Homosexuality is a Choice

Thanks, TMC. My case:A. Homosexuality in AnimalsNumerous animal species display homosexual orientations [1, 2] Some great examples include:Dolphins"Dolphins have a position on the top tier of animal intelligence, and are comparable to both chimpanzees and humans in cognitive and social abilities. Great diversity exists in dolphin societies as well, and numerous same-sex liaisons have been identified. In one incredible case, a pair of gay dolphins enjoyed a seventeen year relationship, while researchers identified a whole pod of dolphins--composed entirely of males--whose members were certainly not lacking in romantic experiences. It has become clear that dolphin relationships are extremely strong, regardless of the specific orientation...Many other dolphins have been found to be bisexual, enjoying passionate contact among [both sexes]." [2]Bonobos"Bonobos, which resemble miniature chimpanzees, are not only among the world's most intelligent animals but are in fact humanity"s closest relative...They're famous for using a language of love, rather than a language of aggression, to resolve problems and communicate with each other. Since many of the conflicts occur between two males or between two females, homosexual bonding is a frequent occurrence among these amorous apes. Sexual encounters may serve to increase social standing among females...but it also occurs among males, who may take a more 'play fight'-based approach." [2]Rams"Scientific studies have shown that up to an incredible eight percent of male sheep may form exclusively male-to-male pair bonds, forsaking all contact with the female ewes...These same sex couples do not mate, but they act as a couple in every other way throughout their lives. The homosexual herds stand out as an example of diverse relationship status among animals." [2]And, surprisingly, Dragonflies"Investigations have revealed a surprisingly high frequency of matings between same-sex dragonflies. Understanding the reasons for same gender pairings among such small invertebrates is challenging, and the interactions are poorly understood even today. Environmental chemistry and the unavailability of partners may be one factor influencing dragonfly mating behavior." [2]Since animals lack the rationality required to make higher-order decisions, they did not choose to be lesbian or gay, but were born that way or driven to such action by instinct. In other words, they had no choice in the outcome of their sexuality.B. Behavioral AnalysisLearned behavior can be untaught. [3] Something that is innate cannot be untaught. For example, no psychologist could teach me to turn my blues eye brown or teach me how to turn my white skin chocolate. In this same way, homosexuality cannot be untaught. The APA, America's premier psychological association, has found that homosexuality cannot be "cured" and cannot be undone via therapy. [4] Other psychological experts concur. [5, 6] Even groups that have tried to unteach homosexuality have acknowledged their failures [7] and some studies supporting homosexuality as a choice retain only dubious credibility at best. [8] Therefore, people don't choose orientation.In fact, "since the 1970s, the consensus of the behavioral and social sciences and the health and mental health professions globally is that homosexuality is a normal variation of human sexual orientation...Consequently, while some still believe homosexuality is a mental disorder, the current research and clinical literature demonstrate that same-sex sexual and romantic attractions, feelings, and behaviors are normal and positive variations of human sexuality, reflecting the official positions of the American Psychiatric Association and the American Psychological Association." [9] Even previously unpublished studies conducted by the military in WWII--a time of pronounced discrimination and stigmatization regarding the LGBTQ community, found that "They were 'conscientious, reliable, well-integrated and abounding in emotional feeling and sincerity.' In general, 'the homosexual leads a useful productive life, conforming with all dictates of the community, except its sexual requirements" and was "neither a burden nor a detriment to society.'" [10]C. BiologyIf something is caused biologically, such as the color of my hair, it is not a choice. "Researchers from UC Santa Barbara and Uppsala University found a biological basis for same-sex attraction, locating the origins of homosexuality in the womb. Epi-marks, the genetic switches that regulate how our genes express themselves, can be passed down from mother to son or father to daughter while the fetuses gestate, the researchers found, adding that certain 'sexually antagonistic' epi-marks may also be involved." [11]Recently, a twin study examining more than 7,500 twins made the following conclusion: "Biometric modeling revealed that, in men, genetic effects explained .34–.39 of the variance [of sexual orientation], the shared environment .00, and the individual-specific environment .61–.66 of the variance. Corresponding estimates among women were .18–.19 for genetic factors, .16–.17 for shared environmental, and .64–.66 for unique environmental factors..The results are consistent with moderate, primarily genetic, familial effects, and moderate to large effects of the nonshared environment (social and biological) on same-sex sexual behavior. [12]Besides twin studies, "chromosome linkage studies of sexual orientation have indicated the presence of multiple contributing genetic factors throughout the genome...Hamer et al. found that the gay men had more gay male uncles and cousins on the maternal side of the family than on the paternal side. Gay brothers who showed this maternal pedigree were then tested for X chromosome linkage, using twenty-two markers on the X chromosome to test for similar alleles. In another finding, thirty-three of the forty sibling pairs tested were found to have similar alleles in the distal region of Xq28, which was significantly higher than the expected rates of 50% for fraternal brothers." [12]Another study of interest regards the physical arousal of homosexuals in response to pheromones. "Gay and straight men respond differently to two odors that are believed to be involved in sexual arousal. The research showed that when both heterosexual women...and gay men are exposed to a testosterone derivative found in men's sweat, a region in the hypothalamus is activated. Heterosexual men, on the other hand, have a similar response to an estrogen-like compound found in women's urine. The conclusion is that sexual attraction...operates similarly on a biological level." [12]Finally differences in brain structure and even birth order have all been linked to homosexuality [12], suggesting possible biological roots. "The likelihood of being gay increases by about 33 percent with each additional older brother. From these statistics, researchers calculate that about 15 to 30 percent of gay men have the fraternal birth order effect to thank for their homosexuality...One of the leading explanations is called the maternal immunization hypothesis...When a woman is pregnant with a male fetus, her body is exposed to a male-specific antigen, some molecule that normally turns the fetus heterosexual. The woman’s immune system produces antibodies to fight this foreign antigen. With enough antibodies, the antigen will be neutralized and no longer capable of making the fetus straight. These antibodies linger in the mother’s body long after pregnancy, and so when a woman has a second son, or a third or fourth, an army of antibodies is lying in wait to zap the chemicals that would normally make him heterosexual." [13]Regarding brain difference, "The hypothalamus is the portion of the human brain directly related to sexual drive and function. In the homosexual brains examined, a small portion of the hypothalamus, termed the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN), was found to be twice the size of its heterosexual counterpart." [14]D. ConclusionTo conclude, I can do no better than to quote the American College of Pediatrics: "You are normal. Homosexuality is not a mental disorder. All of the major medical organizations, including The American Psychiatric Association, The American Psychological Association, and the American Academy of Pediatrics agree that homosexuality is not an illness or disorder, but a form of sexual expression. No one knows what causes a person to be gay, bisexual, or straight. There probably are a number of factors. Some may be biological. Others may be psychological…The fact is, you do not choose to be gay, bisexual, or straight." [9]E. Sources1 - http://en.wikipedia.org...2 - http://listverse.com...3 - http://www.mentalhelp.net...4 - http://www.sgn.org...5 - http://www.mens-wellbeing.com...6 - http://communities.washingtontimes.com...7 - http://www.speroforum.com...8 - http://www.scientificamerican.com...9 - http://en.wikipedia.org...10 - http://psychology.ucdavis.edu...11 - http://news.yahoo.com...12 - http://en.wikipedia.org...13 - http://www.slate.com...14 - http://allpsych.com...