Scientific Question

[Ravey]

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?

[Ireneparalegal]

Wtf?

[Ravey]

Do you get the question?

[Ireneparalegal]

Not sure, hence the WTF.

[Ravey]

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.

[Ireneparalegal]

Originally Posted by Ravey

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.

[vtunie]

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, 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....

[Ireneparalegal]

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

[vtunie]

Originally Posted by Ireneparalegal

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

the eggheads I linked to say you're probably right

[Mikado]

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?

[vtunie]

Originally Posted by Mikado

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.

[Ireneparalegal]

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

[Mikado]

Originally Posted by vtunie

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.

[Jo_Luvs_Ketchup]

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.

[Mikado]

Originally Posted by Jo_Luvs_Ketchup

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! yupyup!