Is Homosexuality a Choice?

A great number of the gay community, however, hopes that the basis for homosexuality will be biological (Steen 188). Many parents that have homosexual children do not want to be associated with the theory of environmental factors, because they believe they did not contribute to make their children homosexual (Baird and Baird 73). They believe that if it is biological, it will mean it is part of life and not a choice they made (Steen 188). Understanding the human body and the factors that can affect the body is drastically important to most humans, which is why a lot of psychologist are so curious about the basis of homosexuality. Now the real question is, to what extent does homosexuality have a biological basis?

Homosexuality is a choice; you are not born gay. People choose that life, it doesn’t choose you. It is impossible for you to be born gay because the gay trait would be recessive and would have died out a long time ago. Homosexuality is an ideal; those brought by experience and thoughts.

The most controversial questions that arise in relation to sexual orientation are targeted towards how one’s sexual orientation forms, what factors go into it and most importantly whether individuals have a choice in this process. According to the American Psychology Association, one’s sexual orientation is not adopted via an individual’s choice, but rather develops as a result of “cognitive and biological factors” and as well as by interacting with the surrounding environment. In simpler terms, there is a possibility in everybody even you and me being a homosexual.

Scientists and researchers are continuously revealing data about genetic homosexuality; the question is, are these studies reliable and conclusive? Copious studies have been conducted and have continued to be indecisive as to discovering a gene that develops homosexuality. Little bits of information have sprung up here and there, but there is no way to prove that being homosexual, bisexual, or even heterosexual for that matter is genetic. “Simon LeVay, who self-identifies as gay, said: ‘It's important to stress what I didn't find. I did not prove that homosexuality is genetic, or find a genetic cause for being gay. I didn't show that gay men are born that way, the most common mistake people make in interpreting my work’” (Price). Homosexual individuals themselves even give in to the fact that their homosexuality is an adaptation, not an inheritance. A scientific study that is valid and repeatable is what is considered acceptable in the science community, and tests taken over genetic homosexuality have been neither valid nor repeatable. It only makes sense that there is not a “gay gene,” as some individuals specify

In one article by Marcia Malory, “Homosexuality & Choice: Are Gay People ‘Born This Way’”, she goes into multiple studies on the genetics of a gay child's parents. A study conducted in 1993 the “gay gene” matter arose when it was looked into the homosexual children's parents having a different X chromosome marker. Nonetheless genes do not control our behavior completely as does environment. The brain may also play a role in sexual preference, like the study in 1991 showing the difference in neurons and pituitary glands. Later in the 2000s more studies showed that gay men have more symmetrical hemisphere and amygdala resembles that of women's. The brain develops in the womb and continues through late adulthood. When did a fetus choose its

Homosexuality is at the front lines of the nature versus nurture debate. Many studies have been conducted, but a clear cause has yet to be found. Anti-homosexuals, consisting mainly of religious groups, believe that homosexuality is abnormal, unnatural, and can be changed. Because of their beliefs, homosexuality must be a learned behavior. Whether homosexuality is biological or learned behavior is still a mystery, but scientists are finding more evidence to suggest the former.

“According to the APA today, there is little scientific consensus about the exact factors that cause a person to be gay, but most people don 't experience a choice about their sexual orientation.” (Megan Gannon) In our society, arguing about whether or not a person was born homosexual is very common. You have people who claim that homosexuality is something that person chooses to be, and then you have people who claim that homosexuality is something that they were born to be. There are so many different views on the argument biblically, scientifically, and even morally. Although each side has their views on the situation, and no matter if scientists find that homosexuality is something people are born with or not, it’s not going to change homosexuality in the world. There will always be homosexuality, heterosexuality, asexuality, and so forth. Will figuring out if there’s a gene actually make that much of a difference?

Sexual orientation refers to the emotional, sexual, and romantic attraction to men, women, or both genders. It also refers to a person’s sense of identity based on those attractions. In the early years, to be labeled as a gay, lesbian, or bisexual was known to be a mental illness. In recent years, it has been determined that it is a normal aspect of sexuality. Determining how one has this specific trait is up in the air. With homosexuality growing, sexual orientation has been a major discussion in the world throughout the last decade. Some have argued that it has to do with genetics, and some say that it has to do with the environment. This is known as the long-term controversy of nature versus nurture. The controversy discusses which side of the argument affects our behavior, intelligence, development, and personality. Scientists have been investigating and experimenting to find the answer to this debate. There has not been evidence that says one side is 100% the answer.

Homosexuality, as defined in the Macquarie dictionary is, of, relating to, or characterized by a tendency to direct sexual desire toward another of the same sex or of, relating to, or involving sexual intercourse between persons of the same sex. There are countless arguments for and against the social acceptance of gay and lesbian couples and the morals, virtues and church teachings associated with them aren't exactly black and white. Homosexuality is an important issue as not only do numerous people of all ages struggle with finding their sexuality but they also struggle with accepting it and embracing it. Thus it is a relevant issue for everyone in society as the entire population is affected by it.

adulterer and the adulteress must be put to death" (Leviticus 20:11). He is torn between

There are multiple theories people hold on how they believe homosexuality started or is generally caused. However, after multiple studies and ongoing research the likelihood that it is nature, rather than nurture, based is going strong. Although, as of now, there has been no exact consensus among researchers, after examining possible genetic, hormonal, developmental, social, and/or cultural influences, to prove that homosexuality is completely one or the other, but it is usually found that people cannot choose their sexual orientation, but rather only

As it stands, there is no concrete evidence explaining why some individuals are homosexuals. There are however, two contradictory causes to homosexuality: (1) homosexuality is innate and (2) homosexuality is a choice.

The nature and nature of homosexuality is heavily debated. Some people believe that homosexuality is biologically determined and others believe it’s base on ones environment. This topic can be argue to be base on both nature and nurture. Studies conducted in the past decades support both the biological and environmental aspect of homosexuality.

Before dissecting the relationship of genetics and homosexuality it will be helpful to give a basic background of genetics. Genetics is the study of genes and variation in

The survey also shows that Americans remain deeply divided over the essential cause and nature of homosexuality. A 42% plurality believes that being a homosexual "is just the way that some people prefer to live," no change from a Los Angeles Times survey conducted in 1985. But there has been a rise in the percentage who say homosexuality is "something that people are born with" ­ from 20% in the Times survey to 30% currently. The public also is split on the question of whether a gay person 's sexual orientation can be changed ­ 42% say it can, the same number disagrees.