Myths, Facts, and Questions About Homosexuality

Myths, Facts, and Questions about Homosexuality

Updated on August 25, 2009

The following is based on conversations I've had and overheard with people who are anti-homosexual-rights and pro-homosexual-equality.

Myth: "Animals aren't homosexual, so it can't be natural."

Fact

Actually, many animals engage in homosexual behavior. Some animals form lifelong bonds with another animal of the same sex in the same way that other members of their species form lifelong bonds with a mate of the opposite sex.

Here are some interesting homosexual animal stories:

Question: "What causes homosexuality?"

Answer

We don't know for sure.

The big debate is: Is it genetic? There may be a single gene that directly determines sexual preference that can be flipped on and off like a light switch. There may be multiple genes that influence sexual preference along a spectrum (a sliding scale). There may be a gene or combination of genes that predispose an individual to having a specific sexual preference but requires certain environmental factors or experiences to trigger that preference (which could explain why some people start off preferring one sex and then switch later in life to prefer the other).

Some people believe that sexual preference develops when the fetal brain is exposed to certain levels of various hormones or toxins while in the womb, and isn't genetic at all. Some people believe that exposure to toxins at any time (even during adulthood) can cause changes to sexual preference.

Some people believe that sexual preference is taught by society or within family systems, and that it is a choice.

Homosexuality may even be caused by a variety of factors.

Some homosexuals that I know personally say that they have no choice, and have never in their lives been attracted to the opposite sex. Just as some heterosexuals say that they could never be attracted to someone of the same sex, some homosexuals say that they could never be attracted to somebody of the opposite sex. I also know bisexual individuals who feel attracted to both sexes. I've even known individuals who spent half of their life as heterosexual then switched to homosexuality. I've known individuals who expressed that they weren't attracted to the same sex romantically but were attracted to them sexually and vice versa for the opposite sex. The bottom line is that there is so much variation in sexual preferences from person to person that it is difficult to pinpoint the cause of homosexuality, heterosexuality, or bisexuality.

Myth: "If homosexuality is genetic, then it's a genetic defect."

Fact

Every variation in every organism is created by the development of a genetic mutation. If you're short, tall, dark-skinned, light-skinned, blue-eyed, brown-eyed, etc. it's because at some point in the history of your ancestral line, one of your ancestors developed a genetic mutation. Every gene in your body is technically a genetic mutation. So what's the difference between a mutation and a defect?

A genetic defect is a disease or disorder that is inherited. The two most important parts of that definition (for our argument) are the terms disease and disorder. So what determines whether something is a disease or disorder or whether it's just a variation? I have blue eyes, caused by a genetic mutation. Most of my friends have brown eyes. Does this mean that I have a disease or disorder of the iris? Should I seek treatment to change my eye color, so I'll look more like my brown-eyed friends? No, because my blue eyes aren't a problem for me. They don't cause me harm, discomfort, or distress. I'm perfectly fine with having blue eyes. In fact, I like my blue-eyes mutation; it's one of my favorite genetic variations.

Let's say for the sake of our argument that homosexual behavior is caused by a genetic mutation. Does that mean that we should classify it as a genetic defect? If it doesn't cause homosexual individuals harm, discomfort, or distress, and it's not unwanted, then it's not a genetic defect, just a variation.

Natural selection dictates whether a mutation will continue in the species. A mutation that works against the survival of the species (such as an inability to breathe) eventually disappears because the last generation of animals with that mutation will die before they can reproduce. A mutation that helps the survival of the species (such as the ability to use tools) or makes no difference at all (such as my blue eyes) will probably continue because those with such beneficial or insignificant mutations will likely go on to have offspring who have the mutation as well. If homosexuality is a genetic variation, then it's up to natural selection to decide if it will continue or not.

Myth: "We shouldn't let homosexuals pro-create because they'll pass their genes on to future generations."

Fact

Every homosexual was born to heterosexual parents, one male sperm and one female egg. If homosexuality is caused by genetic variation, then the genetic mutation came from heterosexuals.

Let's, for argument's sake, say that it is a genetic variation. If that is the case then then there are some things to consider, such as...

We don't know if it is a dominant gene that is passed on from parent to child, a recessive gene that is passed on, or a mutation that happens in the egg alone or the sperm alone or during embryonic or fetal development. It could even be caused by a combination of multiple genes working together. This means that it is possible that it could be a genetic variation that has the potential to not be passed on to offspring, so banning all pro-creation by homosexuals could actually be preventing the conception and birth of heterosexual offspring.

If it is a mutation, and even if we did know how the mutation developed, whether or not it should be eliminated brings about a new ethical debate: is it for humans or nature/God to decide what traits should be passed onto our offspring?

Myth: "Homosexuals should not raise children because they are sexual perverts."

Fact

Pedophiles can be homosexual or heterosexual. A homosexual is not a pedophile just because he/she is homosexual. Most homosexuals are not pedophiles, just as most heterosexuals are not pedophiles. The chance of a child growing up in the home of a homosexual pedophile is just as great as the chance of that child growing up in a home with a heterosexual pedophile. An excellent overview of homosexuality and child molestation can be found at http://psychology.ucdavis.edu/rainbow/html/facts_molestation.html from the UC Davis department of psychology.

Myth: "Homosexuals teach their kids to be homosexual."

Fact

Most homosexual parents don't discuss their sex life with their kids just as most heterosexual parents don't discuss their sex life with their kids (although some do, just as some heterosexual parents discuss their heterosexual sex lives with their kids).

Some children who grow up in families with homosexual parents may declare that they are homosexual themselves, but this isn't necessarily because their parents are homosexual. Perhaps these children simply feel more comfortable with their sexual preference and are more likely to come out compared to secretly homosexual children raised by parents who condemn homosexuality.

Myth: "Homosexuals aren't good parents."

Homosexual parents are just as good as heterosexual parents when it comes to parenting skills. In both groups there are parents who do an excellent job of raising their kids and parents who... well... maybe shouldn't be parents at all. Sexual preference does not determine how well a person can parent a child.

An excellent article about this can be found at http://www.webmd.com/mental-health/news/20051012/study-same-sex-parents-raise-well-adjusted-kids from WebMD.

Myth: "Homosexuals shouldn't get married because it would destroy the sanctity of marriage."

Fact

The sanctity of marriage is defined differently by different people.

One group of people may define marriage as a master-servant relationship in which one person is the head of the household and the other is there to serve. For them, equality destroys the sanctity of marriage.

Another group may see marriage as a financial transaction, and for them, not paying a dowry may destroy the sanctity of marriage.

Some religious groups believe that marriage is a spiritual bond created by a higher power, and even if you can't stand the person you are bonded to you must submit to it to appease the higher power. For them, following your heart rather than the wishes of the higher power and not entering into a divinely-pre-arrange marriage would destroy the sanctity of marriage.

Among many people I know, marriage is regarded a loving, committed partnership between adult individuals. For them, domestic violence, marriages based on money or business transactions, forcing children into marriage, violating marriage vows, etc. are the culprits that destroy the sanctity of marriage.

So sanctity of marriage is simply a matter of opinion and should be decided by the individuals participating in the marriage.

Myth: "Homosexuality is disgusting."

Fact

That's just a matter of opinion. Many people do not believe that it is disgusting. In fact, there are lots of people embrace homosexuality as something beautiful.

To turn the tables, some homosexuals feel disgusted by heterosexual displays of affection. And likewise, it's just their opinion.

Opinions about an object or action don't change the actual nature of that object or action. For example, I don't like mangos. My dislike of mangos doesn't change the mango. They are what they are, a fruit, and many people actually love mangos. I just happen to not like the way they taste. I think they're disgusting. It's just my opinion.

If you don't like homosexuality, then don't become a homosexual. If you don't like watching homosexual behavior, then look somewhere else. If you don't like homosexual marriage, then don't marry someone of the same sex as yours.

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