Why Gays Are Gay: We’re Changing Our Minds

In reality, of course, it shouldn’t matter what other people think. But as a measure of social change, the Gallup organization has once again uncovered another shift in Americans’ thinking. It’s intriguing despite that unbelievably boring sociology professor I had quite a few years ago.

Back in 1977 when Gallup first asked why people thought gays were gay and lesbians were lesbians — otherwise known as “nature vs nurture” — a substantial majority of Americans knew it was their upbringing and environment. Back then, 56 percent said that and only 13 percent said it was a birth trait.

That thinking didn’t change much until the last decade of the 20th century. But by the middle of Bill Clinton’s two terms, Gallup was detecting a dramatic shift. In 1996, the birth belief had jumped to 31 percent and by George W. Bush’s inauguration in 2001 it had climbed to 40 percent.

Now, according to Gallup’s latest pulse-taking, fully half of Americans have bought into the birth belief, while the environment crowd has dwindled to 30 percent. Ten percent attribute both causes while six percent just don’t know.

The growth in the birth believers has come across all political and demographic groups. But over time it is most pronounced among college graduates, younger people (18 to 34), Democrats, other left-leaners and non-churchgoers. It’s also moving among conservatives, Republicans and churchgoers, but less so.

The shifts parallel a similar social movement regarding same-sex marriage. Today, a new high — more than two-thirds (67 percent) — favor same-sex marriages being legal, which is helpful if immaterial because the Supreme Court has already ruled that.

Gallup also recently found the percentage of Americans identifying as bisexual, gay, lesbian or transgender has increased to 4.5 percent, a one point jump since 2012. Of course, that could also represent simply more feeling comfortable publicly acknowledging their orientation rather han an actual increase.

I agree. Is mental illness all caused by environmental situations? Some is, some is, some isn’t. People used to think sn caused mental illness. . I believe there are multiple causes just as with mental illness. There is some evidence that homosexuality may be experimental for some, deeply rooted in others etc. it is a very interesting subject. I do not condemn homosexuals, that is way above my pay grade, but I do know it is a sin. We can pray for God’s grace and mercy. By the way, it is no greater sin than lusting after a pretty young lady, if you were married Jesus called that adultery, also a severe sin that resulted in stoning.

....fully half of Americans have bought into the birth belief....

Well, we are all born in sin. I guess each of us chooses what our sin is...so this could work theologically, couldn't it? Anyone know?

I would probably lean to that we're all born prone to sin, but maybe not any particular sin.

The science, though, isn't really there, is it? People can BELIEVE the earth is flat or that global warming is real or that Obama was born in Kenya...but mere 50% +1 thought doesn't make it TRUE.

What is the scientific, genome-laden PROOF (or evidence?) of homosexuality being an inborn trait.

And what to make of those who have left homosexuality? Uh-oh. Liberals have a problem with that.

I guess this is a good time to once again mention that this was all caused by the movie "Silence of the Lambs."

This movie was about a clearly psychotic Homosexual who murdered women to skin them and wear their skins in a "woman suit" to make himself feel like a woman.

This movie provoked massive outrage among the "Gay" community of Hollywood (which has quite extensive power in that city) and they ran screaming to the studios management demanding that steps be taken to insure no homosexual is ever portrayed like a sick psycho again.

The studios agreed to the creation of a homosexual review board that would have veto power over all movie and television scripts that depicted homosexuals in an unflattering way.

Eventually writers started writing scripts intended to get approval from this board, and these scripts featured gay characters and gay actors at far above their normal representation in society.

And that's why we have so many movies and tv shows featuring homosexuals.

Yes. It's a mistake to assume every behavior is either nature or nurture, when many of them are parts of both.

The presence or absence of certain genes can predispose a person towards certain behaviors. This doesn't mean they're *doomed* to behave that way; it just means they have to work a lot harder than others to avoid the behavior.

There are genes that predispose you to alcoholism, obesity, angry oubursts, and perhaps even Internet addiction (via OCD, which is probably partially, maybe mosty, genetic, and is associated with various other addictions).

Having these genes doesn't FORCE YOU to be fat or an alcoholic or whatever else. But having them means you'll have way more of a struggle than the average person to not fall into those behaviors.

I read an article almost 30 yrs ago of a massive study done on "identical twins raised apart". They found correlations in such behaviors as homosexuality, dog ownership, cat ownership, occupation / profession , etc.

Naturally, you'd expect to find 100% correlation on things like both twins having the same eye color, and 0% on things like having an even or odd street address. But most things lie somewhere in between 0% & 100%, thus having some part each of Nature & Nurture.

Too bad that study pre-dated FR, so we don't know if our genes predisposed us to belong here.

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