I'm in a creative field, and so I tend to encounter more gays than most would, here on FR. In my observation, they run the gamut, from extremely effeminate in thought process, gesture and physical build, to quite masculine, to the point that you wouldn't "know" unless they told you. As a result, I can't help but speculate that there's more than one source for the behavior. Whether this is some sort of recessive gene, genetic defect or hormonal exposure in the womb, the ultra-effeminate ones are caricatures of women, in every way but one. The others, I really don't know what could be responsible, other than childhood sexual abuse.
This is just an opinion that I've formed over two decades of working in photography, graphic design, marketing and advertising, which do have far more gay men than most other fields of endeavor. If you disagree, feel free to flame. I know this is a hot-button topic, for just about everybody. It's my two cents on the matter, for what that's worth.
I'm involved with a fine art as well and have known many gays. In my experience you can always tell if you get to know them. They do run the gamut of behaviors, but that doesn't mean that their sexual "bent" isn't primarly caused by an interrupted sexual development. Most of them aren't dangerous except for the fact that they see their homosexual behavior as a reasonable alternative to heterosexual behavior. Therefore, they feel it is reasonable to "help" a confused youth by suggesting the youth might be gay. This "help" helps no one. When a trusted adult tells a confused person a lie it could take years for the confused person to overcome it.
Shalom.
"As a result, I can't help but speculate that there's more than one source for the behavior."
I agree with you.
Neither this article, nor the often passionate posts, sway my view: homosexuality is a pathology with different causes. For some, it might be a genetic predisposition; others a hormonal imbalance or a form of brain damage; others a victim of abuse or dysfunctional family.
Maybe the reason why homosexuality is so complicated is that all the causes can be intertwined. Someone might be born genetically predisposed, but these kind of people often have awful parents, who can exacerbate the situation by abusing or neglecting them. The result is a lethal combination.
The fact, however, that I've seen effeminate men who are heterosexually married or "normal"-looking men who profess to be gay indicates that some free choice, and not just biology, is involved. Maybe these effeminate types were lucky to have good fathers or male role models. Maybe the other types are just copping out from marriage. I don't know. I know of some people who, though not exactly "cured," sort of drifted away from homosexuality once other problems were resolved.
I still feel, though, that hetersexuality is the norm, just like right-handedness. (I am left-handed, by the way.) The real issue is this: how do we treat people who are different? My answer: leave them alone. But in no way should their behavior be sanctioned.