Yes, some unfortunate people who suffer from a traumatic sexual incident with a criminally-minded adult can get twisted enough to become one themselves I guess. Any kind of sexual assault can scar anybody for life and make them do weird things sexually.
But I'd say that's probably a very small pct. of homosexuals. Most stories about homosexuals I've read have them saying that at a very young age they felt different from people of their own sex. Nobody coerced them into homosexual relationships.
If factors during birth aren't important, why are so many male homosexuals effeminate and so many females mannish? Even many heterosexuals like myself can readily spot a likely homosexual. My wife and I play the "spot the homosexual" game when we're watching tv shows with people on game shows like "Wheel Of Fortune." Many times we're right.
Certainly not all homosexuals exhibit traits of the opposite sex, but enough do to make it more than likely they're not making a choice...it's something they were born with. I don't believe in the genetic factor either. The hormonal malfunction theory is the most logical to me.
It's not genetic, it's hormonal ?
The registry testing of identical twins listed in post #3 indicate that it's highly unlikely sexual preference is determined in utero.
"Most stories about homosexuals I've read have them saying that at a very young age they felt different from people of their own sex."
It's probably fair to say that in those formative years ALL kids have moments of feeling "different" or not belonging. What seems to be lacking is parental involvement and particularly from the fathers.
Having someone claim that “they have always felt different” can mean anything. Plenty of kids go through some sort of turmoil or doubt or other issue which they imagine is unique to them. Someone who is living the homosexual lifesfyle could easily look back to such turmoil and say “that was what told me I was gay”, when it really had nothing to do with it.
As for the effeminate nature of gay men or the butch nature of lesbians, it has been my observation that, in most cases, those characteristics are forced and exaggerated, as if the person in question were trying to maintain an identity to justify his orientation. Additionally, I have seen far too many young men these days who are hetero and effeminate, suggesting that it is not necessarily associated with being gay.