NATURE AND NURTURE:
The meaning of biological influence
No researcher on either side of this debate believes that SSA is a choice - people do not choose their attractions. Attractions develop over time due to a combination of environmental and biological influences. The debate is over emphasis. Gay activists emphasize the biological over the environmental. They argue that biological influence trumps environmental contribution and therefore, sexual orientation is innate and immutable. Those in favor of re-orientation therapy argue that SSA is a developmental disorder in which environment plays a greater role than biology. Consequently, they state that SSA may be prevented and changed. They argue that individuals do not choose their attractions, but they can choose how to respond to them. (1, 2)
The bulk of research concerning SSA over the last 30 years has been conducted by gay activists, many of whom are also openly homosexual. If anyone were to succeed in proving biological determinism, it would be them. Politically speaking, they have the most to gain. (1) Yet every study from genes, to brain structure, fingerprint styles, handedness, finger lengths, eye-blinking, ear characteristics, verbal skills and prenatal hormones have either failed to be replicated, criticized for research limitations, and/or outright debunked. (3-12) This includes the highly acclaimed brain findings of Dr. Simon LeVay,(8-10) and the gay gene research of Dr. Dean Hammer. (11, 12)
Every trait is influenced by genes, but only some are determined by them. “Genetically determined” is destiny, “genetically influenced” is not. Identical twins have exactly the same DNA and share genetically determined traits 100% of the time. Eye color is a genetically determined trait, so identical twins always have the same eye color. Homosexual attraction, however, is shared only 30% of the time. This proves that there is no gay gene and that at least 70% of the variation in sexual orientation is not inherited. (13-15) Since the incidence of SSA among twins is greater than that of the general population, there probably is some genetic influence in the form of inherited predisposing biological traits. Only in a particular environment, however, will these lead to SSA. (1-2)
A meta-analysis of twenty-one gay parenting studies lends further credence to a strong environmental influence. Each individual study failed to identify any differences between children of homosexual versus heterosexual parents. Gay activists Judith Stacey and Timothy Biblarz performed the meta-analysis presumably to strengthen the claims of the individual studies. Much to their chagrin, significant differences were now uncovered. Children raised by gay parents were more likely to initiate sexual activity at earlier ages, be more promiscuous and develop homosexuality than children raised by heterosexual parents. (16) Stacey and Biblarz also found that sons of lesbians were less aggressive, and daughters more aggressive than those in heterosexual homes. Children with same sex parents were less likely to conform to traditional gender roles. The researchers hailed this as a positive outcome. In reality, however, the feminization of boys and masculinization of girls is found in gender identity disorder of childhood (GID).
Gender identity disorder of childhood may manifest as cross-dressing and non-stereotypic play even prior to 4 years of age. GID often precedes the development of SSA. Untreated, up to 75% of gender discordant boys and one to two thirds of discordant girls will develop SSA. GID can be treated successfully, and potential cases of SSA prevented. (17-19)
Success of reorientation therapy further proves that sexual orientation is not fixed. A study by gay-activist Dr. Robert Spitzer found that achieving degrees of change are possible for those unhappy with their SSA. (20)
Finally, consider this quote from the American Psychiatric Association’s on-line website that now supports the notion of sexual fluidity:
Some people believe that sexual orientation is innate and fixed; however, sexual orientation develops across a person’s lifetime. Individuals may become aware at different points in their lives that they are heterosexual, gay, lesbian, or bisexual.Sexual attractions develop over time due to a combination of biological and environmental influences.
Sexual attractions develop over time. Heterosexual attraction is the biological norm for human reproduction. Same-sex behavior carries significant health risks. For these reasons SSA is a developmental disorder - often rooted in early childhood. Twin studies alone demonstrate a significant environmental influence. We understand some of these. Since environmental factors can be altered, SSA is indeed preventable and changeable.
REFERENCES:
1. Satinover, Jeffery. Homosexuality and the Politics of Truth. Baker Book House Company, Grand Rapids, MI, 1996.
2. Nicolosi, J. and Nicolosi, L. A Parent’s Guide to Preventing Homosexuality. Intervarsity Press, Downers Grove, IL, 2002.
3. Mustanski, BS, et al. “A Critical Review of Recent Biological Research on Human Sexual Orientation.” Annual Review of Sex Research, 2002, 12, 89-140.
4. Byne, William and Parsons, Bruce, “Human Sexual Orientation: The Biologic Theories Reappraised,” Archives of General Psychiatry, Vol. 50, March 1993: 228-239.
5. Byne, W., “The Biological Evidence Challenged,” Scientific American (May 1994): 50-55.
6. Byne, W., “Science and Belief: Psychobiological Research on Sexual Orientation.” Journal of Homosexuality, 1995, 28, 303-344.
7. Byne, E., “Why We Cannot Conclude that Sexual Orientation is Primarily a Biological Phenomenon.” Journal of Homosexuality, 1997, 34, 1, 73-80.
8. Byne, W. “. Et al. “The Interstitial Nuclei of the Human Anterior Hypothalamus: An Investigation of Variation with Sex, Sexual Orientation, and HIV Status.” Hormones and Behavior, 2001, 40: 86-92.
9. Byne, W. et al. “a Lack of Dimorphism of Sex or Sexual Orientation in the Human Anterior Commissure, Brain Research, 2002, 936: 95-98.
10. Breedlove, M.S. “Sex on the Brain.” Nature, 1997, 389, p.801.
11. Horgan, J. “Gay Genes, Revisited: ‘Doubts Arise Over Research on the Biology of Homosexuality,” Scientific American, Nov. 1995, p.26.
12. Rice, G., et al. “Male Homosexuality: Absence of Linkage to Microsatellite Markers at Xq28. Science, 1999, 284, 665-667.
13. Bailey, J. “Measurement Models for Sexual Orientation in a Community Twin Sample,” Behavioral Genetics, 2000 July; 30(4): 345-56.
14. Bailey, J. “Genetic and Environmental Influences on Sexual Orientation and it’s Correlates in an Australian Twin Sample,” Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 2000, Vol. 78, No. 3, 524-536.
15. Kendler, K. “Sexual Orientation In a U.S. National sample of Twin and Non-Twin Sibling Pairs.” American Journal of Psychiatry, Nov. 2000; 157:1843-1846).
16. Stacey, J. and Biblarz, T., “(How) Does the Sexual Orientation of Parents Matter,” American Sociological Review, 66 (2001): 174, 179.
17. DSM IV-TR, The American Psychiatric Association, 2000.
18. Kaplan, H. and Sadock, B., Synopsis of Psychiatry Behavioral Sciences Clinical Psychiatry, sixth edition, Williams & Wilkins, 1991 (p. 752).
19. Zucker, K. and Bradley, S., Gender Identity Disorder and Psychosexual Problems in Children and Adolescents, The Guilford Press, New York, NY 10012, 1995 (p. 283)
20. Spitzer, Robert L., “Can Some Gay Men and Lesbians Change Their Sexual Orientation?,” Archives of Sexual Behavior, Vol. 32, No.5, Oct. 2003: 403-417.
The meaning of biological influence
No researcher on either side of this debate believes that SSA is a choice - people do not choose their attractions. Attractions develop over time due to a combination of environmental and biological influences. The debate is over emphasis. Gay activists emphasize the biological over the environmental. They argue that biological influence trumps environmental contribution and therefore, sexual orientation is innate and immutable. Those in favor of re-orientation therapy argue that SSA is a developmental disorder in which environment plays a greater role than biology. Consequently, they state that SSA may be prevented and changed. They argue that individuals do not choose their attractions, but they can choose how to respond to them. (1, 2)
The bulk of research concerning SSA over the last 30 years has been conducted by gay activists, many of whom are also openly homosexual. If anyone were to succeed in proving biological determinism, it would be them. Politically speaking, they have the most to gain. (1) Yet every study from genes, to brain structure, fingerprint styles, handedness, finger lengths, eye-blinking, ear characteristics, verbal skills and prenatal hormones have either failed to be replicated, criticized for research limitations, and/or outright debunked. (3-12) This includes the highly acclaimed brain findings of Dr. Simon LeVay,(8-10) and the gay gene research of Dr. Dean Hammer. (11, 12)
Every trait is influenced by genes, but only some are determined by them. “Genetically determined” is destiny, “genetically influenced” is not. Identical twins have exactly the same DNA and share genetically determined traits 100% of the time. Eye color is a genetically determined trait, so identical twins always have the same eye color. Homosexual attraction, however, is shared only 30% of the time. This proves that there is no gay gene and that at least 70% of the variation in sexual orientation is not inherited. (13-15) Since the incidence of SSA among twins is greater than that of the general population, there probably is some genetic influence in the form of inherited predisposing biological traits. Only in a particular environment, however, will these lead to SSA. (1-2)
A meta-analysis of twenty-one gay parenting studies lends further credence to a strong environmental influence. Each individual study failed to identify any differences between children of homosexual versus heterosexual parents. Gay activists Judith Stacey and Timothy Biblarz performed the meta-analysis presumably to strengthen the claims of the individual studies. Much to their chagrin, significant differences were now uncovered. Children raised by gay parents were more likely to initiate sexual activity at earlier ages, be more promiscuous and develop homosexuality than children raised by heterosexual parents. (16) Stacey and Biblarz also found that sons of lesbians were less aggressive, and daughters more aggressive than those in heterosexual homes. Children with same sex parents were less likely to conform to traditional gender roles. The researchers hailed this as a positive outcome. In reality, however, the feminization of boys and masculinization of girls is found in gender identity disorder of childhood (GID).
Gender identity disorder of childhood may manifest as cross-dressing and non-stereotypic play even prior to 4 years of age. GID often precedes the development of SSA. Untreated, up to 75% of gender discordant boys and one to two thirds of discordant girls will develop SSA. GID can be treated successfully, and potential cases of SSA prevented. (17-19)
Success of reorientation therapy further proves that sexual orientation is not fixed. A study by gay-activist Dr. Robert Spitzer found that achieving degrees of change are possible for those unhappy with their SSA. (20)
Finally, consider this quote from the American Psychiatric Association’s on-line website that now supports the notion of sexual fluidity:
Some people believe that sexual orientation is innate and fixed; however, sexual orientation develops across a person’s lifetime. Individuals may become aware at different points in their lives that they are heterosexual, gay, lesbian, or bisexual.Sexual attractions develop over time due to a combination of biological and environmental influences.
Sexual attractions develop over time. Heterosexual attraction is the biological norm for human reproduction. Same-sex behavior carries significant health risks. For these reasons SSA is a developmental disorder - often rooted in early childhood. Twin studies alone demonstrate a significant environmental influence. We understand some of these. Since environmental factors can be altered, SSA is indeed preventable and changeable.
REFERENCES:
1. Satinover, Jeffery. Homosexuality and the Politics of Truth. Baker Book House Company, Grand Rapids, MI, 1996.
2. Nicolosi, J. and Nicolosi, L. A Parent’s Guide to Preventing Homosexuality. Intervarsity Press, Downers Grove, IL, 2002.
3. Mustanski, BS, et al. “A Critical Review of Recent Biological Research on Human Sexual Orientation.” Annual Review of Sex Research, 2002, 12, 89-140.
4. Byne, William and Parsons, Bruce, “Human Sexual Orientation: The Biologic Theories Reappraised,” Archives of General Psychiatry, Vol. 50, March 1993: 228-239.
5. Byne, W., “The Biological Evidence Challenged,” Scientific American (May 1994): 50-55.
6. Byne, W., “Science and Belief: Psychobiological Research on Sexual Orientation.” Journal of Homosexuality, 1995, 28, 303-344.
7. Byne, E., “Why We Cannot Conclude that Sexual Orientation is Primarily a Biological Phenomenon.” Journal of Homosexuality, 1997, 34, 1, 73-80.
8. Byne, W. “. Et al. “The Interstitial Nuclei of the Human Anterior Hypothalamus: An Investigation of Variation with Sex, Sexual Orientation, and HIV Status.” Hormones and Behavior, 2001, 40: 86-92.
9. Byne, W. et al. “a Lack of Dimorphism of Sex or Sexual Orientation in the Human Anterior Commissure, Brain Research, 2002, 936: 95-98.
10. Breedlove, M.S. “Sex on the Brain.” Nature, 1997, 389, p.801.
11. Horgan, J. “Gay Genes, Revisited: ‘Doubts Arise Over Research on the Biology of Homosexuality,” Scientific American, Nov. 1995, p.26.
12. Rice, G., et al. “Male Homosexuality: Absence of Linkage to Microsatellite Markers at Xq28. Science, 1999, 284, 665-667.
13. Bailey, J. “Measurement Models for Sexual Orientation in a Community Twin Sample,” Behavioral Genetics, 2000 July; 30(4): 345-56.
14. Bailey, J. “Genetic and Environmental Influences on Sexual Orientation and it’s Correlates in an Australian Twin Sample,” Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 2000, Vol. 78, No. 3, 524-536.
15. Kendler, K. “Sexual Orientation In a U.S. National sample of Twin and Non-Twin Sibling Pairs.” American Journal of Psychiatry, Nov. 2000; 157:1843-1846).
16. Stacey, J. and Biblarz, T., “(How) Does the Sexual Orientation of Parents Matter,” American Sociological Review, 66 (2001): 174, 179.
17. DSM IV-TR, The American Psychiatric Association, 2000.
18. Kaplan, H. and Sadock, B., Synopsis of Psychiatry Behavioral Sciences Clinical Psychiatry, sixth edition, Williams & Wilkins, 1991 (p. 752).
19. Zucker, K. and Bradley, S., Gender Identity Disorder and Psychosexual Problems in Children and Adolescents, The Guilford Press, New York, NY 10012, 1995 (p. 283)
20. Spitzer, Robert L., “Can Some Gay Men and Lesbians Change Their Sexual Orientation?,” Archives of Sexual Behavior, Vol. 32, No.5, Oct. 2003: 403-417.
posted by Michelle A. Cretella, M.D. at 7:25 PM
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