I don't know if this has been asked on here before or not, but is it possible for a fetus to have homosexual tendencies? Some friends and I were having a debate on this yeterday. What are your opinions?

Wtf?

Do you get the question?

Not sure, hence the WTF.

Okay, you know how there's so much controversy today about wether gay people are literally born gay or not? I was having a debate with some friends on if this homosexuality can start as early as when the homosexual person is still a fetus.

Okay, you know how there's so much controversy today about wether gay people are literally born gay or not? I was having a debate with some friends on if this homosexuality can start as early as when the homosexual person is still a fetus.
Ok, thank you.

Having a daughter who is gay, I had thoughts when she was 4 that she may be gay. You will find many people who are anti-gay who will state there is no such thing. That homosexuals "choose" to be gay. I can't speak for those who do seem to be bi-sexual and/or find pleasure with both sexes merely because they are curious or want to see what it is like. I am talking abt those who are born gay, like my daughter. She has been asked that question by doctors and therapists and her response has been the same. She always felt like she was different. Like she should have been born a boy. And sometimes she wishes she was. I hear so many people tell her how beautiful she is and she must "have a lot of boyfriends" to which she grimaces and makes all kinds of faces. I tell her how people don't know she is gay, so just take it in stride.

I can only speak from my experience and to answer your question, I feel that people are destined from birth to grown up and either be heterosexual or homosexual. Just like we are destined from conception to either be a boy or girl, same thing with one's sexual preference.

Look, I know NOTHING about medicine/psychiatry. Just out curiosity, however, I googled "homosexuality foetus", and immediately got links to a number of refereed papers in the technical literature (one link (http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=ArticleURL&_udi=B6V9F-4619GBX-1&_user=10&_rdoc=1&_fmt=&_orig=search&_sort=d&view=c&_acct=C000050221&_version=1&_urlVersion=0&_userid=10&md5=9fc9cafdf8cd3de552ec71215184f087), if anyone knows enough fully to understand what they are saying :) ) It does appear, however, that at least some recent research supports Irene's maternal instinct that people are conceived gay.

(Oops, I know the last sentence about "maternal instinct" reads funny. But I meant it in the nicest way possible :) )

"Genetic evidence suggests a heritable component and putative gene loci on the X chromosome. Homosexuality may have evolved to promote same sex affiliation through a conserved neurodevelopmental mechanism. Recent findings suggest this mechanism involves atypical neurohormonal differentiation of the brain." Uh, okay.... :lol:

Again...^^^^^ WTF??? :lol: j/k

Again...^^^^^ WTF??? :lol: j/k

the eggheads I linked to say you're probably right :lol:

All i can do is speak for myself and, without anyone ever telling me that i should be one way or the other, I knew from the time that I was old enough to know what a girl WAS, that i was "straight"; so why wouldnt it be the same for someone who wasnt?

All i can do is speak for myself and, without anyone ever telling me that i should be one way of the other, I knew from the time that I was old enough to know what a girl WAS, that i was "straight"; so why wouldnt it be the same for someone who wasnt?

I, conversely, just before puberty wondered whether I was gay or not, but then began noticing women with a vengeance. :)

Both of you gentlemen put it so well. Bingo!!!! :thumbsup:

I, conversely, just before puberty wondered whether I was gay or not, but then began noticing women with a vengeance. :)
Well, its probably different for different people...as far as science goes, many years ago, i watched a show about sexual behavior in mice......they took several male mice and put them together with no females, and NOTHING happened; however, when certain of the male mice in the cage were injected with estrogen (female hormone) well, lets just say they stopped being celebate.....and the same thing happened to the female mice injected with testosterone (male hormone); establishing at least a link with hormonal imbalances; though it isnt a sure thing that hormones are the ONLY factor.

I believe we are born who we are, what we are. Girl, boy...homosexual, heterosexual. If you were able to make the choice, I think homosexuals who had it so rough many years ago would've made the choice to be heterosexual. So yes, I believe you are born that way.:)

I believe we are born who we are, what we are. Girl, boy...homosexual, heterosexual. If you were able to make the choice, I think homosexuals who had it so rough many years ago would've made the choice to be heterosexual. So yes, I believe you are born that way.:)
Well said Kelly, i didnt "choose" to be straight, i just AM! :cow: yupyup!

Guys, you are misunderstanding my question. I fully agree that one is BORN gay. I know this for a fact. I am lesbian and never chose to be. I was asking can a FETUS be gay? At what point in fetal developement do the gay tendencies start?

Guys, you are misunderstanding my question. I fully agree that one is BORN gay. I know this for a fact. I am lesbian and never chose to be. I was asking can a FETUS be gay? At what point in fetal developement do the gay tendencies start?
probs something about when the sex hormones are created/released or whatever I'm not a bio person...but probably something like that. I watched something on tv once about something in the genes or DNA that when you were gay something was shorter or longer depending on if you were a boy or girl. :grr: I dunno. Something like that. I tried. :lol:

Guys, you are misunderstanding my question. I fully agree that one is BORN gay. I know this for a fact. I am lesbian and never chose to be. I was asking can a FETUS be gay? At what point in fetal developement do the gay tendencies start?
If it's listening to techno and wearing ass-less chaps during an ultrasound?

Seriously, though, I don't know that a FETUS could be gay, I don't think they've developed the capability of thought yet to analzye such things. I don't think one can realize his or her sexuality until they start to hit puberty and start noticing girls/boys.

Guys, you are misunderstanding my question. I fully agree that one is BORN gay. I know this for a fact. I am lesbian and never chose to be. I was asking can a FETUS be gay? At what point in fetal developement do the gay tendencies start?

Are you asking when does the gay behavior start? Well, since behavior is probably determined by an individual's response to external stimuli in light of his or her knowledge and genes, I suppose the gay behavior can only start when the person knows that both girls and boys exist, and sees enough of them around to ... well, to do something. In other words, even if homosexuality is genetic, I imagine you can't act gay in the womb.

Seriously, though, I don't know that a FETUS could be gay, I don't think they've developed the capability of thought yet to analzye such things. I don't think one can realize his or her sexuality until they start to hit puberty and start noticing girls/boys.

I agree with you, except I suppose the behavior could start even before puberty. And "act automatically" rather than "analyse".

:)

If it's listening to techno and wearing ass-less chaps during an ultrasound?

Seriously, though, I don't know that a FETUS could be gay, I don't think they've developed the capability of thought yet to analzye such things. I don't think one can realize his or her sexuality until they start to hit puberty and start noticing girls/boys.
yeah but it has to do with the hormones, etc I think...not the realization

If it's listening to techno and wearing ass-less chaps during an ultrasound?
:rofl:

:rofl:
Haha, I knew you'd get that, Irene. :lol:

Haha, I knew you'd get that, Irene. :lol:
What a way to start my day...with a good laugh. :lol:

Guys, you are misunderstanding my question. I fully agree that one is BORN gay. I know this for a fact. I am lesbian and never chose to be. I was asking can a FETUS be gay? At what point in fetal developement do the gay tendencies start?
Well, I dont think a fetus knows WHAT it is...it just sits there and lives and grows, however, I believe that the genetic information that will someday establish its sexuality is already encoded, so, my answer is technically, YES, a fetus is born gay. (Keep in mind that I am neither scientist or genetisist <Nor did I ever take high school biology!)

Well, I dont think a fetus knows WHAT it is...it just sits there and lives and grows, however, I believe that the genetic information that will someday establish its sexuality is already encoded, so, my answer is technically, YES, a fetus is born gay. (Keep in mind that I am neither scientist or genetisist <Nor did I ever take high school biology!)
I totally understood what you just posted and I think you said it very well. A fetus is developed within the womb and whatever genetic codes are formed prior to birth are what form the mental make-up of the child and the physical make-up of the child (blue eyes or brown eyes; male or female; etc.). Of course, there are some things that fetus' are not genetically destined to do or be such as being a racist. That is LEARNED behavior.

Of course, there are some things that fetus' are not genetically destined to do or be such as being a racist. That is LEARNED behavior.exactly

I'm not even sure about racism being a learned trait any more.

No child is born to hate. They learn that from their environment, whatever that may be. People have to be shown how others are "different" because of their skin color, religion or sex.


I have never heard of a blind person being prejudicial or hateful towards people because of the race they happen to be, simply because they can't see and therefore, they can't be taught how people of a different race are any different. Just something I had to throw in. ;)

I would like to hope, Irene, that you're absolutely right in your last post. :)

It's just that the more they investigate the genetics, the more they find that is inherited in one way or another.

That's why I'm no longer sure.

I would love that hate wasn't taught or inherited. Now, what a wonderful world that would be. ;)

I can almost agree with you regarding that possibly being a trait. It was only in the last several years that I have come to learn the existence of an "addiction" gene that causes some people to hopelessly become addicts and unable to rehabilitate themselves. There is a supposed gene that lies dormant in some people and once that person takes their first drink or ingests drugs, that gene springs into action and starts the addiction rolling out of control.

I would love that hate wasn't taught or inherited. Now, what a wonderful world that would be. ;)

I can almost agree with you regarding that possibly being a trait. It was only in the last several years that I have come to learn the existence of an "addiction" gene that causes some people to hopelessly become addicts and unable to rehabilitate themselves. There is a supposed gene that lies dormant in some people and once that person takes their first drink or ingests drugs, that gene springs into action and starts the addiction rolling out of control.

Yeah, straight out of Louie Armstrong -- but we're stuck in this one. :rolleyes: ?:lol: ?

The horrible problem is that the genetic traits of race, real and imagined, are used to justify racism, and supposedly environmental factors bring on homophobia. So either way, someone will be bashed. Bleh.

I think I'll go watch something funny. :)

Anyone who thinks people chose to be homosexuals is a moron, because I know so many homosexuals who have struggled years trying to "blend in" in order to avoid being made fun of. Just like some of us didn't chose to be straight, others dont choose to be gay. I'm not so sure about the fetus though, i've never heard of that.

I have an older brother, 8 years older than me and when i was born, he and I were buddies. Needless to say, i caught on to the traditional "boy" traits, and when my parents asked me to create my Christmas list, my list consisted of Hot Wheels, fire trucks, army men, basket ball, you name it, not a barbie doll on my list. Of course, my parents freaked and i recieved NONE of those items and they showered me with tea sets, dolls, etc. (all of which i really didn't enjoy playing with) They painted my room pink, wouldn't let me paint it blue, my favorite color. They made me wear dresses, i hate dresses to this day. They thought i was going to be a lesbian, but they were wrong.