London Times: Scientists Claim to Have Discovered Gay DNA

[Liza's Headband]

Posted: 2/18/14 at 3:59pm

A blurb from the London Times via GayGuys.com:

New studies have found research suggesting that genes play a large part in determining the sexual orientation of men. 30 – 40% as a matter of fact, says scientists. According to the data, environmental forces such as hormones in the womb play a more important role than previously thought after testing 409 gay brothers and their heterosexual relatives.

The studies confirmed that a region previously linked to male sexuality on the X chromosome is more likely to be shared by gay pairs of brothers than siblings who do not have homosexuality in common. A second genetic region, chromosome 8, also appears to increase the chances of a man being gay. Henceforth, these two chromosomes might be a deciding factor on whether a man is gay or not.



MORE HERE Updated On: 2/18/14 at 03:59 PM

[Addison D.]

Posted: 2/18/14 at 4:13pm

I can direct them to a TON of it over at the old David Barton steam room.

Updated On: 2/18/14 at 04:13 PM

[CarlosAlberto]

Posted: 2/18/14 at 4:22pm

^ L M F P R A O ! ! ! !

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 2/18/14 at 4:29pm

We have always known it's NOT a "choice"

Have we always known this? Is it really significant? Is this like the article that shows a direct relation between going to the dentist and getting terminal cancer?

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 2/18/14 at 4:32pm

We have always known it's NOT a "choice," but more and more scientific evidence to support our viewpoint is coming out.

Yeah. I know you're new here but a good rule of thumb is to speak for yourself. Over the years there have been many discussions about this here and believe me, "we" are not unanimous on this issue.

And remember, the thing about finding "causes" is the search for the "cure".

[ErikJ972]

Posted: 2/18/14 at 4:35pm

"And remember, the thing about finding "causes" is the search for the "cure"."

Right. The thought of prenatal testing for a "gay" gene is disturbing.

[Liza's Headband]

Posted: 2/18/14 at 4:39pm

It is now wiped clean so you feel more comfortable, Namo. Have I appeased?

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 2/18/14 at 4:41pm

More than one of us pointed this out in this thread.

[CarlosAlberto]

Posted: 2/18/14 at 4:42pm

You two need to just get a room already.

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 2/18/14 at 4:44pm

I don't even know what you're talking about.

[SNAFU]

Posted: 2/18/14 at 4:45pm

Articles like this disturb me. "The look for the cure" is in fact the case. Since I don't think being gay is an illness or in this case a genetic defect, there is nothing to cure me of.

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 2/18/14 at 4:46pm

Well, you know, the "I was born this way, how can you say it's a CHOICE?" crowd inevitably plays right into the "Pity us, it's a birth defect" narrative.

[SonofRobbieJ]

Posted: 2/18/14 at 4:48pm

^ And what has ALWAYS chapped my ass is that we hear all the sh*t-talk from people who are religious...which is so very much a choice that I marvel at the hypocrisy of it all.

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 2/18/14 at 4:52pm

Word.

[HorseTears]

Posted: 2/18/14 at 4:53pm

I'm a bit confused because I think part of the OP was removed. Namo, I'm probably missing the subtleties of this discussion, but you're not suggesting that one's sexual orientation is a matter of choice, are you?

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 2/18/14 at 4:57pm

What was removed is the italic part in my first post in this thread…

And I am saying it doesn't matter if it is a choice or not and if some people DO make a conscious decision about their sexual orientation does that mean… what, exactly? They don't deserve equal treatment because they chose something rather than are afflicted by it?

[Liza's Headband]

Posted: 2/18/14 at 5:01pm

Updated On: 2/18/14 at 05:01 PM

[SonofRobbieJ]

Posted: 2/18/14 at 5:08pm

'We have always known it's NOT a "choice"'

There have been many, many discussions on this board about the concept of 'choice' when it comes to sexuality and why, in the end, it's actually a bad place from which to argue for equality. You did come out guns blazing about how we all know it's not a choice, and that's putting words in people's mouths.

For me, my feelings for other men are inherent. I don't know why I am sexually and emotionally attracted to men...and I don't care. It just is. And if I had, at some point, made the choice to be with men, I still think that choice should be recognized as a legitimate way to express one's self and live one's life. Religion, which is absolutely a choice, is protected as a deeply personal expression of self. I don't need a gene to be found to let me know that my orientation is the same.

Updated On: 2/18/14 at 05:08 PM

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 2/18/14 at 5:10pm

I am not eager to rake certain members over the coals, it's just that this is a topic that has been intricately discussed here by all sorts of people with all sorts of points of view. But since this all happened before the date that sits beneath your current screen name, you have no way of knowing that the sweeping generalization you wrote is incorrect. You didn't write that you believe it isn't a choice, you wrote that "we all know" it isn't. Either you're being willfully obtuse or, well, I hope that's what you're being because if you can't see the difference between what you wrote and what you say you wrote, I'm afraid I can't help you.

[HorseTears]

Posted: 2/18/14 at 5:16pm

Namo, I promise I'm not trying to be confrontational, but I'm still confused. Is there some peer reviewed study that demonstrates that sexual orientation can be chosen? If not, what are we leaving room for here? People who claim they have chosen their sexual orientation? Why are we talking in hypotheticals?

I would agree that if it was possible to choose one's sexual orientation, then, no, we should not treat people differently regardless of whether they were born with that orientation or chose it later in life. And I don't believe anyone in this thread was suggesting that.

I also believe that if was possible for people to fly and shoot laser beams out of their eyes that we shouldn't discriminate against them, either, but you know, we could make a list of "ifs" until midnight.

Updated On: 2/18/14 at 05:16 PM

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 2/18/14 at 5:19pm

I know some women who feel they made a conscious decision to be with other women later in their lives. It's not hypothetical, in the way that every theory about human sexuality is.

And, I love you Horse Tears, but maybe if I put it in all caps it will be clearer? WHAT I WAS SAYING WAS THAT "WE" ALL DON'T KNOW IT'S GENETIC!


PS Also, this doesn't have to all be addressed to me, as if I am an outlying contrarian in this thread. Others have expressed dissatisfaction with the original post so maybe they might better express themselves in follow-up questions than I seem to be able to do.

Updated On: 2/18/14 at 05:19 PM

[Liza's Headband]

Posted: 2/18/14 at 5:25pm

It is genetic, as studies are showing, but it doesn't mean others can't make the conscious CHOICE who were not born as homosexuals. My statement about "We" and "Choice" was referring to the claim by (most) Christians that we are not born as homosexuals and can choose who we love. That's simply not true for many homosexuals.

ETA: Including myself. I was born this way and it wasn't choice even if the bible thumpers tell me otherwise. Updated On: 2/18/14 at 05:25 PM

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 2/18/14 at 5:39pm

So you're saying there's genetic gays and choosing gays. And this adds up to: "It is genetic"?

[Liza's Headband]

Posted: 2/18/14 at 5:44pm

Namo. Did you choose to be gay or do you feel you were always gay?

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 2/18/14 at 5:52pm

My point of discussion isn't about my circumstance. However, the fact that you are putting it this way to me indicates that you seem to think that your specific experience is so generalizable that it is common knowledge that "we all know" to be true. Because that's what you know to be true how can ANYBODY else have a different experience than you? And how can you "always knowing" something about yourself mean ANYTHING OTHER than sexuality is genetically pre-determined?

Perhaps you should pose some of your questions to others in this thread who disagreed with your primary assertion.

Updated On: 2/18/14 at 05:52 PM