Why do people become bisexual and homosexual?

[spiritualhitchhiker]

Why do people become bisexual and homosexual?

Has anyone figured out why?

 

[Breathe]

Sexuality.
Nobody 'becomes' it any more than someone 'becomes' black or white. You just are.

 

[spiritualhitchhiker]

Do you know that Stephen Fry once considered proposing Rowan Atkinson's wife. He definitely seemed to have become homosexual by choice.

 

[columbus]

Do you know that Stephen Fry once considered proposing Rowan Atkinson's wife. He definitely seemed to have become homosexual by choice.

My partner married a woman and had several children trying to make himself straight. People acting straight is not a particularly good indication of their true orientation in a homophobic world.
Tom

 

[JustCallMeNick]

While we know there is a genetic component, an interesting developmental theory, at least for gay men, is that in utero they receive a less intense testosterone "bath" from mom.

 

[Twilight Hue]

It's the same exact way people become heterosexual.

Easy.

 

[LuisDantas]

I have it on good authority that people become homosexuals by being attracted to people of their own gender, and bisexuals by being attracted to people of both sexes.

There are those who want to see either situation as a disease or abnormality. Which I find incredibly offensive.

The actual causes of sexual attraction are not really very well understood, but there seems to be a mix of hormonal and cultural reasons.

 

[The Hammer]

Why do people become bisexual and homosexual?

Has anyone figured out why?

For the same reason people "become" straight... It just so happens to be the way they are. No decisions required.

 

[spiritualhitchhiker]

The actual causes of sexual attraction are not really very well understood, but there seems to be a mix of hormonal and cultural reasons.

What kind of hormonal and cultural reasons?

 

[Saint Frankenstein]

While we know there is a genetic component, an interesting developmental theory, at least for gay men, is that in utero they receive a less intense testosterone "bath" from mom.

Then that leads to the inference that gay men are less masculine than straight men.

 

[spiritualhitchhiker]

Then that leads to the inference that gay men are less masculine than straight men.

Which I know to be false, because most gay men have Mr. Universe type bodies.

 

[Saint Frankenstein]

Which I know to be false, because most gay men have Mr. Universe type bodies.

Not less masculine in that way. Less masculine in that they didn't receive enough testosterone in the womb to develop a normal masculine sexuality - i.e. desiring females. So the inferences of homosexuality being biological seem to lead to it being an aberration. :/

 

[JustCallMeNick]

Then that leads to the inference that gay men are less masculine than straight men.

Depends how you define masculinity, I suppose. It's certainly common for gay people to be gender non-conforming, in terms of social norms, mannerisms, interests, etc from a young age.

 

[JustCallMeNick]

Not less masculine in that way. Less masculine in that they didn't receive enough testosterone in the womb to develop a normal masculine sexuality - i.e. desiring females. So the inferences of homosexuality being biological seem to lead to it being an aberration. :/

Be careful with the word "normal." If gay people receive less testosterone in utero on average than straight men, that does not make their resulting sexuality "aberrant" in the sense of being unhealthy, immoral, unnatural, etc.

 

[Saint Frankenstein]

Depends how you define masculinity, I suppose. It's certainly common for gay people to be gender non-conforming, in terms of social norms, mannerisms, interests, etc from a young age.

Yes, that's another aspect of it. Then there's the butch types and that's kind of odd because it seems to venture into the realm of caricature like drag. For example, leather daddies, policeman fetishes, fireman fetishes, the bear community, etc.

Be careful with the word "normal." If gay people receive less testosterone in utero on average than straight men, that does not make their resulting sexuality "aberrant" in the sense of being unhealthy, immoral, unnatural, etc.

No, I'm saying from a biological and evolutionary basis.

 

[The Hammer]

Then that leads to the inference that gay men are less masculine than straight men.

That's a poor inference though. Just because you or I are exposed to less testosterone, does not make one any more or less masculine. Just like more or less Estrogen doesn't make a women any less feminine.

 

[Saint Frankenstein]

That's a poor inference though. Just because you or I are exposed to less testosterone, does not make one any more or less masculine. Just like more or less Estrogen doesn't make a women any less feminine.

Biologically, it does and that effects behavior and appearance. You'd be surprised how much of our preferences and behavior come down to things like hormones. I learned that first-hand with testosterone therapy. I wouldn't be surprised if really butch women have less estrogen than really feminine women.

 

[JustCallMeNick]

Yes, that's another aspect of it. Then there's the butch types and that's kind of odd because it seems to venture into the realm of caricature like drag. For example, leather daddies, policeman fetishes, fireman fetishes, the bear community, etc.

Don't take the argument too far. Testosterone levels don't map onto stereotypical masculinity with a 1:1 ratio. There's a correlation there, but not a perfect one.

No, I'm saying from a biological and evolutionary basis.

In terms of homosexuality being less common in the population? Well yes, everyone agrees there are fewer gays than straights in the world.

 

[The Hammer]

Biologically, it does and that effects behavior and appearance. You'd be surprised how much of our preferences and behavior come down to things like hormones. I learned that first-hand with testosterone therapy. I wouldn't be surprised if really butch women have less estrogen than really feminine women.

I understand that hormones play a part in biology and behavior. I was getting at that it is more then just hormones. Maybe the hormone bath makes one more or less likely to be homosexual, just like smoking may make you more likely to get cancer. But there is more to it then just that.

Also, masculinity and femininity are a cultural thing, not solely biological.

And I am not quite sure what I am arguing any more.... Stupid cold. I can't concentrate.

 

[Saint Frankenstein]

Don't take the argument too far. Testosterone levels don't map onto stereotypical masculinity with a 1:1 ratio. There's a correlation there, but not a perfect one.

I just mentioned that because you brought up how gay men are more likely to be gender non-conforming and there some truth to that, same as how when gay men try to be all masculine, it ends up like a caricature.