Shelby Sun, there have been many studies attempting to isolate a ‘gay gene’ or to determine what characteristics indicate the future as a homosexual as well as enviornmental or social triggers that impact some individuals. There has been NOTHING conclusive or even strongly supporting a genetic or inborn homosexuality.
Sexuality, sexual behavior is a continuum. Most people go through various stages in life. Remember back to your childhood when the opposite sex was repulsive, disgusting, even frightening? Little girls have VERY strong same sex friendships and often announce they are going to marry their friend or at least not marry a man. Little boys have and EWWWWW response to little girls. Then puberty hits and most become attracted to the opposite sex, some seem to be rather asexual, others are confused with feelings of attraction toward the same sex. But this is not something determined at birth, like being born female.
There are MANY instances of “situational” homosexuality. In certain Islamic areas, it is VERY common for young boys to be used sexually as women are off limits until marriage. Of course we all know of jail, long journeys aboard ships and other situations where the opposite sex was not available. Further certain cultures such as ancient Greece fostered male/male sex for what was seen as a mentoring and friendship but the men were heterosexual and wives were for family/procreation.
And no I dont think that anyone chooses to be homosexual or heterosexual the way I choose a new pair of running shoes. But certain stimuli, environments, and social pressure will be very influential.
In my own experience with very close friendships with homosexuals (mostly males) only one of them said he never had an attraction to females. The rest had male/female relationships, even to the point of lengthy marriages and children but later rejecting their traditional life for a male lover. Oh and for most of them the pleasure was fleeting and the devastating impact on everyone involved lasted much longer.
Lisa
