The Science Of Sexual Orientation (Mega Barf Alert!)

CBS News ^ | March 12, 2006 | Shari Finkelstein

[Paco]

Let me ask you this...is it "normal" for a baby to be born with a physical or mental birth defect? Answer: Yes, in x% of the population. This is what I would call a normal abnormality.

I would suspect that in lots of cases, being gay isn't a choice, it's a normal abnormality for which no amount of mental help or whatever is going to cure. Your position is archaic.

[Skooz]

I have come to the conclusion that homosexuality is actually a type of fetish.

It seems to have all of the characteristics of one in that the fetish object must be present in some way for sexual arousal and it is not necessarily a voluntary condition, ie I don't know why I get turned on by cruel women in leather, nevertheless I do.

That sort of thing.

[The Ghost of FReepers Past]

LOL! Now who is asserting things they haven't proven?

There may or may not be, in some cases, a biological connection to the unnatural behavior of homosexuality (not always, as with children who were molested). But the fact that it is unnatural is indisputable based on the clear evidence of the human body. If a study ignores the obvious then it is a political study, not a scientific study.

[DBeers]

Those who criticize homosexuals the most fervently are more likely to be latent homosexuals themselves, or so the old wisdom states.

Or so the homosexual agenda activists would state...

Be gone troll....

[BagelFace]

LOL - what's in YOUR wallet! Hoooooo

[Sir Francis Dashwood]

It couldn't be that you want to save "humankind"

Salvation is for religion... I am an atheist.

“I cannot save you... you can't even save yourself...”

_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-

If procreation was the only mission of sexual activity,...

That is how biology works, despite human fetishes.

Anatomical function is axiomatic. It either functions, or it does not.

Nature does not require your permission...

[Sir Francis Dashwood]

Why would anyone choose to go through life scarred and abused and accused as are many of these people.

They are masochists...

[wideminded]

But that's not the only environment. There's also the environment that happens to us while we’re in the womb. And scientists are realizing that environment is much more important than we ever thought it was,"

I thought the article was interesting. I wouldn't give it a barf alert. Obviously if the developing brain is exposed to the wrong hormones, something is going to happen. It's not a coincidence that a high proportion of women who are especially good at sports are also lesbians.

[BagelFace]

I thought the article was interesting. I wouldn't give it a barf alert.

watch out - he'll acuse you of being a troll and then roll around naked on his bible while trying hard to supress his forbidden urges

[little jeremiah]

"Those who criticize homosexuals the most fervently are more likely to be latent homosexuals themselves, or so the old wisdom states."

Old wisdom? Rather, homosexual talking points to shut up the opposition.

So since I am also fervently opposed to abortion, I must secretly want to perform them? Since I loathe leftist agendas, I must secretly love them? Since I am adamantly opposed to rampant pornography, I am secretly attracted to it?

So I guess since you oppose people like DBeers and me for opposing the normalization of homosexuality, you must be a secret homophobe, so the logic goes.

[little jeremiah]

What forbidden urges are you referring to?

[little jeremiah]

If you're interested in the causes of homosexuality, check out these two links:

http://www.narth.com/docs/pieces.html
How Might Homosexuality Develop?
Putting the Pieces Together


http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1420619/posts
Root Causes, Homosexual Consequences

[DBeers]

watch out - he'll acuse you of being a troll and then roll around naked on his bible while trying hard to supress his forbidden urges

It is customary on FR to address those you discuss.

Take note that in addition to FR giving no platform to activists advocating the homosexualization of society that personal attacks and disparaging of Christianity is also frowned upon here.

I have a feeling that your trolling time nears its innevitable conclusion...

[wbill]

Many homosexuals (both male and female) do reproduce.

I don't know how two men, or two women can get each other pregnant. OK, so medical advances in the past 30 years or so allow for this possibility now, but overall....it's biologically impossible.

I understand what you're saying, but what you're describing is Bi-sexual activity. Not Homosexual. If anything, I think that your point might lend credence to the opinion that sexual orientation is behavioral, rather than genetic...people can actively choose who (or what? :-) ) they want to have sex with.

[Paco]

I don't know why I get turned on by cruel women in leather, nevertheless I do.

LOL, when you put it like that...

[BagelFace]

You're getting your wires crossed. Whether or not you want to normalize homosexuality is not the issue. That is your business. I personally would like to make gay marriage illegal - but again, that is not the issue. Just like a homosexual might save your life one day. A possibility, but irrelevant. The hostility towards other individuals, on the other hand, regardless of the reason, is indicative. Of what? Several things, several things, and mostly about you. As to the science behind homosexuality, that is as legit as the hypothesis, data collection, and analysis. Your ignorant comments notwithstanding, of course.

[BagelFace]

PS, you're a troll

[little jeremiah]

Your comments make no sense whatsoever.

You sound as though you have an axe to grind.

[BagelFace]

I'll try again (last time, though): The study of the genetic and environmental determinants of sexuality is valid, so far as the scientific approach itself is valid. I.e., this is a valid area of research, and it need not be targeted by you or anyone else as invalid because you unjustly see it as supporting a homosexual agenda (or axe to grind, or whatever). For example, exposure to hormones in utero determine measurable physiological characteristics, so why not characteristics in the brain related to sexuality? There is alot of dumb research out there, but this topic need not be. Is that clear enough? The only ones pushing their agenda here is the religious crowd, like DBeers, who I've seen get smashed in other posts by more intelligent characters - so he comes here and takes it out on homosexuals. Monkey get hit, monkey hit someone else, you see. I have no agenda whatsoever regarding homosexuality, except 1) no gay marriage (although I support civil union), 2) as long as the individual science is good, an interesting area of research, and 3)homosexuals are human beings and should be treated as such. That last point is, after all, consistent with a true Christian philosophy. I can't possibly be any clearer than that.

[wideminded]

In 2004, People Can Change surveyed the members of its online support groups

Obviously this group of people are already biased toward a certain set of beliefs. Also, their personal opinions, while they might be interesting, are not a scientific way of determining the true cause.

In the past few years I have seen a lot of threads on FR about this topic. Many of them are put forward by the same group of people who react violently against the idea that there could be any biological connection to homosexuality. One of their strongest core beliefs is that a person is only homosexual if they indulge in homosexual acts. If pressed, they acknowledge that the so called "ex-gays" are not entirely free of sexual feelings toward their own sex.

In my opinion the proper definition should be that a totally heterosexual person does not feel any sexual attraction toward their own sex. Some people do feel these attractions or they have felt them in the past, but they don't want to be considered "gay". But the fact that they do feel these feelings indicates that in some way their brains are different. How these differences arise is a scientific question which should be settled by science and not merely by argument from opinion.

As for the influence of mothers and fathers, it is also true that for many years parenting was blamed when children developed schizophrenia. This theory hurt a lot of people and has been totally debunked.