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My strong suspicion is that there are multiple or overlapping causes of homosexuality: I don't doubt that molestation is a contributing factor if not a major cause. But I know for a fact that many gay men were not molested as children. (Some gay men weren't molested by adults as children, but had premature sexual experiences with peers. However, this sort of thing is common among boys and most of the participants don't turn out gay.) You mentioned another cause: relentless teasing by peers. This is a common experience reported by gay men. I think I already mentioned the study that found that 75% of all boys identified as sissies by their peers become gay men.

I think you are correct about the importance of the father. This theory is at least as predictive as any of the others. Another theory is the "exotic becomes erotic" theory of the psychologist Darrrel Bem (Cornell University). This is the theory that boys are programmed to become sexually attracted to the gender they are separated from in their pre-teen years. Normally, boys avoid girls in this critical time frame; but if a boy is rejected by peers and plays with the girls (common among "sissies"), it's the male gender that becomes fascinating to the unfortunate boy -- he turns out gay.

I can't find The Gay Report on the web either; it was a book that appeared in the late 1970s. I have no reason to question the 74% figure; but the exact quote (as found on the web) is that this is the fraction of gay men who report sexual experiences "with boys 17 to 19 years or younger". What fraction of these are having sex with boys (younger than college-aged) I am unable to determine. Sexual attraction to someone aged 17 to 19 is not considered to be a mental illness. (Not that I would ever defend such behavior: where I used to teach, there was a middle-aged prof who had a habit of hitting on the coeds. He got into big trouble.)

I'm sorry to hear that your family has also been affected by these issues. I have friends, relatives and collegues who are gay (hard to avoid if you work in a university environment). Most of these are decent, quiet people. But I do sense a feeling of hurt in them, or a sadness and feeling of loss in some of them. And I reflect on the recent report that found that 25% of all sexually active urban gay men have HIV. I pray for them.

Most of these are decent, quiet people.

My moral standing prohibits me from classing them as decent. However they are in many cases nice relatively good people once you get past their chosen sexual behavior. (All sexual behavior is chosen). Likewise I know several other mentally ill people who are also nice, good people.

But I do sense a feeling of hurt in them, or a sadness and feeling of loss in some of them. And I reflect on the recent report that found that 25% of all sexually active urban gay men have HIV. I pray for them.

Most of the SAD's that I've met are usually depressed and feeling unfulfilled. Which is only natural as they are voluntarily foregoing their natural place in the world.

I also pray for the SAD's. For most the prayer is "Father God please save them and change them and deliver them from the lifestyle they are trapped in". For the 'homosexual' activists the prayer becomes "Father God, Please save them, change them and deliver them. But if they refuse to be saved and changed, kill them before they drag others into hell with them"