Post 75

People are not born gay even though some may prefer believing this to be the case. If such were so, it would certainly absolve any of responsibility for modifying their behavior. People can and will believe whatever they wish. Despite what some may vigorously claim, a direct link between genetics, hormones, intrauterine development, and being gay has not been found.

Conversely, there is a high probability that the following were present in the childhoods  of those who became gay. They:

1.        Encountered significant physical or relational trauma within the first five years of life. Sensitizing, life-altering events can happen so soon following birth, that biological factors alone are thought to cause persons to be gay.  (There is a biology of learning, and it appears to be more causal than genetic or hormonal factors.)

2.        Experienced disordered family relationships. There may have been no father in the home. Fathers could have been ill, inadequate, absent, or abusive.

3.        Had a primarily female peer group growing up. They remained closer to and were more strongly influenced by their mothers and girls than by their fathers and other boys.

4.        Tended to be loners. Felt inferior or superior ---did not share a comforting commonality with fathers and other males.

5.        Avoided rough and tumble team sports.

6.        Were precociously sexual and involved in same-sex sexuality.

7.        Masturbated with homosexual fantasy to symbolically connect with otherwise inaccessible idols. They used sex rather than sociality as their primary route for engagement with other boys.

8.        Had physical limitations or were dissatisfied with aspects of their body.

                  Alfred Kinsey and other researchers have reported that sex hormones such as testosterone empower sexuality but do not control its direction.

While preferences are gradually refined by each individual, these early choices can be redirected. Minds are changed all the time ---concerning either inconsequential minute details or monumental matters of the soul.