Do you Believe Homosexuality is Inborn or Learned?

[DesignerNate]

An Interesting topic for debate,

one that I have been struggling with for quite some time. On one hand one could argue that the moment someone is born, they have it in their genetics to be gay. When their hormones start to develop the person that was born gay will begin to feel sexually attracted to the same sex. This also would support whether homosexuality is a choice, for just like one does not chose who their parents are, one does also not chose their gender, race or their sexual orientation.

On the other hand homosexuality could be a learned trait, one that develops over time. In this assumption homosexuality isn't ingrained from birth but rather develops over time, how and from what is debatable, for it could be a reaction against alway being treated as the opposite sex (example, your a boy but your classmates consider you girly because you maybe don't display as many "masculine" qualities) An issue with affirmation about ones sex, or a reaction towards always being accused of being or acting gay (example, kids always say "your gay" or "that's gay"). This would probably go against the former option because it indicates that being gay is a reactionary learned trait and not one that is unchanged over time.

This brings up so many issues for me, like what truly is going on with my attraction towards other men. On one hand it could very well be that I was born gay, so my feelings towards men are natural and unchangeable, but it could also be that the reason i feel sexually attracted towards men is because i myself feel insecure as a man or insecure about being able to provide for a woman, neither of which i could really deny because they both are relatively true. It also could be that i envy what attractive men have so when i notice the qualities that make men attractive in my perception, I want to have that for myself, so in some twisted way by feeling sexually attracted to men, I'm actually simply envying what i feel i don't have, mere self doubt. What do you feel about the subject, obviously I'm not fully convinced so I would love to hear what you have to say.

 

[MrPirate]

An Interesting topic for debate,

one that I have been struggling with for quite some time. On one hand one could argue that the moment someone is born, they have it in their genetics to be gay. When their hormones start to develop the person that was born gay will begin to feel sexually attracted to the same sex. This also would support whether homosexuality is a choice, for just like one does not chose who their parents are, one does also not chose their gender, race or their sexual orientation.

On the other hand homosexuality could be a learned trait, one that develops over time. In this assumption homosexuality isn't ingrained from birth but rather develops over time, how and from what is debatable, for it could be a reaction against alway being treated as the opposite sex (example, your a boy but your classmates consider you girly because you maybe don't display as many "masculine" qualities) An issue with affirmation about ones sex, or a reaction towards always being accused of being or acting gay (example, kids always say "your gay" or "that's gay"). This would probably go against the former option because it indicates that being gay is a reactionary learned trait and not one that is unchanged over time.

This brings up so many issues for me, like what truly is going on with my attraction towards other men. On one hand it could very well be that I was born gay, so my feelings towards men are natural and unchangeable, but it could also be that the reason i feel sexually attracted towards men is because i myself feel insecure as a man or insecure about being able to provide for a woman, neither of which i could really deny because they both are relatively true. It also could be that i envy what attractive men have so when i notice the qualities that make men attractive in my perception, I want to have that for myself, so in some twisted way by feeling sexually attracted to men, I'm actually simply envying what i feel i don't have, mere self doubt. What do you feel about the subject, obviously I'm not fully convinced so I would love to hear what you have to say.

Considering there is no evidence to support the “learned” notion of homosexuality…its not much of a debate

 

[kiwimac]

Studies have been done with twins. Where both children are brought up in the same familial situation but one is Gay and the other is straight. Seems to me that it is inborn.

 

[DesignerNate]

Considering there is no evidence to support the “learned” notion of homosexuality…its not much of a debate

But how much evidence is supporting that its inborn? And how would you even prove that? I mean sure you can account that you've always felt attracted to the same sex, but beyond that what kind of proof could you have? I'm all for understanding this but I can't help but wonder why people are so confident that it is in fact inborn.

 

[DesignerNate]

Studies have been done with twins. Where both children are brought up in the same familial situation but one is Gay and the other is straight. Seems to me that it is inborn.

But that doesn't account to the vast differences in personal experience. My Father is a twin and he and my uncle have a very different outlook on life and they experience life in a different way, sure they were brought up in the same home but they each reacted to that home in a different unique way. Ultimately I believe God made each of us unique so just because one Twin turned out Gay and the other didn't doesn't necessarily mean that being Gay is inborn it may also mean that the Twins both experienced a similar life in a different way, one twin eventually became gay because of his experience, again not sure of anything but I would be cautious without considering both equally at first.

 

[BAFRIEND]

It can be either, but I think for most of you, it is learned, not biological, Not that from a objective view point there is much difference.

 

[Ohioprof]

It can be either, but I think for most of you, it is learned, not biological, Not that from a objective view point there is much difference.

And you have what qualifications, exactly, to make assertions about OTHER people?

 

[naotmaa]

I think it is inborn. I lean towards the theory that it occurs in utero.
The lesbian/gay population has too many diverse backgrounds that differ from each other for there to be some common link that made us all gay.
Rape, abuse, issues with the opposite sex, issues with parents were issues that never happened to me and many others that I know.

 

[Pogue]

Inborn. I know that I've always been attracted to men- I've never considered women in that way. It's safe to assume that this also applies to gay people. If it was entirely a choice, and it's some sort of sinful temptation, then why is it not something which everyone's tempted by? Assuming for a moment that it is sinful (which, for the record, I do not agree with) then why do only certain people get tempted by it?

 

[Lludmila]

Mostly inborn; sometimes learned.

 

[*Starlight*]

I think it's inborn.

 

[ALiberalTeen]

Inborn the majority of the time, sometimes learned.

 

[LJSGM]

Do people believe that pedophilia is inborn?

What about fetishes?

I believe that sexuality is a process, that developes over time, and can become tainted, just as boys who were abused by other men growing up often continue the trend, just as an example. And I don't believe that it is in certains men's genes to be obsessed with womens feet, or shoes.

 

[MrPirate]

But how much evidence is supporting that its inborn? And how would you even prove that? I mean sure you can account that you've always felt attracted to the same sex, but beyond that what kind of proof could you have? I'm all for understanding this but I can't help but wonder why people are so confident that it is in fact inborn.

several hundred published studies indicating that yes indeed sexual orientation is inborn.

BTW there are 0 studies providing evidence that sexual orientation is a choice or the result of some social or psychological factor

 

[MrPirate]

It can be either, but I think for most of you, it is learned, not biological,

To bad there is no evidence to support the “learned” idea.

Not that from a objective view point there is much difference.

There is quite a bit of difference.

Since sexual oriention is inborn discrimination/prejudice based on sexual oriention is no different form such things as racism or anti-Semitism.

 

[MrPirate]

Do people believe that pedophilia is inborn?

What about fetishes?

I believe that sexuality is a process, that developes over time, and can become tainted, just as boys who were abused by other men growing up often continue the trend, just as an example. And I don't believe that it is in certains men's genes to be obsessed with womens feet, or shoes.

Individuals who are sexually abused as children TEND to become abusers themselves. . It is by no means certain nor does one require a history of being sexual abuse to sexually abuse a child. Child sexual abuse is NOT homosexuality and the two are unrelated.

 

[TheFathersDaughter]

Do people believe that pedophilia is inborn?

What about fetishes?

I believe that sexuality is a process, that developes over time, and can become tainted, just as boys who were abused by other men growing up often continue the trend, just as an example. And I don't believe that it is in certains men's genes to be obsessed with womens feet, or shoes.

Sexuality isn't a fetish. There's a huge difference between a fetish and a complete sexuality.

 

[LJSGM]

but you are saying that all our sexual desires are inborn, when in fact they are not.

 

[TheFathersDaughter]

Sexual desires aren't inborn. On occasions sexual desires can stem from mental disorder.

But homosexuality isn't a desire, it's an orientation.

 

[LJSGM]

Sexual desires aren't inborn. On occasions sexual desires can stem from mental disorder.

But homosexuality isn't a desire, it's an orientation.

That explains it all.