Same Gender Attraction - Born With It?

This is a topic that has really, honestly, been fascinating to me. It seems that we hear so much that homosexuality is something that is genetic and is out of the control of the person. We also hear the other side of that coin, that same-gender feelings are simply a lifestyle choice, and not something that is a part of who someone is.

I recently learned of a concept that really got me thinking. This is something that I had never thought about, and an idea that doesn't seem to be a part of the homosexuality discussion. Some studies have shown that homosexuality may not necessarily be genetic. But these studies also don't imply that it is as simple as making a conscious choice to be homosexual. Basically, the theory holds that  it has a lot to do with the way someone is raised. If a boy grows up not fitting in with the stereotypical male (love of sports, outdoors, little care for fashion, etc.) then they will likely question themselves. Why don't they fit in? Why do other boys tease and make fun? Why do they seems to be different from the other boys? Disapproval from father-figures and other influential males would only add to this. If a boy in this situation is not taught that it's okay to have different likes, and that it's okay to not have to fit a certain stereotype, then they may look to what seems to be the logical conclusion. "Maybe the reason for all this is that I'm gay." He would be more than accepted int he gay community, and he would have something to blame on his seemingly different interests. It would be easy for him to look back through life and then begin to associate his previous life experiences with this new idea that he might be gay, and that it all makes sense now. The thing is, is he may never have been gay, and may not be.

Children may be different because of genetics. Not being able to fit a stereotype would cause confusion. It would be easy, instead of working out what we're feeling inside, to just attribute being different to being gay and moving on. I'm sure every cause is different but genetics and choice may play a different role than we think.