Is homosexuality conclusively and solely biologically predetermined? (ie, are you born gay?)

why then is LGBT targeting small children for recruitment into homosexuality?

as i've previously discussed with you many times - the only people i see recruiting for anything are the religious who go door to door and try to convince you to attend their favorite house of worship, j

how do you go about "recruiting" someone into homosexuality, j ? is there a ceremony to "convert" them into homosexuality, j ? 

Its a difficult question with no clear cut answer, but I imagine it is a combination of biology and environmental factors. I myself am straight, have always been attracted to females for as long as I can remember, and never made any choice in regards to it. I just was. Either way, who cares, a person's sexual orientation in no way affects their ability to be good, productive members of society. I will interfere in their lives and with their rights as much as they interfere with mine (AKA, they don't, at all).

It seems to me the more a person is concerned with homosexuality, the more likely it is that they are homosexual.

It seems to me the more a person is concerned with homosexuality, the more likely it is that they are homosexual.

I have a different theory.

I believe that some of the worst homophobes are fearful that they are so attractive that they will be raped by a homosexual man and it will be justified in the same way that the heterosexual males, who rape women, claim it was the woman's fault she was raped.

Rape is about power, not sexual orientation.  

I don't know about other countries, but the citizens of the United States are about as uneducated about human sexuality as it is possible to be.

I have a different theory.

I believe that some of the worst homophobes are fearful that they are so attractive that they will be raped by a homosexual man and it will be justified in the same way that the heterosexual males, who rape women, claim it was the woman's fault she was raped.

that's an interesting theory, mocowgirl, it does make one wonder.

I have seen big, athletic, strictly heterosexual males come unglued when homosexuality is mentioned.  Invariably, their comments revolve around performing violence, even murder, to homosexual males.

It is a fear reaction.

When it comes to lesbians, they are most interested in a threesome.

Typical heterosexual male reaction.

It is not the homosexuality that is the issue.

It is an interesting thought...

It is not the homosexuality that is the issue.

Actually it is.   Here's what several different studies have shown:

Is homophobia associated with homosexual arousal?

The authors investigated the role of homosexual arousal in exclusively heterosexual men who admitted negative affect toward homosexual individuals. Participants consisted of a group of homophobic men (n = 35) and a group of nonhomophobic men (n = 29); they were assigned to groups on the basis of their scores on the Index of Homophobia (W. W. Hudson & W. A. Ricketts, 1980). The men were exposed to sexually explicit erotic stimuli consisting of heterosexual, male homosexual, and lesbian videotapes, and changes in penile circumference were monitored. They also completed an Aggression Questionnaire (A. H. Buss & M. Perry, 1992). Both groups exhibited increases in penile circumference to the heterosexual and female homosexual videos. Only the homophobic men showed an increase in penile erection to male homosexual stimuli. The groups did not differ in aggression.

Homophobia is apparently associated with homosexual arousal that the homophobic individual is either unaware of or denies.

Homophobia is apparently associated with homosexual arousal that the homophobic individual is either unaware of or denies.

Interesting.

I have read that many people are bisexual, but tamp down their desires because it is socially taboo to be sexually attracted to the same sex.

Maybe some day we will be able to allow people to have consensual sex without putting them under a microscope to see if they are "normal" or not. 

Lol. Ridiculous and unscientific. 

Ridiculous and unscientific.

It would be interesting to see similar studies performed today with brain imaging.  

Really? How about these:

ibtimes

scientificamerican

sciencedaily

ncbi.nlm.nih

philosophy-religion

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/29/opinion/sunday/homophobic-maybe-youre-gay.html?_r=1&

All of the available peer-reviewed, unbiased science indicates that sexual orientation is inborn.  However, there are so many deniers here on Newsvine and elsewhere.  I know that you deniers will not believe any of this, because it did not come from YOUR "science book" -- a/k/a the Holy Bible -- or from your op-ed pieces published in biased websites (and certainly NOT based on any scientific research), but for some strange reason, I am compelled to set the record straight (no pun intended).

Although much research has examined the possible genetic, hormonal, developmental, social and cultural influences on sexual orientation, no findings have emerged that permit scientists to conclude that sexual orientation is determined by any particular factor or factors. Many think that nature and nurture both play complex roles; most people experience little or no sense of choice about their sexual orientation.

apa

Despite almost a century of psychoanalytic and psychological speculation, there is no substantive evidence to support the suggestion that the nature of parenting or early childhood experiences play any role in the formation of a person's fundamental heterosexual or homosexual orientation. It would appear that sexual orientation is biological in nature, determined by a complex interplay of genetic factors and the early uterine environment. Sexual orientation is therefore not a choice.

Royal College of Psychiatrists

Sexual orientation probably is not determined by any one factor but by a combination of genetic, hormonal, and environmental influences. In recent decades, biologically based theories have been favored by experts. Although there continues to be controversy and uncertainty as to the genesis of the variety of human sexual orientations, there is no scientific evidence that abnormal parenting, sexual abuse, or other adverse life events influence sexual orientation.

American Academy of Pediatrics

The evidence we have at present strongly supports the proposition that there are hereditary factors in male homosexuality — the observation that an identical twin of a male homosexual has approximately a 20% likelihood of also being gay points to this conclusion, since that is 10 times the population incidence. But the fact that the answer is not 100% also suggests that other factors besides DNA must be involved. That certainly doesn’t imply, however, that those other undefined factors are inherently alterable.

  wthrockmorton

In case you STILL don't get the message, you can check out these articles:

sciencedaily

livescience

thinkprogress

theguardian

nydailynews

usnews

cs.cmu

worldpolicy.newschool

patheos

ncbi.nlm.nih

bbc.co.uk

washingtonpost

pinknews.co.uk

dailymail.co.uk

sciencedaily

vocativ

If there is no evidence that ""we are born that way"" and there is evidence that we are culturally and environmentally conditioned toward our sexuality

Really? then explain why the APA (as you cited) says: "most people experience little or no sense of choice about their sexual orientation.” That one statement alone demolishes your entire argument, as it clearly implies sexual orientation is something that we "born that way" (Funny how you neglected to emphasize that part).  Well, that and Eginnj's sources and arguments too! 

Hello eginnj...  How is your day today?

Hello eginnj...  How is your day today?

I'm not sure why your reply is addressed to me?

Rice WR, Friberg U, Gavrilets S. Homosexuality as a consequence of epigenetically canalized sexual development.  The Quarterly Review of Biology . Published online 11 December 2012.

Bocklandt S, Horvath S, Vilain E, Hamer DH (February 2006).  "Extreme skewing of X chromosome inactivation in mothers of homosexual men" .  Hum. Genet.  118 (6): 691–4.

 Camperio-Ciani A, Corna F, Capiluppi C (November 2004).  "Evidence for maternally inherited factors favouring male homosexuality and promoting female fecundity" .  Proc. Biol. Sci.  271 (1554): 2217–21.

LeVay S (August 1991). "A difference in hypothalamic structure between heterosexual and homosexual men".  Science  253 (5023): 1034–7.

Blanchard R, Klassen P (April 1997). "H-Y antigen and homosexuality in men".  J. Theor. Biol.  185 (3): 373–8.

McCormick CM, Witelson SF (1991). "A cognitive profile of homosexual men compared to heterosexual men and women".  Psychoneuroendocrinology  16 (6): 459–73.

There is also the age-old question:  if you believe that homosexuality is a choice, tell us when you chose YOUR sexual orientation.  You see, if you didn't choose to be heterosexual, why would you think that homosexuals made a choice?  And if you DID choose to be heterosexual, that makes you bisexual.

You who deny the truth might also consider the fact that homosexuality is found throughout the animal kingdom; it has been documented in at least 1500 animal species (besides humans).  Yet bigotry and homophobia are only found in ONE species.  I'll let you figure out which one that is, if you can.

Oh, you think facts, studies, research are going to get through to the neanderthal?  Good luck.

Science suggests not "born gay."  It's there well before birth.  

Science suggests not "born gay." It's there well before birth.

Logic also suggests sexual orientation is not a choice.   If someone thinks one can choose to be gay then I challenge them to do so.  Just be gay for 10 minutes and then go back to being heterosexual.  Come back here and explain how that feat was accomplished.

Nobody will accept this challenge.   Why?

Just be gay for 10 minutes and then go back to being heterosexual.

I mentally went through all of the lesbians that I know and can't imagine having sexual contact with any of them.

I mentally went through a list of men that I know are gay and I can imagine having sexual contact with them.

Does  that count?

Does that count?

It certainly counts as an engaged, thoughtful reply but it of course is the opposite of taking the challenge.  

of course is the opposite of taking the challenge.

Damn.  

I have been told that I don't take direction well.  It just goes to prove I was given proper feedback in the past. LOL!