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Subject: 
Re: gay by birth vs. gay by choice
Newsgroups: 
lugnet.off-topic.debate
Date: 
Tue, 4 Dec 2001 14:09:48 GMT
Viewed: 
226 times
  
Dave Schuler wrote:

In lugnet.off-topic.debate, Christopher L. Weeks writes:

**snip of lots of sensible things**

I hate to post a "me too," but Chris and I are so seldom in 100% agreement
that I thought it was worth mentioning.  Bravo to you, Chris, for a
well-articulated post.

The only thing I would add is concerning the "gay gene."  Certain homophobes
arbitrarily assert that heterosexuality is the "default" setting for humans,
so "gay-ness" must necessarily be the result of an additional gene.  Since
the heterosexual default is not proven, it seems that such homophobes must
necessarily reject it as a theory, since they hate unproven theories.
Alternatively, homosexuality may be the human default, and a "heterosexual
gene" is responsible for making some of us "non-gay."

Although I'm far from being a homophobe, I too would have to assert that
heterosexuality would have to be our 'default' setting just for needs of
basic continuation of the species.

Wasn;t there a hypothesis at one time that homosexuality ws the result
of an extra X chromosome in a man?  I remember hearing this somewhere in
my youth.

  Of course, even that theory isn't particularly compelling, since people
are gay and people are straight--what difference does it make "why" they're
one way or the other.  Is there a Christian gene?(1)

Yeah, it's on chromosome 16 (j/k).

     Dave!

(1) Actually, there is some evidence that we are genetically predisposed to
search for something "higher," even if that higher something is just the
alpha male that leads our local troupe.

I'm reading a review paper for a seminar class (adaptive genetic
variation in the wild) on genes, evolution, and personality.  There is a
brief section on religiousness where they summarize much of the recent
literature on this.  Neat stuff!

In the same paper they report a large genetic component to conservatism
(.64 for males vs .45 in females).  Now, I don't have to worry about my
children joining the young Republicans. (another joke).

-chris

ps. interests don't seem to have a genetic basis, so if you want your
offspring to enjoy LEGO be sure to raise them in the proper environment.
;)



Message has 1 Reply:
  Re: gay by birth vs. gay by choice
 
(...) I wonder - does "most frequently obsevered" (or perhaps most frequently admitted to?) equate to "default" ? Jennifer (23 years ago, 4-Dec-01, to lugnet.off-topic.debate)

Message is in Reply To:
  Re: gay by birth vs. gay by choice
 
In lugnet.off-topic.debate, Christopher L. Weeks writes: **snip of lots of sensible things** I hate to post a "me too," but Chris and I are so seldom in 100% agreement that I thought it was worth mentioning. Bravo to you, Chris, for a (...) (23 years ago, 3-Dec-01, to lugnet.off-topic.debate)

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