Are gay men and women born gay or are they influenced by their environment and surroundings?
931308
I personaly think it's a bit of both.
74747
It's really not possible to give GAY a face. Gay people are as diverse in their appearance, mannerisms,and backgrounds as straight people. For every gay person you can spot in a crowd there are several you cannot. As a gay man I've realized that other than my sexuality, I have little or nothing in common with many gay people I've met. I don't fit the stereotype well at all. Society needs to realize that gay is not a culture, a look, nor a belief system. It is simply a condition, like being short or tall.
431528
They couldn't be gay since they have a set of both organs.\n\nNo, depending on how their raised if they decide once they're grown to go the other way I suppose they're considered gay.  I wouldn't though if I knew they were born a hermaphrodite because its usually the persons parents who choose whether they'll grow up a boy or girl.\n\nDo you get what I mean now?
647576
It may be that conditioning may have a very small part of a person being gay but it would be a very small percentage of gay people that are effected in this way. However, I do think that the majority of gay people are born with this disposition.\n\n'God' doews not make nature perfect. for instance, I am sure that most of you have heard of a condition called hermaphroditism (or the more politically correct term these days is 'intersex') where a person is born with the fully formed genatalia of BOTH sexes. The subject, apart from their genitalia, is physically and mentally sound in every other way.\n\nSometimes, these children are operated on at birth if the doctors decide (guess) that the baby appears to have a female or male inclination and the genitals are modified accordingly. In many cases though, a modified 'girl' grows up with feelings for other women and modified 'boys' grow up feeling something for other men. It seems in these cases, the doctors have made the wrong decision and the psychological makeup of the child was in fact the opposite to the physical modification they performed on the child. So even though, for instance, a child may be brought up as a girl with girls toys etc, the 'nature' side of the brain kicks in at puberty (if not before) and overrides the 'nurture' side.\n\nNow, if nature can produce a visible, physical example of developmental confusion on the outside of the human body, who is to say that there are not processes at work of developmental confusion going on inside the unseen brain of a person ... where there may not be an obvious physical example of gender disorientation externally but internally their brain does not dictate in the way that their external body would suggest to the rest of society.\n\nThere is very strong evidence that sexuality is largely determined by development in the womb. Perhaps, while 'intersex' is firm external physical proof of developmental issues, we ought to consider that perhaps the developmental differences in gay people are more subtle and obviously invisible to the naked eye due to the brain being internal - but that does not mean that the differences are not there.\n\nHomosexuality has been around since the beginning of time and if you research gay history in cultures across the world, the present prejudices seem to stem with the spread of the three major monotheistic religons and it is this prejudice that is ingrained into the psyche of people today. But like racism, for instance, perhaps this prejudice towards gay people will diminish as society recognises that alternative sexuality is actually just a normal part of nature's rich diversity.
852992
still asking this question?? there is NO SUCH thing as being "born gay"...and no concrete scientific proof, either. just another lie and excuse people like to use to explain why they do what they want to do! people do experiment with same sex, and get hooked. known people who've told me this, and now they're "full blown" homosexuals.
263562
I think they are born, many of those who "change" at later stage of their lives have always been gay they just didn´t want to accept it and be brave enough to tell the whole world about it, indeed it was originated when they were procreated.... =)
446840
I think that gay men that are really flamboyant and "act gay" tend to get media attention more often.  But there are "normal" gay guys out there, but normal people don't get on television as much, even if they're gay.\n\nScience hasn't really figured out for certain what causes people to become gay.  Some of it is psychology, and some is physical or genetic (you're born with it!).\n\nIt's looking more and more like a combination of both.
38698
There are a lot of factors, I'm sure, and probably many that neither of us are aware of. We are born "tabula rasa" (a blank slate), and what we are -- I said what, not who -- is dependent on the experiences we have, the environments we are thrust into, the choices and decisions we make. For example, a boy who feels hated by his father, yet wants his father's love, might seek it sexually from another man when he eventually becomes an adult. \n\nAsk your questions one at a time, as we all do when we're growing up. For example, does it mean you're gay if you look at another man's genitals in the locker room? (If it does, then we're all queens of the May, 'cause we all do!)\n\nFind a professional to discuss what you believe is a problem. Out of what you learn, make your own choices and decisions. Set goals for your own happiness in life, and follow them. What you cannot change, accept -- but don't accept every "wonder" idea that pops into your head; most of them are pure b-s.
116746
There are 2 types of "gay".  Pseudo-homosexuality and homosexuality.  Pseudo-homosexuality is environmental, such as in prisons where no women are present.  When they leave prison, the no longer engage in gay activities.  \n\nOthers are born gay and cannot control their natural desires which I believe is genetic.  They have no sexual interest in women.
785208
Before stating "it can't have been in you ever since you were born" in your question, you may want to check out some scientific studies on the matter.\n\nMy first source shows that homosexuality for males has been linked to the Xq28 in males; second source is on a genetic link of the X chromosome to a gay person's mother; third source is on gene variations on the X chromosome; fourth source states that it "confirms that there is a strong genetic basis for sexual orientation, and that for some gay men, genes on the X chromosome are involved," and the last source is on a link between brain structure and homosexuality.
415429
That's the way gays naturally act if they are effeminate. Not all gays are that way. Many are people you would not suspect. They don't do it to draw attention. They do it because that's the way they are.
205777
I don't think people become gay because of the way they look on the outside....\na choice of sexual preference comes from the inside--the way you feel--not the way you look.
1025075
I can't speak for women.  I do not believe it has anything to do with male homosexuality however.  \n\nAnectodally, I knew I was gay by the time I was 8 -- even though I didn't know the name for it.  I'd had a boyfriend and been having sex for two years when I was forcibly raped by an adult straight male (and the father of three please note)  in my mid teens.  If I hadn't been precocious and had had a guilt complex, I would have had an experience I could "blame" my homosexuality on.  The reality is, I am gay, I was gay -- the rape was incidental -- and because I was precocious and had a b/f and we were having sex, there was never a question of that.  \n\nFactually speaking research indicates that one out of four  females  is sexually abused prior to reaching AoC  in some way by an adult and usually by a family member.  Research is less frequently done on males, and I frankly think when you look at males you can only look at forcible rape, I think males can consent much earlier than they are permitted to legally -- I sure could and so could every one of my friends - gay or straight; but, using the statistic on women -- are one out of four women gay or bi?  Doesn't appear to be correllating there. \n\nThere is a propoganda machine on the Religious Right that tries to blame homosexuality on a number of things:  abuse, drugs, and broken homes being foremost. (See Wayne Besen; Anything But Straight; Harrington Park Press)\n\nWell  given that abuse of some type (physical, emotional or sexual) occurs to a very large number of teens (I know and knew few who didn't take some form of one of them), given that over 50% of children live in single parent households now, and given that drugs are very prevalent in all segments of society --- this simply gives the extremists  a carte blanche to always find something to blame homosexuality on.\n\nThe reality is that homosexuality exists in nearly all animal species (see Dr. Bruce Bagemihl; Biological Exuberance; St. Martin's Press) and has always existed in human culture -- with or without a defining community -- usually just folded in as a part of the total society (among the Greeks, the Romans, many American Indian tribes, and some other primitives -- among most societies in the pre-Muslim middle east and parts of the far east).\n\nHomosexuality simply is.  The search for "reasons" that allow one to either demonize or claim to be able to cure homosexuality has gone on in every homophobic society that ever existed, and is part and parcel of a desire, for some to wipe out the group, and for others to escape it.  The American Religious Right is just the latest group to join a cascade of groups over the millennia that were afraid of homosexuals because they were different (and because deep inside some of the leaders really like bois -- and hate themselves for it.).\n\nSo there are several more likely possibilities with your bisexual friends than that the molestation caused the sexuality.  One is that the molestation was incidental. One is that the molestation allowed them to more honestly look at their own desires and while incidental helped them admit to themselves that they liked same sex relationships.    The last (and I hesitate to mention this) is that one was molested, or said he was -- and the experience "spread."  There's been quite a lot of work done on how that type of thing works -- but basically it is the same way a story spreads, except with molestation stories, it is always the self that was molested.  It makes legitimate psychological work in the field hellacious.\n\nDon't know if that helps, but I hope so.\n\nRegards,\n\nReyn\nbelieveinyou24@yahoo.com
270991
Yes, because gay men and women have just as much right as straight men and women do. Their opinions and beliefs matter just as much as everyone else's.
253276
I think it is only partly genetic. There are still many other factors that can cause homosexuality... hormonal imbalance, the people a person associates during his/her lifetime, and many more... People may think that it is passed from parent to child probably because they've seen some homosexual 'traits' on the parent and if the child shows similar traits, they think it is because the child inherited it. I think it is because of the upbringing of the children... I'm not sure about this...
1009900
You are mistaking a preference for spending time with a person of the same sex, with an inability to procreate.  Historically, many "gay" people had children.  They seemed to find enough motivation to mate with someone even if that is not their preference.  Given that, there is no reason why being gay would stop one from procreating.\n\nIn fact, historically, it could be advantage in some cases.  The whole point of pro-creation is to survive long enough to mate and then to ensure that your offspring also survive long enough to mate.   Women can better rely on other women to help raise children, and the importance of male bonding in combat or dangerous situations is quite clear.\n\nThe real question is does a single "gay" gene exist.  I have my doubts that it is that simple.  Human interaction is a complex affair.  I suspect that there are multiple genes involved as well as environmental conditions (both pre and post natal).  That doesn't mean, that being gay is a choice.  A given gene may make it more or less likely, but almost all the contributing influences likely occurred long before self awareness was firmly in place.
250149
Yes, but gay people feel that way about men.  Gay men form about 10% of the male population.  It is part nature and nuture.  \n\nLet the gays be gays and you can keep all the gorgeous women to yourself.