Is Homosexuality Biological?

“Homosexuality Symbols” by Bazi is licensed under CC BY 3.0

There are lots of talk and research about if people are born gay or not. It was found that male gayness is a strongly genetic influenced trait. They have not been able to find which gene specifically but that it is located on the X chromosome. This study was done by Camperio Diani and his colleagues and it was found that males get this single X chromosome from their mother.

Diani and his colleagues found that with the genes in the X chromosome he is more likely to be gay and his mother and female relatives have an effect. It was found that the same genes that induce gayness in males induces the fecundity or fertility in the male’s mother and her female relatives. These females who contain X chromosome gene may not be gay herself but can pass it on to future sons. Mothers and aunts of gay men are “luckier” than those of straight men. They are said to be more fertile, have fewer complications with pregnancy and gynecological disorders, are more extroverted, happier, funnier, and more relaxed as well as fewer family problems. By attracting and choosing from the “best males” allows the women to reproduce more offspring. [Why are Men Gay?]

From a similar article, I found that lesbianism is at least 25 percent genetic. This along with other facts was found in a study done in 2011 on twins in the United Kingdom. They also found that identical twins were more likely to both be lesbians than fraternal twins who only share 50% of their DNA. This proved that genes truly matter. [Why are Women Lesbians?]

Female sexual orientation is partly influenced by levels of exposure to the male sex hormone androgen. It is said that the more exposure a female has the more gender nonconforming she is earlier in life as well as same-sex orientation later on in life. A study published in the Journal of Sexual Medicine reported that “10 to 12 percent of male and female children who feel discomfort with their gender go on to identify as gay or lesbian as adults.” The same study also found that only 1 or 2 percent of children who are comfortable with their gender identity are gay or lesbian later in life.

Erotic plasticity is when one’s sex drive can be changed by cultural or social factors. Women have a greater erotic plasticity when compared to men whose sexuality is often fixed from puberty on. Their sexual orientation can be altered by positive or negative experiences and is intensified by feelings of love and attachment. They are more likely to explore their sexuality late and abruptly usually after a heterosexual marriage. One reasoning for women’s fluidity sexually is that they are sexually aroused by images of both men and women where men are usually only aroused by their preferred sex.

The questions should no longer be”Why are men gay? Why are women Lesbians?” but instead “Why is female sexuality so fluid compared to male?”