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Is being gay genetic or a decision?

Being gay is something you choose to do

Ben Cerasi

Issue date: 10/10/08 Section: Opinion
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Media Credit: Nadia Khalik

In recent years, the question has been applied to whether being gay is genetic or a choice. It is not a light topic. It has caused a great deal of debates in politics, faith and science.
The evidence still seems to point out that there isn't an answer. In 1991, genetic researcher Simon LeVay, compared the brains of heterosexual men and women and to the brains of homosexual men. In his reports he found that there was a slight difference in the Interstitial Nucleus of the Anterior Hypothalamus (INAH3) in homosexual men and straight men. The end results were not conclusive enough to support the genetic theory.
Critics of the report also claim that brain patterns change over the years, which also points to the behavior and outside influences. LeVay admitted in an interview in 1994, "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." Since then, there have been numerous attempts to isolate and find a genetic cause for being homosexual, but there still isn't any conclusive evidence to be found which supports that claim.
To put it simply, being gay is a choice. It may not be an easy one, such as deciding what brand of shoes to wear or what movie to see, but it is still a choice. For example, no person is born knowing if they prefer whole milk or non-fat, it's through experience and experimentation that individuals discover their preferences. Opinions about the laws and morality of homosexuality will always be waged, but when it comes to genetics, it can be said that the case is closed.
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Viewing Comments 1 - 5 of 6

Ben

posted 10/10/08 @ 11:47 PM PST

Your information is from the 90's and it all said there is no conclusive evidence at that time that supports the theory that homosexuality is genetic. (Continued…)

(1 reply)   Details   Reply to this comment

dork

posted 10/12/08 @ 7:31 AM PST

if the evidence were conclusive this would be news, not opinion

Kelly

posted 10/13/08 @ 11:59 AM PST

You still need evidence that is relevant to support your opinion and persuade people to agree with your views. Duh. That's what debating is all about and opinion writing is similar. (Continued…)

kristine Kreidler

posted 10/21/08 @ 8:29 PM PST

Wow this is bad science/logic.

marry

posted 12/30/08 @ 7:16 PM PST

How is being gay a choice if it is then i guess people chose to be straight then.

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