Origin of homosexuality unresolved despite study

Washington Times ^ | Sunday, November 28, 2004 | By Cheryl Wetzstein

[JohnHuang2]

The Washington Times
www.washingtontimes.com

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Origin of homosexuality unresolved despite study

By Cheryl Wetzstein
THE WASHINGTON TIMES
Published November 28, 2004

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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.

[freebilly]

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.

Hmmm..., that's a queer answer if you ask me....

[endthematrix]

If it is born (which it's not) look for the entitlements to be demanded. It's the key to hand outs and perceved respect.

[Shethink13]

It's possible, said University of Toronto psychology professor Ray Blanchard and others, that hormonal changes which occur in a mother's immune system after having several male children might affect a later-born son and somehow predispose him to homosexuality.

It's also possible, and more probable, that the oldest son is the one who gets the attention lavished on him by his father. By the time more sons are born, the attention gets diminished and the younger sons who require love and attention from their father, but don't receive it, seek the attention in other forms.

That's the whole problem with these studies. There's always another rational explanation on the other (nurture) side of the equation. In order to come to some kind of determination that changes in the mother's immune system somehow causes her son to be sexually attracted to someone of the same sex would take a whole heap of pretzel logic.

[Bryan]

Gays are secretly very scared of any discovery that the cause may be genetic. Because the next step, presumably, would be the abortion of babies who carry the gene.

Can't have that, can we?

[Bryan]

Ping.

[fire_eye]

What happened to the research that was being done on "abnormalities" in the hypothalamus, that were found in "Gay" people?

[Bullish]

They should have asked Kerry if he was born a horses' ass or did he just become one by choice.

[Fred Nerks]

They obviously didn't include an acquaintence of mine in their study. Married at the age of twentyfive he had three children before he 'discovered' he was gay.

[CardCarryingMember.VastRightWC]

I'm still awaiting the discovery of the defective mutant gene that causes Democratism.

[The Westerner]

Well, we know for sure that he didn't choose to look like a horse, but he chose to become an ass.

[cryptical]

In order to come to some kind of determination that changes in the mother's immune system somehow causes her son to be sexually attracted to someone of the same sex would take a whole heap of pretzel logic.

IIRC this theory was mentioned in "Genome: The Autobiography of a Species in 23 Chapters", didn't seem that far of a stretch for a theory. Maybe I should dig the book up and read it again, it's been a couple of years.

[Oreo Kookey]

There are more queers on the streets, in the bars , in the schools teaching your little ones, in the work place and even the churches. They're everywhere. Think about it. Not one queer "couple" has reproduced. It's not born in them. It''s a choice. They choose it. They choose to leave it.

It came into being with evil in the Garden of Eden. We are all sinner's and we acquired our sin in the Garden. It rears it's ugliness in each of us in many different ways. The only way to deal with it is through our Savior, Jesus Christ. Even so, we still have our sin nature until He takes us home. Like any sin, it can be overcome through constant prayer and self control but that takes a direct relationship with the One who came to save us, Jesus.

[taxesareforever]

So what does science say?

How about, what does God say?

[so_real]

I don't think science has been able to establish the origins of fornication, idolatry, adultery, or covetousness (etc.) either.

[DBeers]

And what of Darwin -evolution theory, if believed, based upon lack of procreative ability -would suggest genetic homosexual origin a disordered mutation...

[wai-ming]

It came into being with evil in the Garden of Eden.

Huh? Are you saying that homosexuality began with Adam and Eve? Now I've heard everything.

[JohnHuang2]

Bingo.

[Shethink13]

Maybe I should dig the book up and read it again, it's been a couple of years.

Well, if you dig it up, I'd be glad to read about it, but sorry, I can't believe there is a legitimate biological factor that causes sexual attraction.

If you think about it, attractions are all based on external factors and determined by life experiences - how you were brought up, your relationship with other family members, childhood memories both traumatic and happy, etc.

You're never going to convince me that there's some kind of gene that causes one to go va-va-voom when eyeing that special someone. Once you go that route, then you have to say the same for other sexual deviancies. Do you believe that a pedophile has a gene that causes him/her to be attracted to children?

[Shethink13]

What happened to the research that was being done on "abnormalities" in the hypothalamus, that were found in "Gay" people?

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.