Homosexuality not genetic - its epigenetic (says article)

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Interesting little article I just read.

http://www.usnews.com/news/articles/201 ... le-are-gay

Looking forward to a more.. scientific article.. about this. But the concept is there.

If it is epigenetic then literally there could be a way to 'correct' the epigenome should the individual choose to do so.

...and Vice-Versa

I doubt the theory would hold true.

Of gay men, there are very, very masculine gay men...they aren't all stereotypical fairies.

Of lesbian women, many are quite feminine...they aren't all stereotypical butch dykes.

Granted, there may be other factors in play, but as one scientist said on a topic of gay men...it appears that the difference in sexual behavior with homosexual and heterosexual men is practically non-existent except for that one switch that tells them what gender they are attracted to. The scientist said it was puzzling because if somehow a homosexual man's sex drive was flipped to the wrong gender setting, they would expect traditionally feminine behaviors across many issues, but that's not the norm.

This woman is a lesbian and this man is gay. A highly feminine woman can be just as much of a lesbian as a butch can—and a bloke with a testosterone level of a bullshark, can be just as gay as a stereotypical male hairdresser.

Epigenome switches genes on and off...it doesn't have anything to do with the genetics of how the person looks (in the case of determining if gay/lesbian or not).

To me, this little factoid is 100% bull****. Homosexuality is a conscious choice, not a genetic abberration.

Having the hots for one of the same gender is very emotionally driven. It is not a calculated free will thing. On the other hand making plans and taking step to court and bed one of the same gender is a matter of free will insofar as anything can be a matter of free will.

All of us can be held responsible for what we do. Few of us can be held responsible for how we fee.

ruveyn

Still it's hard to deny that most people don't real stop and think "hmm, now do I want to be gay?" Some disposition or course of fate is certainly involved.

Utter nonsense.
When did you decide your sexuality?

Actually, the genes (and now epigenome) sequences for homosexual tendencies have already been identified. They just can't 'test' people yet to see if the gene is expressed (active).

Is it a conscious choice? I don't think so. It is definitely a choice to act on it. Culture shapes our thoughts and does act very strongly to control/suppress one's impulses. You don't see people having sex on the street for a reason though you bet there's more than a dozen people at every street corner quite itching to do each other.

Thats like saying "being autistic is a coscious choice", or "being left handed is a conscious choice". or being a particular race is " a conscious choice".

How did arrive at this conclusion that "homosexuality is a conscious choice"?

They're just furiously wishing they could turn gay; only their rigid moral code is stopping them.

Well, there is this nonsense with gay Boy Scouts in the USA.

There's even a kid who had a sex change (with his parents permission) before he was even a teenager.

This is mind boggling.

While adult gays/lesbians can say they knew they were that way since they were a child, you can't say that as a child.

Lots of young boys and girls go through confusing times growing up. Many question their sexual identity. It takes YEARS of careful self-exploration and introspection to understand why you feel the way you feel and what you want to do about it.

Not every boy who didn't show an interest in girls or had an interest in boys becomes a homosexual. To encourage it by saying, "If you feel that way...." is tantamount to child abuse. Choices about your sexual identity should be made after a lot of careful thought on the matter, and frankly, NOBODY that young has the life experience to make such a choice. People under 25 generally still lack the life experience to make a lot of important life decisions (including marriage). The thought that you should act on your feelings (at a time when hormones are driving your motivations 90% of the time) is simply bad advice.

So, even if there is a genetic causality factor, the individual needs to know that they have the power to choose, and if they choose one option or another, they should have set in their mind WHY they are making that choice. Every choice has consequences, and life is too short to lose years trying to compensate for life choices you rush into for the wrong reasons.

There's a difference between a woman that feels sexually attracted to other women yet suppresses those feelings because she grew up as a 'straight' woman and is now married and does love her hubby and is sexually attracted to him too. Is she lesbian? No, she's bisexual and CHOSE to suppress one sexual orientation.

This is the person that, if there was a medicine to turn off the 'lesbian' sequences in the genome, would probably take it. Best thing is.. if she decides later on she wants it back there should not be a problem taking another medicine to switch it back on.

But, in the case of a little boy that displays gay tendencies the parents could very easily have his epigenome checked and if the 'gay' epigenome is active then they could have it switched off. Since he is on the years that determines his gender identity switching it off basically would remove the source of his identity struggle.

Do note there is a BIG difference between sexual orientation and gender orientation. This boy could very well grow up loving dolls and exhibiting 'effeminate' behavior yet be not attracted to men but to women. The 'gay' gene does not control gender orientation, only sexual orientation. Gender orientation is largely a cultural & personal process.

Many good point. This is why issues of sex and sexuality should never be treated lightly or rushed. It's a complex issue, and while I know teenagers are eager to satisfy urges, parents and society should be teaching them to act with restraint and sobriety because doing what will please you right now is not a smart way to handle life.

Indeed, it most always leads to undesired outcomes and hardships that could have been avoided.

I always thought of it like this:

Homosexuality is genetic.

Culture and Society says its "BAD" and "Evil" and then forces Homosexual people to hide in the closet and live false lives and then (in older standards and instances, as well as currently around the world,) forces them into heterosexual relationships and copulation (If in USA, think of the 1950s). Because of this, the Genes are then expressed across the genome, as it is represented globally. I am not a Homosexual, but I do support their rights and freedoms, just as everyone else is entitled to. I understand what it is like to go through and have to hide your true self for fear of violence and / or ostracization.

I feel my theory also holds well with the Idea of BOTH Natural AND Artificial Selection to a degree, in terms of Evolutionary theory, being that they mutation exists and like all other mutations, has to go through the trial of Is it a beneficial mutation? NORMALLY A beneificial mutation will continue to spread and survive until it is no longer consider a mutation, like Cheetahs getting faster every generation in order to keep up with their prey, who are also getting faster. The issue that arises though, is that Humanities disdain and hatred for anything deemed abnormal such as homosexuality they tried to destroy it and in doing so, it propagated, meaning to a certain degree, that the mutation is successful, but, only artificially, due to Societal Standards


I do not mean to harm or offend anyone with my words, It's just a theory, and I am NOT a homophobe.
What do you guys think?