Why hasn't the biological/hereditary link to homosexuality been spoken of?

[La Resistance]

All I'm hearing is "tearing at the fabric of society" and "people choosing to live in sin" bullshit, but no one is talking about the genetics of what makes a person Gay or Straight? Isn't this an effective argument in trying to bring some reason into the debate as to why gays and Lesbians deserve the same Civil Rights? I'd like some ideas and opinions. This is a question that has been running around my head the last couple of days watching the news.

On edit: fixed missing punctuation

[Ladyhawk]

1. I'm not sure this has been proven yet.

I don't know.

[La Resistance]

2. but there is some credible evidence...

of some kind isn't there? I don't think it has been proven, either, but there is some theory and continuing studies on this. Why hasn't this been mentioned?

[arcos]

3. there is no proven genetic link...

although there is circumstancial evidence. I personally feel there's no need to talk about it. It is indeed interesting, but not a good idea to relate it to civil rights. What if in a few years they find there is absolutely no genetic or biological component?

It doesn't matter why I'm gay (althought I'm interested to know why), I deserve the same rights.

[Dob Bole]

4. Hormones at birth...

have been suggested to make one more likely to be gay or straight. But there is no homosexual gene.

[Dookus]

7. that's the likely explanation

it's probably inborn, but not genetic. But there's no conclusive evidence either way.

And, as somebody else said, it's beside the point. I'd just as soon not have my homosexuality described as a birth defect.

[fearnobush]

5. Not one mention of this. I think the media want to play with this

for a while. No mention of civil rights or how this will stain our so called freedom and liberty. WTF, I am aggressively against this WEDGE amendment, has no chance of passing. What a waste of Tax dollars. What's next, divorce illegal? wouldn't be surprised.

[Snow]

6. We were talkinb about this back when the Iran/contra affair was

hitting the news, & I asked some friends of lesbian persuasion about it. Their take was that it was to some degree offensive, in that it carries a message, of, well, you're messed up, but it isn't really your fault, so you're not a sinner. Poor thing. They would rather state it as "there's nothing wrong with us". That made sense to me. Your take may differ, though.

[fearnobush]

8. The queer hypothalamus?

<http://www.edifyingspectacle.org/sexuality/blog/archives/lesbian_gay_bisexual/the_queer_hypothalamus.php>

What about bisexuals, straight transvestites, gay transvestites, mtf and ftm transsexuals … ?

Chicago, Nov. 25—In the ongoing effort to determine whether sexual orientation is hard-wired, University of Chicago scientists have used high-tech imaging to confirm that the hypothalamus - the sex center in the brain - functions differently in gay men than in heterosexual men. …

Using positron emission tomography (PET) to monitor the neurochemical function of the hypothalamus in eight exclusively heterosexual men and eight exclusively homosexual men, Moltz found a significantly greater level of activity in straight men compared with gays. The hypothalamus is thought to regulate sexual response and behavior, according to animal studies. “Whether this neurochemical difference is the cause of, or a consequence of, or something that accompanies this kind of heterosexuality and homosexuality is yet to be determined,” Moltz said. “But it’s the strongest research I know to suggest that it might be hard-wired.”

[wabeewoman]

9. If it's hard-wired and you are 'made' that way

isn't it an argument to the fundies that God made gays homosexual? They claim its a sin because it is a choice. Seems to me a harder argument to make if its not a choice. But then these are people who deny that evolution is happening so I don't know.

[Name removed]

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[arcos]

11. that is NOT true...

I am gay and both my parents are straight. This is the case with everyone I know too.

[Scottie72]

13. Make that two

Both my parents are straight.

Though there is a case for a genetic link. My fathers half-brother is gay.

[arcos]

15. A grand uncle of mine is gay too...

I do agree their is evidence of a genetic link, but not as the poster said that "gays raise gays".

[Name removed]

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[Name removed]

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[ComerPerro]

20. Do you have proof?

Like maybe links to these studies?

Or did you hear Rush say this?

[Dookus]

21. where exactly

did you identify the area where the proof is?

You only have two posts, so it's easy to search them. In neither one do you say where this so-called evidence is.

Another bald-faced lie. 2 for 2.

[mitchtv]

14. hahaha

STRAIGHTS raise gays- lookout for low flying tombstones. Anyone here who says they know is wrong. There can be many factors, including genetics, hormones, enviromental and choice. being gay from birth, I would love to know.

[ComerPerro]

19. Let me guess

Gay couples raise gay kids so they can involve them in perveted acts of sexual deviance, right?

:puke:

[megatherium]

22. twin studies indicate that if you are a gay man and

you have an identical twin brother, the probability he's gay is 50%. With fraternal twin brothers, 25%. Conservatives use these studies to suggest that homosexuality in men is not really genetic. But a 50% linkage is huge. By comparison, if you're left-handed and you have an identical twin brother, the odds are 12% he's also left-handed. (The odds of a randomly selected man being left-handed is 8%. It's not clear what fraction of the male population is gay, maybe in the 4 to 6% range.)

Another study involved tracking into adulthood boys who were identified as sissies. 75% of them turned out to be gay. This doesn't say anything about genetics of course, but it suggests that whatever causes homosexuality happens fairly early. At any rate, gay men almost uniformly report never "choosing" their sexual orientation; they just realize they're gay, and they find that they can't really change or affect their sexual orientation. (Some gay men have some attraction to women, and if they are sufficiently motivated, as by religion, they can get by in heterosexual relationships. But most gay men, 70% perhaps, cannot do this.)

If anyone wants to know more about the possible biological basis of homosexuality, look for titles by Dean Hamer. Also "A Separate Creation" by Chandler Burr, which has a wonderful introduction to genetics in it. Simon LeVay is another well-known author on these matters.

[kayell]

16. I haven't because I don't think it's relevant

discrimation should be illegal whether being gay or lesbian is a choice or not. It is illegal to discriminate in this country because of a persons religion - certainly that is a choice. It is illegal to discriminate based on skin color which is not a choice. There is precedent either way, choice or not. So I really don't see the point in arguing over the choice issue in this context.

[ComerPerro]

17. Well, I don't think anyone cares if it is a choice or not.

Please read this before responding in rage.

Is homosexuality a choice? Most likely no. Why in the world would someone chose to be gay, and therefore to be persecuted?

But does it matter whether homosexuality is genetic or a personal choice?
No.

Not to me, and certainly not to freepers.

Personally, I don't care if you are straight, gay, bisexual, whatever. It doesn't matter to me if it is beyond your control or if it was a decision you made. I support it, because I don't see any reason not to. This "tearing down the moral fabric" shit is just hysterical bullshit.

Likewise, I don't think your average Joe Freeper cares if you chose to be gay or if being gay just feels correct. He is afraid of you no matter what, and he will despise you no matter what. I don't think most hardcore conservatives really stop to question any of their beliefs (otherwise they wouldn't be conservative).

Besides, I don't think you could convince conservatives of anything using science if they don't want to believe it.

They don't accept global warming in any form, they don't accept evolution in any form, and they certainly wouldn't accept any evidence of homosexuality being genetic.

I am guessing I will get some harsh responses due to poor phrasing though...

So I will get a chance to elaborate.

[Terran]

23. It DOES matter a great deal to fundies & freeps

They have to believe that gay people become gay out of choice, because that makes it a "lifestyle," and immune to legal protections enjoyed by other minority classes. This is absolutely central to conservative anti-gay thinking. Without that cornerstone, a lot of their reasons for hating us disintegrate. For one, if we are gay because of nature, it's difficult to argue that God disapproves of us, because if you believe in God, you pretty much have to believe that he/she/it made everything in nature, including us gay folk.

Dirk

[Touchdown]

24. Because it's only a preponderance of evidence.

and not actual PROOF.

Although, actual proof in scientific terms is always theory...even the Earth's roundness. But proof is their trump card, and their holding onto it like their emergency ripcord.