Is it genetic? What do you think?

[Georgie_Girl]

Do you think being lesbian/gay/bi runs in families? I ask because I know a brother and sister who are both gay, and I'm bi, my brother's gay and my cousin's bi as well. So what do you all think? :)

[swimmergirl]

I wonder the same thing i am lesbian i got a cousin who is lesbian as well and got a third cousin who is gay

[KevsBi]

Thats a darn good question...homosexuality has been around for centuries but it's more open now because in todays society we are more free to express ourselves.

[codybear3]

Don't know if its genetics, but I have a sister who is also Bi... :paw::paw:

[shybipinay]

Opportunity Strikes! We've been looking for an opportunity to express this and here it is in this thread.

My observations over the years say to me that a combination of factors work to make us what we are. Genetics is certainly a top 5 answer. There's no question Gay, lesbian, bi people have been around for all time. That alone says genetics.

There is also definitely more exposure, understanding and in some cases, tolerance and acceptance of all those other than heterosexual. Like any news story theme receiveing wide spread exposure, it suddenly seems like we are all bi, gay and lesbian to a degree.

Third, if we are to accept that we are animals and part of the ecosystem and food chain as a whole, and we know that certain plants produce both sex organs and reproduce themselves (marijuana being just one example), and if there are no female dolphins in the pod, a male dolphin is capable of having its own baby, then why wouldn't there be bi, gay and lesbian folks around the world? That's got to be perfectly normal based upon the exisitence of the other examples. We would be far to ego centric and narrow minded to consider otherwise. We are not exclusive nor are our traits.

I think we do our Creator a great injustice if we fail to recognize that He/She had a very precise plan by making this planet the way it is. All of us, regardless of sexual orientation are vital to the longevity of the planet and our opwn species. That precise plan includes evolution and all the various forms in which it manifests itself including the LGBT people.

I feel that accepting the above makes it easy to understand why the LGBT people exist and it then all makes sense and I'm content to be bi.

Fourth - here's the biggy! Many recent news articles are pointing to the impurities in our water supply, food supply and soil, etc. Prescription drugs, growth hormones, etc. are becoming more and more prevelent in our system. Those chemicals and hormones, etc. have to be having an effect on our bodies and indeed our sexual orientation. It is not implausible that they are causing increased urges towards bi sex and same sex situations.

I've often wondered why there are so many bi-men in their 40's, myself included. I never thought of myself as bi prior to my 40's and never had urges to have sex with another man until my 40's. So, what kicked that desire into the "on" position for me and so many others?

So, there's some thoughts to chew on and rebuttle to. We're looking forward to reading future replies on this topic.

[FalconAngel]

Actually, there is a genetic component to sexuality. That has been known fro quite a few years.

It is not always the case in a person's sexuality, but it is there and does have an effect.

[AlternatingRed]

Well families I have known to have one non-hetro children, most have more than one. My family of four brothers and sisters I am bi and my brother is gay. But I know of families where the percentage is higher. One family in particular, that are close friends, there are three brothers and sisters, the boy is gay, one of the girls is a lesbian and the other girl is bi. Another family I know well, the mother and two daughters are all bisexual. Seems a little too coincidental to me.

[bityme]

I think that it's just a matter of liking everything that's in the jeans. LOL

[JP1986UM]

Its not as simple as its a single gene or its a series of genes in order, its more like what proteins are made from the genes that may affect the limbic system to influence hormonal control over it and influence its components.

I know that's a pretty simple explanation and I'll just waltz out leaving you to scratch your heads.....:bigrin:

[Realist]

As far as I know, I'm the only bisexual in my family. My dad's half brother's daughter, who was my age, was gay. But, like me, if there is one, they're probably totally in the closet. I knew a girl who was from a family of 13 sisters and as far as I know, one sister was the only bi one in the bunch. Who knows what causes us to be who we are? Might be interesting to find out...or scary!

[M. Wolfe]

It's a fact certain families are male-non-heterosexuality prone. These same families often curiously have hyper fertile females. So go figure.

There is some genetic component, which is poorly understood at this time, but what seems to be most important is the conditions inside the mother during early development. The more older brothers a guy has, the greater the chance he will be gay, this is true even if he is not raised with his brothers. It's thought that there are chemicals produced by the y chromosome that are foreign to the mother. These chemicals she becomes more and more strongly immune with each male child she has thereby suppressing those chemical in the child.

However what happens to bi women and lesbians is still a head scratcher.

[Realist]

I've often wondered if early experiences have anything to do with a person's sexual proclivity? I was seduced at an early age, before I had the maturity, or knowledge of how one person functions sexually, emotionally and even spiritually with another. I was ill-prepared for the surge of desire and need that followed my indoctrination. Of course, it's a moot question, now, but it has entered my mind if that hadn't happened to me, I've asked myself if would I have still been bisexual, or not?

[Falke]

I think it is. I have two cousins *double cousins* who are gay (bro and sis) and I am bi. As has been said before, its abit more than a coincidence.

[IanBorthwick]

Somewhere on here there was a post many years back about a study that was commencing about Bisexuality. Apparently there had been a discovery about bisexuality being the father's trait passed in a XY combo where the Y has a varying length of extra chromosomes that make it look like it's almost an X. The length determining the gender of the child.

As for gay men, but I do n;t know if this is to do with lesbian women, the mother passes the marker in the second X chromosome in the 22nd or 24th pairing if I recall rightly.

But anyway you stare at it, from womb to tomb we are as god/nature made us.

[hudson9]

Science is beginning to understand that many aspects of human nature are a complex interaction of genetics & environment. Some species, such as certain amphibians, can react to "herd" stresses -- when there is a lack of females in the population, some "genetic" males develop as females.

Even in humans, studies are now showing that the environment in utero can affect the way a fetus develops -- levels of various hormones in the mother can affect the way genes are expressed at critical stages of development.

While all of this may be scientifically fascinating, from a sociological standpoint, we must be careful that we don't make the "social Darwinism" mistake, when theories about natural selection crept into social theory, and lead to ideas like "weaker" cultures or societies are supposed to be overwhelmed by "stronger" cultures/societies, or if a culture or ethnic group "died out" they were supposed to -- it's just natural selection(!). Pretty ugly stuff.

What I'm alluding to is the ideas that:
- if "gay-ness/bi-ness" is genetic, maybe we can "cure" it or "screen" for it with genetic engineering
- if it's environmental, we can control to prevent it ("Don't play w/ dolls, Timmy! -- play football!!")
- if it "comes on" later in life, it must not be "genetic" -- it must be a "choice," therefore, it's a moral failing!
...etc, etc. ...

As a society/culture, we need to stop worrying about where it "comes from" and just accept that it is. What I mean is -- we can study where eye color or height come from, but we don't worry about whether people are "supposed" to have blue or brown eyes, or be 5'-6" vs. 6'-2".

To put it another way, "why" and "what" are different, and should be unrelated, questions.

[MetaSexual2]

Absolutely Hudson on the simple acceptance of any form of sexuality. People should be left to explore whatever direction their desires take them as long as it isn't harming someone else. Where it comes from should be immaterial to its acceptance.

Its very sad that what is known as "social Darwinism" is called that, as that concept is based on fundamental misunderstanding of Darwin's ideas. Biological evolution isn't just about competition, its also produces highly symbiotic and deep webs of cooperation. I've always felt that the open expression of a variety of sexualities is a marker of a maturing society, and is authentic cultural and biological evolution (or Darwinism) in action.

As to the OP, there is undoubtedly a genetic component, the only question is how much it contributes to adult behaviour.

[bityme]

A 2007 study suggests that there is a distinct possibility of the existence of a "gay gene" which might also account for bisexuality.

http://www.geneticarchaeology.com/research/The_Genetics_of_Bisexuality.asp

[elian]

I also think it is probably a combination of all factors. Curiously I wonder at the idea of some families just being more open to sexual expression. I still think you love who you love, the only CHOICE seems to be whether or not you can live with being miserable denying a part of who you truly are.

[robbie09]

I've often wondered why there are so many bi-men in their 40's, myself included. I never thought of myself as bi prior to my 40's and never had urges to have sex with another man until my 40's. So, what kicked that desire into the "on" position for me and so many others?



I am in the same boat and wonder the same thing.

I think in my case that the bisexual potential was always there ie the genetic factor. There was however environmental factors that kicked the desire into the on position.

[jem_is_bi]

I am in the same boat and wonder the same thing.

I think in my case that the bisexual potential was always there ie the genetic factor. There was however environmental factors that kicked the desire into the on position.

I am the only bisexual that I know of in my family. I have been bisexual for as long as I can remember knowing anything about sex. So that leaves genes and mother/womb/fetus interactions as major factors that likely contributed to my bisexual orientation. However, I am sure a lot else about me that is different than my brothers was determined by the same factors.

[gamer23]

one theory that has unbeleivably gotten serious consideration is that gay and lesbian people are genetically inferior and therefore will not reproduce. its some sort of sick natural selection that i cannot beleive has gotten so much support.:mad::banghead::disgust:

[bityme]

one theory that has unbeleivably gotten serious consideration is that gay and lesbian people are genetically inferior and therefore will not reproduce. its some sort of sick natural selection that i cannot beleive has gotten so much support.:mad::banghead::disgust:

If that were the case, homosexuality and bisexuality would have died out long ago. There is nothing to support this theory.

[Lea VanBuren]

A guy I once dated had an uncle who was gay. He never admitted it but everyone else knew he was. After he died (young and unhappy) his sister came out of the closet. His other sister is currently married to a man but everyone thought she was gay for a long time.

Just from observing this situation and others similar to it, I've come to the conclusion that sexual preference can be genetic but isn't always. I'm sure there are a lot of other factors that go into it as well. I find it funny that some people take offense at the theory of sexual preference being genetic though. There are a lot of things that are genetic - hair on knuckles, eye color, the ability to taste certain things - that no one considers an illness or defect. It always pisses me off when people get offended by the suggestion that sexual preferences might be genetic. Just because someone suggests this doesn't mean that they're saying all gay/bi people are ill!

Oh, it also pisses me off when people suggest that sexual preference is genetic for one gender and a choice for the other. In my experience, most lesbians don't choose to like women exclusively, that's just what they prefer.

Sorry, I know that was a bit off topic but it's been bothering me for a while so I thought I'd rant a little.

[Lea VanBuren]

Oh, and I'm not saying that sexual preference can't or shouldn't be a choice. I've heard of people choosing to be gay and they're perfectly happy and healthy.

Just didn't want to offend anyone out there.

[AlternatingRed]

And another thing...

I have always known I was attracted to everyone on the planet, and came out with a resounding crash when I was 15.

But I notice a very large number of bisexual women suddenly experimenting from within a long term marriage when they are 35-40.

I am curious. Why does this happen? Are these like the previous post said, recent feelings, or suppressed feelings being released or what?


:bibounce:

[evilpanda]

i am the ONLY one in both sides of my family.

[gamer23]

If that were the case, homosexuality and bisexuality would have died out long ago. There is nothing to support this theory.

i know there is nothing to support it, hence my surprise and disgust.

[JP1986UM]

I am the only one in my family that I know of. My wife has a brother that I am sure is gay or bisexual at least. Never married, only had dogs, fill in the blanks. You'd have to know more, but I think he's more my style....

[Mr. Suck]

Bisexuality in my case is genetic. I have other male relatives who are bisexual and we can trace this back for decades. I know of other families where the men were bisexual or gay and they also could trace this back for decades.

[zigzig]

I'm the only bisexual in my family. Never heard of gays as well in my family. Maybe for some families it is a recessive gene, who pops up rare, and for some more dominant?

[elian]

There are some people who are studying genetics, biology, neurology trying to figure that out, apparently they have now started to use live imaging scans to see how brains are shaped and how they react to certain stimuli. The problem I have with a pure biological or neurological perspective is they inevitably describe things in very clinical terms as some "abnormality" or "mistake". It is true that at times biological processes in the body can go haywire. Certain hormones or lack thereof affect development at a young age. I still object to labelling a whole human being as a "mistake".

The truth is that right now most things are just hypothesis and theory - a shot in the dark. Up until this decade I don't think people were very willing to be out and open about alternative sexuality.

Which is why I always posit my question - if scientists studying DNA found a "kill switch" that could terminate a segment of the population - should we use it? How many lifetimes worth of experience do you think I would have to live to know the "right" answer to that question?