Why do people become bisexual and homosexual?

[Saint Frankenstein]

"same as how when gay men try to be all masculine, it ends up like a caricature."

- Is this a joke, or are you just ignorant on the subject, not having many gay friends in your inner circle? Because, from my experience, this could not be further from the truth. I know many gay men who are far more "masculine" and tough than I am, and there is no way that anyone would be able to tell they were gay unless they specifically told them.

No, it's not a joke. I'm bisexual myself, have grown up around gay men (in fact, the closest I've ever had to a father figure was a gay man who was my babysitter and I still miss him to this day), most of my male friends have been gay or bi and I have been involved in the community. I'm into leather and the whole fetish scene around that, so I probably know a good deal more about it and how masculinity is expressed in it than you do. I also identify as a bear.

 

[ZooGirl02]

I do not believe that people become homosexual or bisexual. They either are homosexual or bisexual or they are not. I have heard, however, that sexual orientation can fluctuate throughout a person's life and I can believe that to a certain extent. I am attracted to the same sex as well as the opposite sex which means that I am bisexual and there have been times in my life when I was more attracted to the same sex than at other times. There have also been times in my life when I had no interest in the same sex and probably could have called myself heterosexual.

 

[Riverwolf]

I think there's a misconception going around, that "being homosexual" means being in a homosexual relationship. This isn't true. A homosexual can be in any type of relationship, but still only ever be a homosexual.

People who identified as heterosexual for years, but then suddenly start identifying as bisexual, haven't "become gay or bi", but were probably always bisexual and weren't aware of it. I strongly suspect that bisexuality is WAY more common than people realize.

 

[Laika]

There is some evidence to suggest that sexual orientation is fluid and changes overtime but I do not have a firm opinion on it. If you put lots of straight men on a boat and send them out to see for a long time, they'll come back to shore gay because they need to satisfy their desires. The Kinsey Scale points out that their exist gradations in sexual orientation as well as the fact that "straight" people have same sex-relationships. definitions of sexual orientation reflect our belief that sexual relations are defined by who we are going to marry rather than who we sleep with. This is why we end up with ideas of "mono-sexuality" and have the erasure of bisexuality (because we think choosing 'one or the other' is 'normal').
However, it is not something that can be "willed" to be different from what it is because it is so fundamental and deep within our consciousness as sexuality is instinctual, nor should it be as the moral pressure towards "heterosexuality" as a norm based on procreation is destructive to a person's psychological well-being. this view isn't really compatible with the conventional view of gay rights because we still hold a belief in "natural" rights derived from innate or "natural" qualities of a person and hence favor biological or genetic explanations as a society.

(edit: surprisingly, a quick Google search reveals how the authorities respond to homosexuality in the navy remains an "issue" )

 

[Rick O'Shez]

I strongly suspect that bisexuality is WAY more common than people realize.

Me too.

 

[Wirey]

Why do people become bisexual and homosexual?

Has anyone figured out why?

I have, but it's complex. When a baby is born the first thing it sees is the doctor, who is male, because women are too delicate for that kind of work. Now, if the doctor is white the baby will be attracted to white people. If the doctor is Chinese, it will be attracted to math nerds, and if the doctor is Mexican, the baby will be attracted to Chihuahuas that eat at Taco Bell.

When the baby is born the nurses, who will have their womanly juices all ramped up by now what with all the baby-having and vaginal stretching, immediately attempt to mate with the doctor. If they are successful, the baby witnesses heterosexual sex and becomes "straight". If the doctor escapes, the baby witnesses how evil and angry women are when there are no men in the room and becomes a "Back Door Bandit". If the nurses start to have sex with the doctor but stop because they realize he's Mexican, and that's just gross, the baby becomes "bi-sexualized". If the nurses are male and the baby witnesses 11 men having group sex, the baby becomes "The Republican Candidate." Of course, this only applies to male babies, as all women worship the dong, even the gay ones.

I hope this helps.

 

[Wirey]

Me too.

How you doin'? I mean, football!

 

[Maponos]

While there's not biological evidence for bisexuality in men, the newest studies show that homosexual men have something special happen on the X-chromosome.

 

[Penumbra]

Why do people become bisexual and homosexual?

Has anyone figured out why?

"Why" and "how" are two different questions that sometimes get mixed up.

The "why" would almost certainly either be a) it's a biological accident from one or more causes or b) it's adapted from evolution in a percentage of the population because it's beneficial in some contexts. There have been studies that have suggested it is evolutionary. Siblings of homosexual people apparently have a higher than average reproductive rate. It's apparently a decent reproductive strategy for a parent to have a number of children, with one of them being homosexual.

The "how" is something to ask neuroscientists. It's largely considered in the realm of neuroscience now. It's been shown not to be something that can be psychologically changed as far as professional organizations are concerned on the subject. There's been shown evidence of neurological and genetic components to it. There could maybe be some very early life psychological variables involved, or not. There so far is not some detailed universal understanding of how homosexuality develops. But it develops consistently in diverse populations and has neurological and genetic correlations.

As researcher Milton Diamond has said, "Nature loves variety. Unfortunately, society hates it."

Not necessarily. This "bath" is temporary. Later on the subject could receive all required testosterone after already developing a homosexual orientation.

It's the difference between "organizing" and "activating" effects of testosterone and estrogen affects on the brain.

Organizing effects are what those hormones do to the brain in the womb that, shortly after birth, are observed to be basically irreversible. They result in a brain developing a certain way. Activating effects refer to what is currently being done by that hormone to the brain. Organizing effects are things that basically once they're done, they're done. This is currently viewed as including the permanent formation of possibly sexual orientation and particularly gender identity. Activating effects are things that could still trigger if, for example, an adult human has some accident or procedure that changes their current levels of hormones. Muscle mass would be an example of that- it's something that is affected by current testosterone levels, regardless of original sex or levels at birth.

 

[Izdaari]

I really couldn't tell you. I just always knew I was bisexual -- equally capable of being sexually attracted to men or women, depending on the individual. I was 15 when I was sure enough of that to share it with everybody. Not everyone took it well, but I'm glad I've always been honest about who and what I am.

 

[JustCallMeNick]

While there's not biological evidence for bisexuality in men, the newest studies show that homosexual men have something special happen on the X-chromosome.

Huh? What do you mean there's no "biological evidence" for bisexuality in men? Do you think all the self-identified bi men in the world are...lying?

 

[MysticSang'ha]

Huh? What do you mean there's no "biological evidence" for bisexuality in men? Do you think all the self-identified bi men in the world are...lying?

Bi-erasure is a thing. We don't exist, apparently. And the phenomenon happens in both monosexist gay/lesbian and straight communities. We're lesbians until graduation. We're just being curious. We're using bisexuality as a stepping stone before we "really" come out. We are untrustworthy. And yet in spite all of these assumptions, we are still a myth. Funny how that goes, right?

 

[Izdaari]

Bi-erasure is a thing. We don't exist, apparently. And the phenomenon happens in both monosexist gay/lesbian and straight communities. We're lesbians until graduation. We're just being curious. We're using bisexuality as a stepping stone before we "really" come out. We are untrustworthy. And yet in spite all of these assumptions, we are still a myth. Funny how that goes, right?

Yeah, I know, and from my personal experience, it's pure baloney. Ever since I was old enough to feel sexual attraction, I was equally likely to be 'turned on' by an attractive man or woman, and have been in love with both. It wasn't a phase. I'm 60 years old now, and I've always been that way and will probably always be that way.

 

[Maponos]

Huh? What do you mean there's no "biological evidence" for bisexuality in men? Do you think all the self-identified bi men in the world are...lying?

It means exactly what I said.

 

[BSM1]

Why do people become bisexual and homosexual?

Has anyone figured out why?

Because trisexual makes you sound like some form of transportation.

 

[leibowde84]

It means exactly what I said.

Scientific Study Finds That Bisexuality Really Exists | TIME.com

"Bisexual men won’t likely be surprised — or feel particularly validated — to learn that a new scientific study confirms that their sexual attraction to both men and women is real. But the findings may help enlighten those who still subscribe to the stereotype that bisexual men are just closeted homosexuals, or simply confused ..."

Follow the link and read the article about the scientific study. Let me know what you think.

 

[Izdaari]

I read the Time.com link. But the study is of limited use, as it focuses only on men, and is rather one-dimensional.

“This unfortunately reduces sexuality and relationships to just sexual stimulation,” Ellyn Ruthstrom, president of the Bisexual Resource Center in Boston, told Tuller. “Researchers want to fit bi attraction into a little box — you have to be exactly the same, attracted to men and women, and you’re bisexual. That’s nonsense. What I love is that people express their bisexuality in so many different ways.”

 

[leibowde84]

I read the Time.com link. But the study is of limited use, as it focuses only on men, and is rather one-dimensional.

“This unfortunately reduces sexuality and relationships to just sexual stimulation,” Ellyn Ruthstrom, president of the Bisexual Resource Center in Boston, told Tuller. “Researchers want to fit bi attraction into a little box — you have to be exactly the same, attracted to men and women, and you’re bisexual. That’s nonsense. What I love is that people express their bisexuality in so many different ways.”

Fair enough. At least it points to it being a scientific reality though, right?

 

[Izdaari]

Fair enough. At least it points to it being a scientific reality though, right?

Yes, I'll accept it as scientific evidence that bisexual men really exist. But I already knew that. As a bisexual woman who is active in the LGBT community, I know more than a few of them, and some are friends.

 

[JustCallMeNick]

It means exactly what I said.

What you said is unclear - I wanted to make sure I knew what you meant before criticizing you for something you didn't mean.

If you're denying that we have neurological evidence that some percentage of both men and women are attracted to/aroused by both sexes - you would be wrong.