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Are gays ‘born that way’? Most Americans now say yes, but science says no
LifeSiteNews ^ | 5/20/15 | Fr. Mark Hodges

Posted on 05/21/2015 6:54:52 AM PDT by wagglebee

PRINCETON, NJ, May 20, 2015 (LifeSiteNews.com) -- For the first time, a majority of Americans say that homosexuals are "born that way."

According to the latest Gallup poll, 51 percent of Americans say that people are born gay or lesbian, while only 30 percent say outside factors such as upbringing and environment determine sexual orientation.

However, science would not bear that out. No fewer than eight major studies from around the world have found homosexuality is not a genetic condition.

Peter Sprigg of the Family Research Council says that these numerous, rigorous studies of identical twins have now made it impossible to argue that there is a "gay gene." If homosexuality were inborn and predetermined, then when one identical twin is homosexual, the other should be, as well.

Yet one study from Yale and Columbia Universities found homosexuality common to only 6.7 percent of male identical twins and 5.3 percent of female identical twins.

The low rate of common homosexuality in identical twins – around six percent – is easily explained by nurture, not nature.

Researchers Peter Bearman and Hannah Brueckner concluded that environment was the determining factor. They rejected outright that "genetic influence independent of social context" as the reason for homosexuality. "(O)ur results support the hypothesis that less gendered socialization in early childhood and preadolescence shapes subsequent same-sex romantic preferences."

"Less gendered socialization" means, a boy was without a positive father figure, or a girl was without a positive mother figure.

In light of the evidence, Sprigg said simply, "No one is born gay."

Psychiatrists William Byne and Bruce Parsons summarize the science: "Critical review shows the evidence favoring a biologic theory to be lacking. ... In fact, the current trend may be to underrate the explanatory power of extant psychosocial models." In other words, homosexuality is a psychological malady, not something people are born with.

Some homosexuals openly admit that their lifestyle is a choice. Lindsay Miller, who describes herself as a "queer woman," complained in The Atlantic monthly, "I get frustrated with the veiled condescension of straight people who believe that queers 'can't help it,' and thus should be treated with tolerance and pity.”

“I was not born this way,” she wrote. “The life I have now is not something I ended up with because I had no other options. Make no mistake – it's a life I chose.”

"It's time to send the 'born that way' myth to the graveyard of misbegotten ideas, buried in the plot next to the myth that the sun revolves around the earth,” Bryan Fischer of the American Family Association has written.

And yet, the myth continues to gain believers, even among conservatives. According to the new Gallup poll, Republicans are divided on whether Americans are born homosexual (40 percent) or whether same-sex orientation is determined by environmental factors (36 percent).

In previous polls, a majority of Republicans have said homosexuality is not innate. Now, according to this poll, they are equally likely to view sexual orientation as inherent, rather than a choice or a consequence of how people were raised. In all, 62 percent of Democrats believe homosexuals were born that way.

The issue affects Republican politicians who, like all politicians, base their public statements on the polls. Presidential candidate Dr. Ben Carson recently apologized for merely suggesting people choose to be gay or lesbian. Sen. Marco Rubio has said that, while he does not support same-sex "marriage," he believes that people are born gay or lesbian.

Fischer says our society and particularly our presidential candidates should make policy based on medical and scientific reality, not polls. "If homosexual behavior is a choice, then our public policy can freely be shaped by an honest look at whether this behavioral choice is healthy and should be encouraged, or unhealthy and dangerous and consequently discouraged," he wrote.

There is no debate over the health threats posed by engaging in the homosexual lifestyle. Fischer notes that the Gay and Lesbian Medical Association admits homosexuals are at greater risk of AIDS, substance and alcohol abuse, depression and anxiety, hepatitis, STDs, and prostate and colon cancer.

"This is not behavior that any rational society should condone, endorse, subsidize, reward, promote or sanction in domestic policy or in the marketplace,” Fischer wrote. “It's a choice, and a bad one at that."

The Gallup poll, taken May 6-10, also reports a new record high number of Americans support same-sex "marriage."

The poll is based on telephone interviews with a random sample of 1,024 adults, aged 18 and older, living in the United States. The organization says its margin of sampling error is ±4 percentage points at the 95 percent confidence level.


TOPICS: Culture/Society; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: homosexualagenda; moralabsolutes
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To: MrB

You should have told her that if homosexuals are born that way and should be accepted, then pedophiles are likewise “born that way” and should not be punished for their “preference.”


41 posted on 05/21/2015 7:53:37 AM PDT by Sgt_Schultze (If a border fence isn't effective, why is there a border fence around the White House?)
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To: wagglebee

We are born with sexual organs that determine whether we are male or female. Just like other animals. But human beings are also born with brains that are arguably more intelligent than other animals. The human brain, like any other organ, can perform in a proper or improper manner. Improper functioning of the brain can cause people to behave strangely and unnaturally. Homosexuality is a strange, unnatural behavior.


42 posted on 05/21/2015 7:54:48 AM PDT by lakecumberlandvet (APPEASEMENT NEVER WORKS.)
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To: MeshugeMikey

Ditto the “missing link” gene that connects apes and humans.

Yet we still have ignorant believers in evolution.


43 posted on 05/21/2015 7:58:51 AM PDT by newfreep ("Evil succeeds when good men do nothting" - Edmund Burke)
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To: Sgt_Schultze

“Don’t be absurd” is usually the answer to such arguments.

Of course, that IS probably the next frontier for the left. I wouldn’t be surprised if the push was to legalize ONLY homosexual pedophilia.


44 posted on 05/21/2015 7:58:52 AM PDT by MrB (The difference between a Humanist and a Satanist - the latter admits whom he's working for)
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To: Dilbert San Diego

Ellen Degeneres had a girlfriend, Ann Heche, and when they broke up, Ann married a guy and had kids with him. Liberals don’t talk about that, either.


45 posted on 05/21/2015 7:59:06 AM PDT by Nea Wood
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To: wagglebee

Among the feminist crowd you will hear more talk about lesbianism being a choice and an act of resistance against the tyranny of the evil patriarchy. Some of them think that all women in their right minds should be lesbians. Women’s Studies literature is rife with this perspective.


46 posted on 05/21/2015 8:01:55 AM PDT by Nevadan
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To: Travis McGee

Keep up the Good Fight, Travis!


47 posted on 05/21/2015 8:08:01 AM PDT by Taxman ( I'M MAD AS HELL AND I'M NOT GOING TO TAKE THIS ANYMORE!)
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To: G Larry
If one sister was molested, why not the other?

You have a point. I actually thoughtsome more about it after my post. You gave an example of a common experience. There would be many and that could be the explanation.

What we need is some "separated at birth" examples of gay lesbians. Now that might be a bit hard to find.

48 posted on 05/21/2015 8:12:07 AM PDT by InterceptPoint
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To: ifinnegan
What you said. Many people have urges/predilections to do harmful things to themselves or someone else. Like pyromaniacs. Like you said, that does not justify the action. If homosexuality is a choice, then why do so many males have effeminate behavior and so many females masculine behavior suggesting hormonal imbalance?

If heterosexuality is hardwired (and it is), why can't homosexuality be hardwired? The answer: for most of them, it is hardwired. That doesn't make it an activity to be encouraged or efforts to cure it shunned. If they came out with a cure for homosexual behavior, I'd favor it be given to every person exhibiting homosexual behavior. By force if necessary.

Homosexuality is an incredibly destructive behavior for the individuals affected and for society. But it is hardwired for the great majority.

49 posted on 05/21/2015 8:14:11 AM PDT by driftless2
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To: wagglebee

Born that way?

And just how did they get a homosexual gene from their heterosexual parents?

The argument for a homosexual gene falls apart at this simple observation.

My brother wasn’t homosexual until he was raped by a pedophile priest.

He was definitely NOT born that way.


50 posted on 05/21/2015 8:16:59 AM PDT by TheOldLady (Pray for Obama. Psalm 109:8 - Look it up. I miss the Gipper. Wish we still had someone like him.)
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To: wagglebee

How “brain dead” do you have to be to think homosexuality is a GENETIC disease? It’s a SOCIAL disease caused by the need of an individual to be included in the latest fads and their desperate need to “follow the piper.”

To act out your preference to be queer you enter the world of women and men who are so weak minded that they actually believe anything (and everything) society tells them without question.

To NOT believe will prevent them from joining the NEW SOCIETY and they will be outcasts and not accepted by those loving and caring individuals. They can only stand at the fence of popular acceptance and look at everyone else sharing their “group thinking” and enjoying the good life.

No wonder they don’t really teach natural science in schools any longer.


51 posted on 05/21/2015 8:18:33 AM PDT by DH (Once the tainted finger of government touches anything the rot begins)
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To: EQAndyBuzz

” She is moving out.”

Well, sounds like it was successful.

It’s amazing how liberals are so intolerant of diversity.


52 posted on 05/21/2015 8:21:03 AM PDT by AppyPappy (If you are not part of the solution, there is good money to be made prolonging the problem.)
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To: DH

They were born that way but it isn’t genetic. The one thing they don’t want to find is the Gay Gene because they could test to see if someone is gay. If you are gay and your test comes up negative, you chose to be gay.
They can’t accept that.


53 posted on 05/21/2015 8:23:32 AM PDT by AppyPappy (If you are not part of the solution, there is good money to be made prolonging the problem.)
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To: optiguy

Bob Tur, the photojournalist now a transsexual, said that he was never attracted to men when he was a man. Now that he’s taking female hormones, he’s now attracted to men. I saw him say that on TMZ when Bruce Jenner first started up with his garbage. It got buried double-fast and I never heard it again. Sounds too much like a cure.


54 posted on 05/21/2015 8:32:30 AM PDT by tuffydoodle (Shut up voices, or I'll poke you with a Q-Tip again.)
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To: wagglebee

The same folks that claim homosexuality is in the nature of the participants, want me to believe in evolution. If homosexually was natural, it would have been eliminated by evolution!


55 posted on 05/21/2015 8:49:19 AM PDT by CSM
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To: Sacajaweau
Most Americans approach this argument EMOTIONALLY, even if they are not willing to admit it. I mean it is not “loving” to tell someone they could have made a better choice, now is it? (sarc). Same goes for the abortion debate. Reason and facts don't apply to either of these issues, let alone morality.
56 posted on 05/21/2015 9:01:56 AM PDT by Sam Gamgee (May God have mercy upon my enemies, because I won't. - Patton)
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To: InterceptPoint; G Larry

G Larry said: “If one sister was molested, why not the other?”

InterceptPoint replied: “You gave an example of a common experience. There would be many and that could be the explanation.”

It is a worthwhile question to ponder. My initial thought is that a pedophile/abuser understands that the behaviour is risky and could lead to imprisonment. That would mean that they would want to reduce their chances of exposure. They aren’t willing to not practice their deviency, so they would target the single victim. As long as they are engaging with the singular victim, there is no need to increase with a secondary victim.


57 posted on 05/21/2015 9:05:00 AM PDT by CSM
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To: wagglebee
Fixing the title (and adding my answer)

Are gays homosexuals ‘born that way’? Most Americans now say yes, but science says no

No

58 posted on 05/21/2015 9:06:12 AM PDT by Salvation ("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
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To: wagglebee

What difference does it make to any public policy question whether or not homosexuals are “born that way”?

Put it another way: STIPULATE that they are “born that way”. Pretend the science is settled, it’s proven to your satisfaction, or even beyond a reasonable doubt, that they are.

Would you change your views on any public policy question presently being discussed, debated, or litigated?

If the answer is, “no, you wouldn’t”, then it makes no difference whether or not they are “born that way”.


59 posted on 05/21/2015 9:12:45 AM PDT by Jim Noble (If you can't discriminate, you are not free)
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To: Taxman

Thanks, I plan to. Except for when I’m off the grid boating etc (coming up).


60 posted on 05/21/2015 9:20:19 AM PDT by Travis McGee (www.EnemiesForeignAndDomestic.com)
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