The Gay Gene on 20/20

acoustic guy

They are looking into whether you are born gay or not.

Of course you are! And so what.
In this day and age how could you not think so.
I don't want this thread to be a area for gay bashing or a huge debate.
Be mature here people.
Look at the kid on Who's the Boss. Watching him you knew he was gay and he was like 9 years old.
I have a daughter and I would like her to be straight and have a family. But if not no big deal. I would love my kids either way

Brain of J.Lo

acoustic guy wrote:

They are looking into whether you are born gay or not.

Of course you are! And so what.
In this day and age how could you not think so.
I don't want this thread to be a area for gay bashing or a huge debate.
Be mature here people.
Look at the kid on Who's the Boss. Watching him you knew he was gay and he was like 9 years old.
I have a daughter and I would like her to be straight and have a family. But if not no big deal. I would love my kids either way

Hopefully by the time your daughter is an adult, people can (more easily) have families regardless of their orientation!

And yeah...it's so completely and utterly obvious that people are born the way they are. I can't even believe it's up for debate.

The thing that is scary about the idea of "finding" the "gay gene" is that you KNOW there are families out there that would terminate a pregnancy if it were something that could be detected before birth. (Of course that is obviously a futuristic hypothetical situation, but it's something to think about!)

MattCameronKicksButt

Oh jeeeez. One of my best friends in school was bi sexual and my mum was terrified that she'd turn me gay! AHAHA The older generation can be so funny.

norm

cancer - kills people every day

aids kills people every day


thank god they're are spending money on researching this horseshit

:rolleyes:

Brain of J.Lo

cutback wrote:

cancer - kills people every day

aids kills people every day


thank god they're are spending money on researching this horseshit

:rolleyes:

I agree with you on one hand. The only valid reason I see for researching this, though, is the potential for someday quieting assholes who insist that it's a choice and, therefore, the wrong choice.

facepollution

See I don't understand why people are so insistent on the whole gay gene thing. I'm not saying it's impossible, but I think everybody is a product of their childhood, and different experiences shape different aspects of our personality, sexuality is just an aspect of your personality. If you look at serial killers for example, you usually find they've had really messed up childhoods, and the vast majority of paedophiles have usually been abused themselves as children. So if certain sets of circumstances can produce something as extreme as that, I don't think it's much of a stretch to see that certain circumstances could affect somebody's sexuality. Please don't think I'm in any way equating homosexuality with paedophilia or serial killers, it's just an example.

What I don't like is the implication that if it's not a pre-determined genetic thing, then it must be a lifestyle choice. Quite the opposite, I think any influences on sexuality are going to be on a completely sub-conscious level.

norm

Brain of J.Lo wrote:

I agree with you on one hand. The only valid reason I see for researching this, though, is the potential for someday quieting assholes who insist that it's a choice and, therefore, the wrong choice.

true but the assholes will always be assholes..... just think the resources could be better spent....

Brain of J.Lo

cutback wrote:

true but the assholes will always be assholes..... just think the resources could be better spent....

Yeah, I know what you're saying.

We need to find the asshole gene, and then start eliminating those.

Shawn Smith Collective

Brain of J.Lo wrote:

The thing that is scary about the idea of "finding" the "gay gene" is that you KNOW there are families out there that would terminate a pregnancy if it were something that could be detected before birth.

yeah it'd be the hypocritical "pro-life, family values, jesus love everyone except you" people.

cheeseandrice

I'm going to try to be easy without trying to sound sarcastic....

So, if you are bi-sexual? How does that come from your childhood? It would lead me to believe that someone is confused about their sexuality- but a few of my friends don't seem to be confused. Any thoughts?

in_hiding79

"Congratulations, you are fags"


that South Park Quote for the Guitar Hero episode was great!!!

Songburst

I'd like to hear god's comment on the existence of the gay gene since obviously He would have been the one to create it. Certainly He would never create anything gay, other than small dogs. It is a damn crime that Job Jr's gospel of geneology was omitted from the New Testament back in the day.

in_hiding79

Songburst wrote:

I'd like to hear god's comment on the existence of the gay gene since obviously He would have been the one to create it. Certainly He would never create anything gay, other than small dogs. It is a damn crime that Job Jr's gospel of geneology was omitted from the New Testament back in the day.

Come to think of it, my little chihuahua might be gay!!

pineapplesandwaves

It's unbelievable how many people believe that homosexuals choose to be gay. Genes.

A year ago, I got together with a bunch of friends and we met one of our friend's new boyfriends. By the end of the night, most of us were convinced that he was gay. I've had two friends who were in long-term relationships (one for over 9 years) with men who eventually came out of the closet, so I thought, "Here we go again". Turns out, the boyfriend has three brothers, two of whom are gay, including his twin brother.

sponger

facepollution wrote:

See I don't understand why people are so insistent on the whole gay gene thing. I'm not saying it's impossible, but I think everybody is a product of their childhood, and different experiences shape different aspects of our personality, sexuality is just an aspect of your personality. If you look at serial killers for example, you usually find they've had really messed up childhoods, and the vast majority of paedophiles have usually been abused themselves as children. So if certain sets of circumstances can produce something as extreme as that, I don't think it's much of a stretch to see that certain circumstances could affect somebody's sexuality. Please don't think I'm in any way equating homosexuality with paedophilia or serial killers, it's just an example.

What I don't like is the implication that if it's not a pre-determined genetic thing, then it must be a lifestyle choice. Quite the opposite, I think any influences on sexuality are going to be on a completely sub-conscious level.

Most serial killers had an abusive upbringing, but many serial killers are now being discovered to have major imbalances in brain chemistry. For example, some serial killers are almost completely missing a certain chemical in the brain that controls the intensity of anger that we experience.

Lots of people grow up in abusive homes. However, I think it's the combination of abusive upbringing and the chemical imbalances that create a serial killer.

And, yes, pedophiles generally are a product of their environment.

However, what makes homosexuals different is that most of them are not brought up in a homosexual environment or in an environment that is especially tolerant of homosexuality. Some are, but most aren't.

So that's why the upbringing/environment factor does not logically apply to homosexuality.

reeferchief

pineapplesandwaves wrote:

It's unbelievable how many people believe that homosexuals choose to be gay. Genes.

A year ago, I got together with a bunch of friends and we met one of our friend's new boyfriends. By the end of the night, most of us were convinced that he was gay. I've had two friends who were in long-term relationships (one for over 9 years) with men who eventually came out of the closet, so I thought, "Here we go again". Turns out, the boyfriend has three brothers, two of whom are gay, including his twin brother.

people may be born gay and have the "gay gene", but they can still be in denial and try to deny it, growing up in a situation where they wont feel accepted by friends/family etc.
A guy who comes in my pub was married and has a daughter, he is now gay and I've seen a lot of his friends have a hard time accepting it and his boyfriend, the guy who turned is your average football loving, one of the lads type, his boyfriend is the flamboyant in your face gay, there is more manley women come in the pub than him, it is interesting to observe reactions and the what not.

brainofme

there are studies which show that all sort of animals, like sheep, penguins or certain monkeys and many more are homosexual, bisexual or whatever.
we are just another type of animal. it's in their genes as it is in ours. it's just normal as nature shows.

facepollution

sponger wrote:

Most serial killers had an abusive upbringing, but many serial killers are now being discovered to have major imbalances in brain chemistry. For example, some serial killers are almost completely missing a certain chemical in the brain that controls the intensity of anger that we experience.

Lots of people grow up in abusive homes. However, I think it's the combination of abusive upbringing and the chemical imbalances that create a serial killer.

And, yes, pedophiles generally are a product of their environment.

However, what makes homosexuals different is that most of them are not brought up in a homosexual environment or in an environment that is especially tolerant of homosexuality. Some are, but most aren't.

So that's why the upbringing/environment factor does not logically apply to homosexuality.

You're thinking about it in a far too logical manner. If something effects you on a subconscious level, that means you are oblivious, so it IS NOT A CHOICE. I'll give an example. My mum is a child minder, and used to look after a boy from the age of about 6, it was quite apparent that he was very feminine, and people always said "I bet when he's older he'll be gay", sure enough at age 18 he came out. He was not raised in a 'homosexual' environment or one that was a particularly 'accepting' environment. His mother was incredibly overbearing, not helped by the fact that she suffered severe digestive disorders, and nearly died a number of times. His father chose to distance himself from them both, so there was complete absence of a father figure.

People shouldn't underestimate the influence their parents have on them. They are our role models at a very young age, and even the tinest and seemingly insignificant events can have a profound effect on our behaviour in later life. You even admitted that you think paedophiles are a product of their environements, so if that sexual persuasion can be formed under certain circumstances, then why not homosexuality?

To the person who asked about bi-sexuality, I don't think sexuality is a static thing, as much as people might protest it is. I think it's entirely possible that sexual confusion can be set in at a very early age. Or are you proposing a bi-sexual gene too? What about a gene for people who are sexualy attracted to animals? Or people who are attracted to children? Or people who get off on pain?

Let me give an analogy, are you born with your musical tastes? Can you help the fact that dance music, or country music might drive you mad, yet you love rock music? You don't choose not to like them, you choose not to listen to them. Nobody can make you like those genres. When we are younger we have no frame of reference, we soak up experiences and react to environments with reference to the lessons we learn.

I almost find the idea of a gay gene offensive to be honest. Not in that I don't think it's possible, but in the fact that people hang all their beliefs on it, because the only other option is that people 'choose' to be gay. It's like they are saying "they can't help it" as if there is something wrong with it.

reeferchief

facepollution wrote:

You're thinking about it in a far too logical manner. If something effects you on a subconscious level, that means you are oblivious, so it IS NOT A CHOICE. I'll give an example. My mum is a child minder, and used to look after a boy from the age of about 6, it was quite apparent that he was very feminine, and people always said "I bet when he's older he'll be gay", sure enough at age 18 he came out. He was not raised in a 'homosexual' environment or one that was a particularly 'accepting' environment. His mother was incredibly overbearing, not helped by the fact that she suffered severe digestive disorders, and nearly died a number of times. His father chose to distance himself from them both, so there was complete absence of a father figure.

People shouldn't underestimate the influence their parents have on them. They are our role models at a very young age, and even the tinest and seemingly insignificant events can have a profound effect on our behaviour in later life. You even admitted that you think paedophiles are a product of their environements, so if that sexual persuasion can be formed under certain circumstances, then why not homosexuality?

To the person who asked about bi-sexuality, I don't think sexuality is a static thing, as much as people might protest it is. I think it's entirely possible that sexual confusion can be set in at a very early age. Or are you proposing a bi-sexual gene too? What about a gene for people who are sexualy attracted to animals? Or people who are attracted to children? Or people who get off on pain?

Let me give an analogy, are you born with your musical tastes? Can you help the fact that dance music, or country music might drive you mad, yet you love rock music? You don't choose not to like them, you choose not to listen to them. Nobody can make you like those genres. When we are younger we have no frame of reference, we soak up experiences and react to environments with reference to the lessons we learn.

I almost find the idea of a gay gene offensive to be honest. Not in that I don't think it's possible, but in the fact that people hang all their beliefs on it, because the only other option is that people 'choose' to be gay. It's like they are saying "they can't help it" as if there is something wrong with it.

Well put.:)

Songburst

in_hiding79 wrote:

Come to think of it, my little chihuahua might be gay!!

Hahaha. Exactly.

acoustic guy

I was a little worried about tsarting this thread last night.
I am glad we all can have a mature conversation once in a while
I am also glad to see that most of us are all on the same page with this topic.