes have great influence over his orientation of homosexuality.
April 16th, 2011 at 10:29 am
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April 24th, 2011 at 8:36 pm
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