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Origin of homosexuality unresolved despite study
Washington Times ^ | Sunday, November 28, 2004 | By Cheryl Wetzstein

Posted on 11/27/2004 11:30:26 PM PST by JohnHuang2

The Washington Times
www.washingtontimes.com

Origin of homosexuality unresolved despite study

By Cheryl Wetzstein
THE WASHINGTON TIMES
Published November 28, 2004

Even presidents don't have an answer to questions about the origin of homosexuality.
    And it's no wonder. Science doesn't have a clear answer either.
    During the third presidential debate, moderator and CBS News correspondent Bob Schieffer asked the candidates, "Do you believe homosexuality is a choice?"
    "You know, Bob, I don't know. I just don't know," said President Bush, who then urged tolerance, respect and dignity for homosexuals.
    "We're all God's children," answered Sen. John Kerry, the Democratic presidential nominee. Referring to Mary Cheney, the lesbian daughter of Vice President Dick Cheney, Mr. Kerry said, "She would tell you that she's being... who she was born as. I think if you talk to anybody, it's not choice."
    So what does science say?
    Is homosexuality inborn? Is it caused by outside influences? And, regardless of where it comes from, can it be changed? The answer to all three questions is: yes and no.
    If lawmakers, judges, educators and the public are frustrated by such answers, it's because they've been bombarded all year by supporters and opponents of same-sex "marriage," who have boiled research down to their favorite sound bites.
    "Decades of research all point to the fact that sexual orientation is not a choice and that a person's sexual orientation cannot be changed," say homosexual rights groups such as Human Rights Campaign, which are flanked by the nation's premier medical, mental-health and therapy professional groups.

(Excerpt) Read more at washtimes.com ...


TOPICS: Front Page News; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: abomination; abortion; gay; homosexualagenda; homosexuality; origins; perversion; sin; study; wetzstein
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To: JohnHuang2
"The relationship between sexual plasticity and sexual orientation in women has yet to be explored."

I say we look into it

21 posted on 11/28/2004 12:18:50 AM PST by woofie
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To: JohnHuang2
"Decades of research all point to the fact that..."

Homosexual advocates are persistent...

22 posted on 11/28/2004 12:25:24 AM PST by DBeers
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To: wai-ming
I believe I said that sin came into being in the Garden. All sin. The sin of lying; the sin of twisting someone's words to mean something other than what was obviously meant; homosexuality. All SIN. Don't twist my words blub. Present a valid argument if you please but don't spin my words to something I obviously didn't mean. If you don't have a point, can it.
23 posted on 11/28/2004 12:49:05 AM PST by Oreo Kookey (How, indeed, do we click our tongues at beheadings and look the other way from abortion? I weep.)
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To: Oreo Kookey
I believe I said that sin came into being in the Garden. All sin.

Exactly how did "all sin" come into being in the Garden of Eden?
I've heard from my Christian friends that Adam and Eve were indeed involved. If that is so, they must have some connection to homosexuality, lying, stealing, and the other "sins" that you mention. Please explain.

24 posted on 11/28/2004 1:12:24 AM PST by wai-ming
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To: JohnHuang2

I wonder if homosexuality is tied in with hermaphrodites and other freakish birth defects.

Homosexuality could also be the way nature is culling the misfits out of the gene pool. Their sexual orientation keeps them from reproducing.


25 posted on 11/28/2004 1:34:53 AM PST by Sixgun Symphony
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Comment #26 Removed by Moderator

To: JohnHuang2
"I think if you talk to anybody, it's not choice."~John sKerry

One word: prison. That's not choice, but it is often ignored in the argument.

There are sexual predators that either force or manipulate their will upon the young, innocent, weak, confused, etc. It happens in prison and outside of prison, too.

27 posted on 11/28/2004 2:25:51 AM PST by Ruth A.
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To: Bob_Dobbs
I perfectly agree with you: We do choose our desires.

We don't have to act on them. And your post illustrates clearly that what was your desire at age x, was changed later in life. This is also applicable to the entire "gay" debate, IMHO. What may be your "desire" today, may not be your desire, tomorrow.

Some people choose to take drugs. And later in life they choose not to. Some people grow up obese, and later in life, they become not obese. To posit this as a genetic prediliction is to posit there should never be any criminal sentenced to a crime, no?

And this is exactly what was the basis of some liberal "judicial" thought in the 70s -- that the criminal, was only a criminal because society was at fault -- but that given time, the criminal would choose to not become a criminal. Ipso, abolish harsh criminal sentences.

It's interesting stuff to ponder, these 60s/70s mindset on "choice" versus "non-choice". In the liberal mindset, the criminal is forced to become a criminal ("No Justice/No Peace") by society; but they do not extend that logic to other areas. Like "gayness". I'm not equating gayness to being criminal here, I'm pointing out an insane double standard.

28 posted on 11/28/2004 5:18:06 AM PST by Alia
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To: JohnHuang2

Years of study have proven that a certain theologin from
Princeton named Hodge was correct when he said essentially
that Darwins theory of Evolution was a cloak for Darwins atheism.Science has never disproven Scripture--but has
confirmed the Biblical accounts on many occasions. When
Scripture declares homosexual behavior is "unnatural" it is just as much factual today as when the Apostle Paul said it.
True Science will Never prove homosexual behavior is not a
choice.But we live in an age when the apostate unbelievers
govern our education and society.


29 posted on 11/28/2004 5:39:49 AM PST by StonyBurk
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To: fire_eye; Shethink13
Fire_eye wrote:What happened to the research that was being done on "abnormalities" in the hypothalamus, that were found in "Gay" people?

Shethink13 wrote:I think I can say with confidence that this study has fallen flat. If it was in any way conclusive, you'd have heard about it ad nauseam. Trust me on that.

I did a presentation on this for a Society for Neuroscience seminar a few years ago. The landmark studies were done by Simon LeVay at the Salk Institute and published in Science in the early 1990's. He analyzed hypothalamic nuclei (INAH 1-4) in gay men and straight men and compared them with the same areas in the female hypothalamus. The results were that the neuronal structure and connectivity in gay men were similar to the female hypothalamus and significantly different than those of straight men. LeVay's studies led to numerous follow-ups on the anterior and ventral medial hypothalamus, sexually dimorphic nuclei, neurotransmitter differences, and influences on the development of the hypothalamus.

Important areas as the hypothalamus is a critical part of the system that controls sexual behavior. In a sense, sexual behaviors and function are hardwired there. Change the wiring - change the behavior, Studies have shown that artificially 'feminizing' the hypothalamus makes male animals exibit female sexual behaviors. Interrupt the function of these areas and reduced to no sexual behaviors are displayed.

The research is ongoing. It has in no sense "fallen flat." The October 22, 2004 issue of Brain Research has an article on "Differential brain activation in exclusively homosexual and heterosexual men produced by the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor, fluoxetine." by Kinnunen LH, Moltz H, Metz J, Cooper M. showing that the serotonergic (serotonin - a neurotransmitter) systems in the hypothalamus function differently in gay men as compared to straight. The authors believe this mirrors the now accepted neuroanatomical differences between the two populations. Other studies have shown differences in the suprachiasmatic nuclei, mammilary bodies, and other brain regions.

The role of neurophysiologic differences between gay and straight and the mechanism of development is still a active area of research. Just because the main stream media doesn't pay attention - doesn't mean it isn't happening.

30 posted on 11/28/2004 5:43:41 AM PST by Ophiucus
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To: Oreo Kookey
"It's a choice."

If it was a choice, as you claim that it is, then you and I would have had to make the choice as well.

Did you have to make the choice?

I know that I was naturally attracted to individuals of the opposite sex from the moment that I first experienced sexual attraction.

If homosexuality is a choice, do you recall the moment that you made the choice NOT to be a homosexual?

31 posted on 11/28/2004 5:50:22 AM PST by Luis Gonzalez (Some people see the world as they would want it to be, effective people see the world as it is.)
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To: wai-ming
All sin came into the Garden by the serpent, the devil. The Bible says homosexuality is an abomination. A sin. Therefore it came in with original sin. I sense you are trying to "trap" me into implying Adam and/or Eve was queer. The Bible doesn't say that is so , so I take it that it is not true. The potential was certainly in them. Just like the potential for murder is in you though I assume you have not committed a murder.
32 posted on 11/28/2004 7:04:19 AM PST by Oreo Kookey (How, indeed, do we click our tongues at beheadings and look the other way from abortion? I weep.)
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To: Luis Gonzalez
"I know that I was naturally attracted to individuals of the opposite sex..."

Just another phrase to say you chose heterosexuality. I'm so glad you did.
33 posted on 11/28/2004 7:07:54 AM PST by Oreo Kookey (How, indeed, do we click our tongues at beheadings and look the other way from abortion? I weep.)
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To: Bryan
Gays are secretly very scared of any discovery that the cause may be genetic...

Publicly gays prefer the cause to be genetic, because then they don't have to defend their choice. They also like to claim that being gay is common and that they are persecuted by straights. If all that is correct they will really have a problem in a generation once we've figured out how to fix broken genes. Let's take a look at that future. Instead of the current government mandated 20+ rare fixable diseases, newborns will be screened for a long list of dubious genes and their legal representatives offered corrective therapy. If being gay is that common and they are that hated then add it to the screening list and let those legal representatives decide whether or not to fix it. This decision can't be put off until the baby is an adult. Who would decide under current law? Parents, i.e. straight gay haters. It may not all happen at once, but evolutionary the gay gene will go the way of the dodo if you accept their premises. Look for them to push an "endangered sexuality law" to prohibit the testing and gene fixes.

34 posted on 11/28/2004 7:24:08 AM PST by JohnBovenmyer (I)
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To: JohnHuang2
Well, I'm a butt man... I like a nice protruding butt on a woman.. With men its just something to be "wiped".. I call it the Toilet Paper syndrome.. Is it a work of art or merely something to be "wiped".. In the genes?.. I think not.. Its something very basic to human nature though.. Is it "wipe-able" or something beyond the "wipe".. I'll call that Super-wipeable.. Queerdom, probably comes from personal wiping experiences.

I.E. Experiencing a BAD personal wipe, or a wipe that has somehow gone nastily wrong can put human sexual proclivities into the proper frame of mind ..and.. Letting kids SEE what they are "wipeing" on themselves would probably cure any Man / Man, Woman / Woman confusions.. That is if it didn't ruin their attention to sex completely until later in life..

35 posted on 11/28/2004 7:58:29 AM PST by hosepipe (This propaganda has been edited to included some fully orbed hyperbole....)
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To: Bryan; little jeremiah; ItsOurTimeNow

Thanks for the ping, ping.


36 posted on 11/28/2004 8:11:30 AM PST by scripter (Tens of thousands have left the homosexual lifestyle)
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To: JohnHuang2
Simple Darwinian thinking should demonstrate that even a recessive genetic cause would be extinguished over time. The best explanation I've heard is that homosexuality is developed intrauterine. The developing fetus goes through three stages of exposure to testosterone. The first one determines gender identity, the second, secondary sexual characteristics and the third sexual orientation. Any under or over exposure to testosterone can cause abnormalities. That is why you can have femme lesbians, macho gays and everything in between.

It also seems that this developmental process is mediated by stress - maternal, familial and societal. The higher the levels of stress, the more likely developmental abnormalities will appear. For example, it's been shown that in contained populations of mice, if the population grows beyond a certain size, the percentage of homosexual mice will rise.

The other factor is that even if there is a homosexual developmental abnormality, heterosexual behavior or 'lifestyle choice' is still very possible. In fact for years in most societies a large percentage of homosexuals chose a heterosexual life. Psychologically, this was a burden on them, but not having to face the societal consequences were deemed important enough to make the choice.

What has changed in our society is that the societal consequences have graduly faded away. This has emboldened developmentallly determined homosexuals to assert their right to live a homosexual lifestyle and even to declare it to be 'normal'.

Most societies in most times in history (there are exceptions - ancient Greece) have understood the need to sanction homosexual lifestyles. We have the 'luxury' of not doing that because not every man is needed to created bonded male groups for defense, etc.

37 posted on 11/28/2004 8:16:29 AM PST by ZeitgeistSurfer
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To: JohnHuang2
"Decades of research all point to the fact that sexual orientation is not a choice and that a person's sexual orientation cannot be changed," say homosexual rights groups such as Human Rights Campaign...

That's completely untrue. Here's a collection of articles that debunk the "born that way" misinformation. Plus the tens of thousands of former homosexuals tell us homosexuals can change.

       Homosexuality and Genetics


Year

      Title
Posted
On FR



2004 
'This is the Way God Made Me': A Scientific Examin Yes
  What About the 'Gay Gene'? An Honest Look at the E No
  Homosexuality: The Essentialist Argument Continues No
  Homosexuality is not biologically determined - lat Yes
  The Animal Homosexuality Myth No
  Fencing with the NY Times Over Gay Marriage No
  Expert Gives Powerful Testimony in Defense of the Yes
  Born or Bred? Science Does Not Support the Claim T No
  Gays in Society: The Growing Clash N/A
2003 
Homosexuality: Innate and Immutable? No
  Ad campaigns duel over 'ex-gays' No
  'Cure' for homosexuality? No
  Study Trumpeted by Health Writer as Evidence that Yes
  Of mice and gay men Yes
  Newswriters Represent New Study As Proof Of Biolog Yes
  Homosexuality and Genes: Déjà vu All Over Again? Yes
  Can Homosexuals Change? No
2002 
The Importance of Twin Studies Yes
  The Gay Gene? No
  The Fading 'Gay Gene' No
  The Biological Research on Homosexuality No
  Is There a 'Gay Gene'? No
  Gay-To-Straight Research No
  Is Sexual Orientation Fixed at Birth? No
  Is Homosexuality Genetic? No
  Homosexual Researchers Debunk 'Born Gay' Urban Leg N/A
  Gender Identity Disorder No
  Finding a Needle in the Ocean No
  Facing The Truth About Homosexual Behavior N/A
2001 
The Innate-Immutable Argument Finds No Basis in Sc No
  The Gay Gene: Going, Going...Gone No
  A Change In Thinking No
2000 
What Is 'A Homosexual' No
  Lust, Violence & Genetics N/A
1999 
What Causes Homosexual Desire and Can It Be Change No
  Born What Way? No
1995 
How Might Homosexuality Develop? Putting the Piece No

38 posted on 11/28/2004 8:20:08 AM PST by scripter (Tens of thousands have left the homosexual lifestyle)
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To: JohnHuang2
Here's a growing list of articles regarding former homosexuals:

       Homosexuality and Ex-Homosexuals


Year

      Title
Posted
On FR



2004 
Critic Ignores Whole Truth About Ex-Gays N/A
  John Kerry's 'born-gay' science: Caleb Price debun Yes
  Kerry Discriminates Against Ex-Gays; He Denies The Yes
  Ex-Homosexuals Feel Insulted by Kerry's 'Born Gay' Yes
  More Than One Way Out Yes
  The Seeds That Grew Yes
  I Do Exist! -- New Video Focuses on Ex-Homosexuals Yes
  Changing minds Yes
 
Homosexuality and the Possibility of Change: Intro No
  Masters & Johnson. Homosexuality in Perspective. ( Yes
  The Great Escape (Mike Haley) Yes
  God's Amazing Grace (Stephen Bennett) No
  Matthew Manning's Testimony No
  Canada: Seven ex-gay clergy and laity to make stan N/A
  Study: Some Gays Can Go Straight Yes
  Eagles Wings Testimonies No
2002 
Confession from a former homosexual No
  At least 50 others here No
2001 
Former Homosexual Alleges EEOC Bias in Investigati No
2000 
TV show ridicules former homosexuals No

39 posted on 11/28/2004 8:25:34 AM PST by scripter (Tens of thousands have left the homosexual lifestyle)
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To: Luis Gonzalez
If homosexuality is a choice, do you recall the moment that you made the choice NOT to be a homosexual?

Tens of thousands of former homosexuals do recall just that.

IMO, stating it's a choice, no matter what side of the debate you're on is probably the wrong word to use. Is the attraction issue a choice - it's complicated. But it's always a choice to engage in homosexuality (behavior). And tens of thousands of former homosexuals testify that homosexuals can change.

Even Dr. Robert Spitzer changed his mind on the issue, and now states homosexuals can change.

40 posted on 11/28/2004 8:32:10 AM PST by scripter (Tens of thousands have left the homosexual lifestyle)
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