What determines sexual orientation - bobld
Despite frequent claims in the tabloid press no gene "for" homosexuality has been found. It is likely that a combination of genes are involved in sexual development but a more important influence seems to be developmental rather than genetic. A reduction of testosterone in the womb seems to increase the likelihood of a boy becoming a gay man.
I think it was a misstep when the gay rights movement began promoting a "born this way" message. It opens up the possibility of a "cure" or even of a pregnancy test for a "gay fetus" and the option of an abortion.
Sexuality is on a spectrum. At one end - perhaps a majority - are men who have never had any feeling of sexual attraction towards other men, and at the other end are men who have no attraction to women. According The Williams Institute around 3.5% of the population identify as gay, lesbian or bisexual. Of these, bisexuals comprise a slight majority. In between these are a substantially bigger group who report any lifetime same-sex sexual behavior and any same-sex sexual attraction.
That leaves only around 1.7% of the population who exclusively desire same-sex relationships. For everybody else on the LGBT spectrum, same-sex relationships are a choice. So what? Why should consenting adults not choose who they have sex with?
I also agree with Simon that the portrayal of gay relationships in the media is massively out of proportion to the real world. I genuinely don't care who anybody else is having sex with, but like a lot of heterosexual men I feel the same way about seeing a gay kiss as I feel about watching contestants eat sheep's eyes on a popular UK game show. The reasons for that are probably rooted in evolutionary psychology. I'm not going to apologise for that and I also would not expect gay men to refrain from public displays of affection just because of my feelings.
