Scientific Evidence Suggests "You Are Born Gay"

[lupestripe]

The latest research coming out of Queen Mary's College, The University of London, makes interesting reading. It was reported by the BBC yesterday.

Scientists have discovered that there is an asymmetry between the two hemispheres of the brain that is common to both heterosexual men and gay women. Equally, there was no asymmetry in the brains of heterosexual women and gay men.

Added to this, there are more nerve connections in the right side of the amygdala in heterosexual men and gay women whilst heterosexual women and gay men had more connections in the left side of the amygdala.

Effectively, structurally at least, the brains of gay men were more like heterosexual women, and gay women more like heterosexual men.

According to Dr Qazi Rahman of the University: "As far as I'm concerned there is no argument any more - if you are gay, you are born gay," he said.

I accept that this is just a scientific theory and therefore open to criticism but if it is true, it's good to see science once again triumph over the religious right.

BBC Article On Sexual Orientation

All that remains to be seen now is whether the furry mentality can be neurologically understood...

Comments

[schnee.livejournal.com]

I'm not particularly convinced yet, myself. Who's to say that the differences in the brain are the reason why people are homosexual, as opposed to vice versa? Maybe it's being homosexual that has an effect on your brain, and given that your brain isn't a static thing that never changes, this could very well happen during childhood.

Also, I wonder how they explain bisexuality. :)

[avon-deer.livejournal.com]

Here's my theory, totally unsupported by any scientific evidence whatsoever. The Human Being's default sexual state is bisexual (it's no coincidence that our closest natural cousin is almost exclusively bisexual). However some will have a preference to one side or the other. Be this preference genetic (as supported by this research) or developed over time (as supported by the number of blokes who are repelled by the idea of same sex union, but can't quite put their finger on WHY).

I am prepared to put this nature or nurture argumemnt to bed by giving what I feel is the most likely answer. A BIT OF BOTH!

[darkphox.livejournal.com]

I don't need an science crap to tell me that! all my dads side siblings are gay . I'm gay, my half brother and 2 half sisters are gay :P

[jackalesque.livejournal.com]

I kind of just assumed that all along, soo much is based in your genes.

[kitsunefury.livejournal.com]

The furry community cannot ever be understood. Even by its own members. Scientific proof?

You try explaining what furry is to a non-fur. :D

[kajidog.livejournal.com]

I would be very hesitant about drawing the conclusion that gheyness was somehow genetic from this study - I don't know that the study actually says that - it's just a comment on the study by a cognitive biologist, who's entire job is convincing people that evolution is determined on a molecular level (things are possibly more complicated than that).

There are also recent links between the size of brain structures and autism, aggression in children, cocaine addiction .. and so on .. but no one can say whether the brain changed because of X, or whether the brain was always like that and it just increased the potential for X.

So this is useful, but they still have no idea about the brain, tip of the iceberg stuff =).

*suddenly considers doing brain scans of furs* Nah...

[laceaurora.livejournal.com]

interesting theory :3

[silent-o.livejournal.com]

The vagaries of the human brain will likely never be fully understood.

Interesting theory, but I'm not going to make any conclusions until I get more info.