Startling Study Says People May Be Born Gay

HealthDayNews ^ | October 6, 2003 | Amanda Gardner

[AntiGuv]

MONDAY, Oct. 6 (HealthDayNews) -- The origins of sexual orientation may be evident in the blink of an eye.

In what is the first study to show an apparent link between a non-learned trait and sexual orientation, British researchers have discovered the way peoples' eyes respond to sudden loud noises may signal differences between heterosexual and homosexual men and women that were developed before birth.

The authors, whose study appears in the October issue of Behavioral Neuroscience, say about 4 percent of men and 3 percent of women are gay. Scientists have long sought to determine whether sexuality is learned or biological.

"We have several decades of research which suggests rather strongly that human sexual orientation is to some degree biologically determined," says study author Qazi Rahman, a lecturer in the School of Psychology at the University of East London. "The problem with those types of studies is that we can't disentangle the effects of learning."

The question then became, "What kind of task could be used that is not influenced by learning or socialization?" The answer came in human startle responses, which are involuntary and instinctual.

Specifically, Rahman and his colleagues decided to use pre-pulse inhibition (PPI). When humans hear a sudden noise, they respond by blinking. If that loud noise is preceded by a quieter noise (the pre-pulse), the response to the second, loud noise is weaker. In other words, it is inhibited.

The researchers compared responses to a loud noise both alone and after a quieter noise to see what the degree of inhibition was. Participants were 59 gay and straight men and women.

In the heterosexual women, the PPI averaged 13 percent and, in heterosexual men, 40 percent.

Lesbians, however, had a PPI of 33 percent, closer to the straight-man end of the spectrum, while gay men averaged 32 percent, slightly lower than that of straight men but not statistically significant.

The findings are consistent with other studies, which have found that certain traits in lesbians are highly "masculinized," while the same traits in gay men are almost the same as in straight men.

While it's difficult to make generalizations about gay behavior on the basis of these findings (for example, "all gay male thinking is like that of women"), it is possible to build a case for the origins of sexuality, the authors say.

"On the basis of these results and in conjunction with the bulk of the literature in the last three decades or so, the evidence points to some prenatal factor or factors [in determining sexual preference]," Rahman says.

The findings could have implications for a number of social issues.

"Actual sexual orientation and sex-related research is now being accepted as a legitimate national investment in terms of research," Rahman says. "We have problems with STDs [sexually transmitted diseases]. Understanding sexual behavior is clearly important to that."

The findings may also help illuminate sex differences in mental health issues. "Although homosexuality per se is not related to psychiatric problems, on those occasions that gays and lesbians do present with psychiatric problems, they often show disorders that are typical of the opposite sex," Rahman says. Gay men, for example, may be more likely to suffer depression, anxiety and eating disorders than their straight counterparts, while lesbians may be more vulnerable to substance abuse than heterosexual women.

"Maybe having an understanding of brain basis of sexual orientation in healthy individuals may give us some clues in what is going wrong in the brain circuitry underlying certain psychiatric problems," Rahman says. "In the future, we may be able to tailor treatments more specifically."

It's important not to draw too many generalizations. "It's not that the gay brain is like the heterosexual brain of the opposite sex. It seems to be a mosaic of male and female typical traits," Rahman says. "Because we're looking at humans, thing are always more complicated that you would expect."

[JohnnyZ]

Startling Study Says People May Be Born Gay

Geez, enough about Wesley Clark already!!!

[scripter]

Check my profile for the latest categorical links. I should be updating the database, purging bad links and adding new by November. I'll dump the database and update my profile at that time.

[philetus]

"Children that young may identify with one gender more than the other but that doesn't have anything to do with sexual preference."

Your quite right. Now read what I wrote.

"Show me a 5 year old that is sexually attracted to men and I'll show you an abused child."

I didn't say identify.

[wardaddy]

I have witnessed the same as you.

[WackyKat]

Having lived in New Orleans for many years, I too am quite familiar with the homosexual population.
I am very aware that there are many "masculine" gay men and many "feminine" lesbians.
I still think that, across the whole g/l population, that physiological differences exist in comparision to the heterosexual population as a whole.
My only agenda is the libertarian one of opposing those moralistic busybodies who wish to control the private sexual behavior of consenting adults

[First Amendment]

Many lesbians were molested by men when children. This makes them fear and hate men. Male homosexuals were often molested as well, but this sexualizes them in the opposite way since for boys to be molested, often involves sexual pleasure, whereas for girls it is simply painful violation. Add to this broken familes, absent parents, "gay" agenda indoctrination and - Voila! More homosexuals.

It is not true that most male homosexuals are effeminate looking. Many of the Nazis and ultra butch SS men were homosexuals. And ever heard of "lipstick lesbians?"

[scripter]

What I object to is the homo-promoters shoving it down everyone's throats - ESPECIALLY childrens' throats via school-based indoctrination.

Thanks for the reminder. Here's some links on homosexuality and how they try to manipulate their agenda:

1. The 'Overgaying' of America 
2. Selling Homosexuality 
3. Targeting Children, Part 1: How the gay movement intends to capture the next generation 
4. Targeting Children, Part 2: How the homosexual movement uses public schools as instruments of c 
5. Targeting Children, Part 3: Activists encouraging experimentation 
6. Targeting Children, Part 4: Access to children: homosexuality and molestation 
7. In Their Own Words: The Homosexual Agenda  FR 
8. "Queering" Moral Education 
9. The Homosexual Propaganda and Media Manipulation Game 
10. Homosexual Agenda Platforms from 1972 - 2000  FR 
11. Author Admits Gay Propaganda in Kids' Book 
12. Thought Reform And The Psychology of Homosexual Advocacy 
13. Invasion of the mind snatchers 
14. Federal Judge Orders Gay Books Into Children's Library 
15. The Homosexual Fisting of America 
16. Bushwhacking Johnny  FR 
17. So, Have You Been Delphi'd? 

Links #9 and #10 are quite informative.

[First Amendment]

So it's only anecdotal. I know the sound of human truth. Sexuality is a genetic tendency.

Please read the links up the thread. You will be educated. One person does not the truth make. Undoubtedly a few homosexuals have had the tendency since early childhood. But not most. And even if someone always remembers having that tendency, how early can someone remember? From birth? 6 months? Usually it's about 4 or 5. And many things have happened by then.

Also, some people can always remember having had a tendency to be bullies, or to steal, or lie. Should they just accept those tendencies? Or can they fight them, and become better people than their tendencies dictate?

[AntiGuv]

Promoters of the "gay" agenda say this all the time. But I haven't seen any research that shows that any animals *prefer* their own sex when the opposite sex is available.

However, it's actually a lot more complex than this mere statement "homosexuality occurs in all species" as phrased above. It is more accurate to state that homoerotic behavioral adaptations occur in most species - with a variety of permutations.

The most obvious example of a species in which homoerotic behavior predominates - to the point they may be considered outright "homosexual" - are the bottlenose dolphins that spend most of their lives in same-sex 'pair bonds' (as marine biologists would put it). The most obvious example of a species in which both males and females tend to free copulate with members of both the same and the opposite sex are bonobo chimpanzees - amongst which sexual activity is near evenly divided between the two.

In any case, it's much more complex than the states "homosexuality occurs in all species" (especially because, strictly speaking, homosexuality is an identity, not a behavior per se).

[WackyKat]

I think the feminization of America and the PC attempt to soften boys may indeed add to more homosexuals down the road

What about the high school football players who were just charged with beating and sodomizing their male teammates with a broomstick and a pinecone? They were acting "hard" and violent weren't they? So were they masculine or feminine? Gay or straight?

[PeoplesRepublicOfWashington]

And how, pray tell, are the homosexual genes propagated?

[yankeedog]

Who the heck are the "experts"; and I don't want to know how to become one. And the "pro-gay" experts, well..
"Environment", "Nurture", puleeeeeze. OK, seriously now,
Does environment determine what you feel?

[AntiGuv]

Did you see my posts #17 and #37?

[scripter]

My only agenda is the libertarian one of opposing those moralistic busybodies who wish to control the private sexual behavior of consenting adults

That's a very valid point, and one in which most here would agree. The problem is

• militant homosexuals who appear to insist on making known their sex life
• homosexuals pushing their lifestyle on children

Let alone the health hazards of the homosexual lifestyle, which is really a huge issue due to a lot of misinformation.

[scripter]

Who the heck are the "experts"; and I don't want to know how to become one.

Read the links in post 78, and unfortunately, you'll have to become somewhat of a layperson expert to fully understand the issue. Sure it's a lot of reading, but you'll really be informed on the issue after taking the time to read the links.

[First Amendment]

My only agenda is the libertarian one of opposing those moralistic busybodies who wish to control the private sexual behavior of consenting adults.

Well, what does your libertarian agenda say to the indoctrination, recruitment and seduction of children? What does your libertarian agenda say to the "gay" rights laws everywhere, of homosexuals trying to infiltrate the Boy Scouts? What about homosexuality being taught in schools as normal and natural, and homosexual counselors advising kids on how to "do it"?

The fact is, that homosexuals and their sycophants are trying - with a lot of success - to dominate and control society. That is what I object to. The vast majority of those who see as I see have ABSOLUTELY no desire to ferret out any kind of deviants and put them in the stocks. But what we strongly object to is the tenor of society being changed, from a family friendly culture into a whorehouse.

The fact is, homosexual activists do not want tolerance or acceptance. They want to dominate, and they do not tolerate any disgreement or differences. That is why I call them homo-nazis.

[AntiGuv]

Cool deal - thanks! I've bookmarked it so I can review them over the weekend.

[First Amendment]

Thanks to your work in informing us all. And also your even demeanor! I appreciate your polite and friendly tone. I shall seek to emulate it. I won't be able to completely, but I'll try harder!

[AntiGuv]

dunno why the typo gremlin suddenly tackled me.. anyhow, the above should read:

The most obvious example of a species in which both males and females tend to freely copulate with members of both the same and the opposite sex....

In any case, it's much more complex than the statement "homosexuality occurs in all species"...

[scripter]

Thanks, pram. I'm outta here until tomorrow.