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Originally Posted by Cynosure
(And, no, I'm not speaking for just bi-sexuals, here. Although, the existence of bi-sexuals should be brought into the discussion.)
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Arriving a little late to the party...
In the interest of full disclosure, I am a bisexual woman. I came to and accepted the realization that I was attracted to women in high school and not long afterward came to realize that I am equally attracted to both men and women. That being said, I'm currently in a monogamous, long-term relationship with a woman and am living, for all intents and purposes, as a lesbian woman. Naturally I am biased against this idea. To be frank, I am deeply disturbed by it (but not surprised).
In the years since I came out, I have wondered about the causes and factors behind human sexual orientation and have toyed with some ideas. I don't think it's a "choice"—forgive the tired old line, but I'm not
choosing whether to feel a purely physical, sexual attraction to one sex or the other (or both); it just happens, down to the fundamental level of brain chemical transmission and physical response, even as I am free to choose how to, or whether to, express that attraction or not. I don't think it is purely genetic either. I believe there are certainly environmental factors involved, especially in observing that homosexuality occurs in other species of animals. I don't doubt that factors of population density and reproduction rates may have something to do with it:
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Originally Posted by Supple Cow
As for your assertion that not reproducing hurts the evolution of the species, I will simply give you two things to think about: (1) what about infertile men and women and those couples who choose not to reproduce? (2) The world is actually overpopulated and we aren't doing such a good job as a species of preserving our habitat. Think about various parasitic organisms and how the most successful ones are good at reproducing but not too good, since the ones that reproduce too fast end up killing their hosts and then dying out anyway.
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Originally Posted by Bill O'Rights
Ah...here is what I'm looking for. It could be...and I'm not saying that it is, only that it could be...that the "gay gene" is nature's safety valve to prevent overpopulation of our species. Nature takes a look at the situation and turns "on" x amount of gay genes. theoretically...gay would equal no reproduction. If we start to manualy override that switch, then we really have no idea of the ultimate consequences.
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In the end, I strongly believe that it's dangerous to assume we can know with 100% certainty what causes something like homosexuality. I personally believe this kind of false certainty carries the same potential consequences as historical "certainties" like absolute and fundamentalist religious doctrine, the "scientifically proven" superiority of any single race and the Earth-centered universe.
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Originally Posted by Jozrael
Perhaps I'm prejudiced somehow, but I feel that heterosexuality is the 'default'. [...] I feel that homosexuality is unnatural, and while not wrong or anything to be ashamed of, it's not the -default-.
Keep in mind while saying that I am bisexual and think there's absolutely nothing wrong with homosexuality. For some reason, if there was a genetic cause, I would still view it as a flaw.
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Jozrael, I admit this fascinates me. I don't want to steer this discussion too much into the personal if you don't feel comfortable taking it there, but I am curious. In identifying as bisexual, do you reap any reward in your life with that identity? Is it detrimental or destructive to your existence in any way? How do you feel about yourself not being "normal" when you apparently feel that heterosexuality is the norm? Do
you see yourself as flawed or unnatural? Would you prefer not being flawed in this way? If there were a way to change your own sexuality to be a "normal" straight person, would you take that opportunity and if so, at what cost if any?
Just curious.