Why is a person gay

How do people know if they are lesbian, gay, or bisexual?

According to current scientific and professional understanding, the core attractions that form the basis for adult sexual orientation typically emerge between middle childhood and early adolescence. These patterns of emotional, romantic, and sexual attraction may arise without any prior sexual experience. People can be celibate and still know their sexual orientation--be it lesbian, gay, bisexual or heterosexual.

Different lesbian, gay and bisexual people have very different experiences regarding their sexual orientation. Some people know that they are lesbian, gay or bisexual for a long time before they actually pursue relationships with other people. Some people engage in sexual activity (with same-sex and/or othersex partners) before assigning a clear label to their sexual orientation. Prejudice and discrimination make it difficult for many people to come to terms with their sexual orientation identities, so claiming a lesbian, gay or bisexual identity may be a slow process.

What causes a person to have a particular sexual orientation?

There is no consensus among scientists about the exact reasons that an individual develops a heterosexual, bisexual, gay or lesbian orientation. Although much research has examined the possible genetic, hormonal, developmental, social and cultural influences on sexual orientation, no findings have emerged that permit scientists to conclude that sexual orientation is determined by any particular factor or factors. Many think that nature and nurture both play complex roles; most people experience little or no sense of choice about their sexual orientation.

What role do prejudice and discrimination play in the lives of lesbian, gay, and bisexual people?

Lesbian, gay and bisexual people in the United States encounter extensive prejudice, discrimination and violence because of their sexual orientation. Intense prejudice against lesbians, gay men, and bisexual people was widespread throughout much of the 20^th century. Public opinion studies over the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s routinely showed that, among large segments of the public, lesbian, gay and bisexual people were the target of strongly held negative attitudes. More recently, public opinion has increasingly opposed sexual orientation discrimination, but expressions of hostility toward lesbians and gay men remain common in contemporary American society. Prejudice against bisexuals appears to exist at comparable levels. In fact, bisexual individuals may face discrimination from some lesbian and gay people as well as from heterosexual people.

Sexual orientation discrimination takes many forms. Severe antigay prejudice is reflected in the high rate of harassment and violence directed toward lesbian, gay and bisexual individuals in American society. Numerous surveys indicate that verbal harassment and abuse are nearly universal experiences among lesbian, gay and bisexual people. Also, discrimination against lesbian, gay, and bisexual people in employment and housing appears to remain widespread.

The HIV/AIDS pandemic is another area in which prejudice and discrimination against lesbian, gay and bisexual people have had negative effects. Early in the pandemic, the assumption that HIV/AIDS was a "gay diseases" contributed to the delay in addressing the massive social upheaval that AIDS would generate. Gay and bisexual men have been disproportionately affected by this disease. The association of HIV/AIDS with gay and bisexual men and the inaccurate belief that some people held that all gay and bisexual men were infected served to further stigmatize lesbian, gay and bisexual people.

What is the psychological impact of prejudice and discrimination?

Prejudice and discrimination have social and personal impact. On the social level, prejudice and discrimination against lesbian, gay and bisexual people are reflected in the everyday stereotypes of members of these groups. These stereotypes persist even though they are not supported by evidence, and they are often used to excuse unequal treatment of lesbian, gay and bisexual people. For example, limitations on job opportunities, parenting and relationship recognition are often justified by stereotypic assumptions about lesbian, gay and bisexual people.

On an individual level, such prejudice and discrimination may also have negative consequences, especially if lesbian, gay and bisexual people attempt to conceal or deny their sexual orientation. Although many lesbians and gay men learn to cope with the social stigma against homosexuality, this pattern of prejudice can have serious negative effects on health and well-being. Individuals and groups may have the impact of stigma reduced or worsened by other characteristics, such as race, ethnicity, religion, or disability. Some lesbian, gay, and bisexual people may face less of a stigma. For others, race, sex, religion, disability or other characteristics may exacerbate the negative impact of prejudice and discrimination.

The widespread prejudice, discrimination, and violence to which lesbians and gay men are often subjected are significant mental health concerns. Sexual prejudice, sexual orientation discrimination and antigay violence are major sources of stress for lesbian, gay and bisexual people. Although social support is crucial in coping with stress, antigay attitudes and discrimination may make it difficult for lesbian, gay and bisexual people to find such support.

Is homosexuality a mental disorder?

No, lesbian, gay and bisexual orientations are not disorders. Research has found no inherent association between any of these sexual orientations and psychopathology. Both heterosexual behavior and homosexual behavior are normal aspects of human sexuality. Both have been documented in many different cultures and historical eras. Despite the persistence of stereotypes that portray lesbian, gay and bisexual people as disturbed, several decades of research and clinical experience have led all mainstream medical and mental health organizations in this country to conclude that these orientations represent normal forms of human experience. Lesbian, gay and bisexual relationships are normal forms of human bonding. Therefore, these mainstream organizations long ago abandoned classifications of homosexuality as a mental disorder.

What about therapy intended to change sexual orientation from gay to straight?

All major national mental health organizations have officially expressed concerns about therapies promoted to modify sexual orientation. To date, there has been no scientifically adequate research to show that therapy aimed at changing sexual orientation (sometimes called reparative or conversion therapy) is safe or effective. Furthermore, it seems likely that the promotion of change therapies reinforces stereotypes and contributes to a negative climate for lesbian, gay and bisexual persons. This appears to be especially likely for lesbian, gay, and bisexual individuals who grow up in more conservative religious settings.

Helpful responses of a therapist treating an individual who is troubled about her or his same sex attractions include helping that person actively cope with social prejudices against homosexuality, successfully resolve issues associated with and resulting from internal conflicts, and actively lead a happy and satisfying life. Mental health professional organizations call on their members to respect a person's (client's) right to self-determination; be sensitive to the client's race, culture, ethnicity, age, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, socioeconomic status, language and disability status when working with that client; and eliminate biases based on these factors.

What is "coming out" and why is it important?

The phrase "coming out" is used to refer to several aspects of lesbian, gay, and bisexual persons' experiences: self-awareness of same-sex attractions; the telling of one or a few people about these attractions; widespread disclosure of same-sex attractions; and identification with the lesbian, gay and bisexual community. Many people hesitate to come out because of the risks of meeting prejudice and discrimination. Some choose to keep their identity a secret; some choose to come out in limited circumstances; some decide to come out in very public ways.

Coming out is often an important psychological step for lesbian, gay and bisexual people. Research has shown that feeling positively about one's sexual orientation and integrating it into one's life fosters greater well-being and mental health. This integration often involves disclosing one's identity to others; it may also entail participating in the gay community. Being able to discuss one's sexual orientation with others also increases the availability of social support, which is crucial to mental health and psychological well-being. Like heterosexuals, lesbians, gay men and bisexual people benefit from being able to share their lives with and receive support from family, friends and acquaintances. Thus, it is not surprising that lesbians and gay men who feel they must conceal their sexual orientation report more frequent mental health concerns than do lesbians and gay men who are more open; they may even have more physical health problems.

What about sexual orientation and coming out during adolescence?

Adolescence is a period when people separate from their parents and families and begin to develop autonomy. Adolescence can be a period of experimentation, and many youths may question their sexual feelings. Becoming aware of sexual feelings is a normal developmental task of adolescence. Sometimes adolescents have same-sex feelings or experiences that cause confusion about their sexual orientation. This confusion appears to decline over time, with different outcomes for different individuals.

Some adolescents desire and engage in samesex behavior but do not identify as lesbian, gay or bisexual, sometimes because of the stigma associated with a nonheterosexual orientation. Some adolescents experience continuing feelings of same-sex attraction but do not engage in any sexual activity or may engage in heterosexual behavior for varying lengths of time. Because of the stigma associated with same-sex attractions, many youths experience same-sex attraction for many years before becoming sexually active with partners of the same sex or disclosing their attractions to others.

For some young people, this process of exploring same-sex attractions leads to a lesbian, gay or bisexual identity. For some, acknowledging this identity can bring an end to confusion. When these young people receive the support of parents and others, they are often able to live satisfying and healthy lives and move through the usual process of adolescent development. The younger a person is when she or he acknowledges a nonheterosexual identity, the fewer internal and external resources she or he is likely to have. Therefore, youths who come out early are particularly in need of support from parents and others.

Young people who identify as lesbian, gay or bisexual may be more likely to face certain problems, including being bullied and having negative experiences in school. These experiences are associated with negative outcomes, such as suicidal thoughts and high risk activities, such as unprotected sex and alcohol and drug use. On the other hand, many lesbian, gay and bisexual youths appear to experience no greater level of health or mental health risks. Where problems occur, they are closely associated with experiences of bias and discrimination in their environments. Support from important people in the teen's life can provide a very helpful counterpart to bias and discrimination.

Support in the family, at school and in the broader society helps to reduce risk and encourage healthy development. Youth need caring and support, appropriately high expectations and the encouragement to participate actively with peers. Lesbian, gay and bisexual youth who do well despite stress — like all adolescents who do well despite stress — tend to be those who are socially competent, who have good problem-solving skills, who have a sense of autonomy and purpose, and who look forward to the future.

In a related vein, some young people are presumed to be lesbian, gay or bisexual because they don't abide by traditional gender roles (i.e., the cultural beliefs about what is appropriate "masculine" and "feminine" appearance and behavior). Whether these youths identify as heterosexual or as lesbian, gay or bisexual, they encounter prejudice and discrimination based on the presumption that they are lesbian, gay or bisexual. The best support for these young people is school and social climates that do not tolerate discriminatory language and behavior.

At what age should lesbian, gay or bisexual youths come out?

There is no simple or absolute answer to this question. The risks and benefits of coming out are different for youths in different circumstances. Some young people live in families where support for their sexual orientation is clear and stable; these youths may encounter less risk in coming out, even at a young age. Young people who live in less supportive families may face more risks in coming out. All young people who come out may experience bias, discrimination, or even violence in their schools, social groups, work places and faith communities. Supportive families, friends and schools are important buffers against the negative impacts of these experiences.

What is the nature of same-sex relationships?

Research indicates that many lesbians and gay men want and have committed relationships. For example, survey data indicate that between 40 percent and 60 percent of gay men and between 45 percent and 80 percent of lesbians are currently involved in a romantic relationship. Further, data from the 2000 U.S. Census indicate that of the 5.5 million couples who were living together but not married, about 1 in 9 (594,391) had partners of the same sex. Although the census data are almost certainly an underestimate of the actual number of cohabiting same-sex couples, they indicate that there are 301,026 male samesex households and 293,365 female same-sex households in the United States.

Stereotypes about lesbian, gay, and bisexual people have persisted, even though studies have found them to be misleading. For instance, one stereotype is that the relationships of lesbians and gay men are dysfunctional and unhappy. However, studies have found same-sex and heterosexual couples to be equivalent to each other on measures of relationship satisfaction and commitment.

A second stereotype is that the relationships of lesbians, gay men and bisexual people are unstable. However, despite social hostility toward same-sex relationships, research shows that many lesbians and gay men form durable relationships. For example, survey data indicate that between 18 percent and 28 percent of gay couples and between 8 percent and 21 percent of lesbian couples have lived together 10 or more years. It is also reasonable to suggest that the stability of same-sex couples might be enhanced if partners from same-sex couples enjoyed the same levels of support and recognition for their relationships as heterosexual couples do, i.e., legal rights and responsibilities associated with marriage.

A third common misconception is that the goals and values of lesbian and gay couples are different from those of heterosexual couples. In fact, research has found that the factors that influence relationship satisfaction, commitment and stability are remarkably similar for both same-sex cohabiting couples and heterosexual married couples.

Far less research is available on the relationship experiences of people who identify as bisexual. If these individuals are in a same-sex relationship, they are likely to face the same prejudice and discrimination that members of lesbian and gay couples face. If they are in a heterosexual relationship, their experiences may be quite similar to those of people who identify as heterosexual unless they choose to come out as bisexual; in that case, they will likely face some of the same prejudice and discrimination that lesbian and gay individuals encounter.

Can lesbians and gay men be good parents?

Many lesbians and gay men are parents; others wish to be parents. In the 2000 U.S. Census, 33 percent of female same-sex couple households and 22 percent of male same-sex couple households reported at least one child under the age of 18 living in the home. Although comparable data are not available, many single lesbians and gay men are also parents, and many same-sex couples are part-time parents to children whose primary residence is elsewhere.

As the social visibility and legal status of lesbian and gay parents have increased, some people have raised concerns about the well-being of children in these families. Most of these questions are based on negative stereotypes about lesbians and gay men. The majority of research on this topic asks whether children raised by lesbian and gay parents are at a disadvantage when compared to children raised by heterosexual parents. These are the most common questions and answers:

1. Do children of lesbian and gay parents have more problems with sexual identity than do children of heterosexual parents?

For instance, do these children develop problems in gender identity and/or in gender role behavior? The answer from research is clear: sexual and gender identities (including gender identity, gender-role behavior and sexual orientation) develop in much the same way among children of lesbian mothers as they do among children of heterosexual parents. Few studies are available regarding children of gay fathers.

2. Do children raised by lesbian or gay parents have problems in personal development in areas other than sexual identity?

For example, are the children of lesbian or gay parents more vulnerable to mental breakdown, do they have more behavior problems, or are they less psychologically healthy than other children? Again, studies of personality, self-concept, and behavior problems show few differences between children of lesbian mothers and children of heterosexual parents. Few studies are available regarding children of gay fathers.

3. Are children of lesbian and gay parents likely to have problems with social relationships?

For example, will they be teased or otherwise mistreated by their peers? Once more, evidence indicates that children of lesbian and gay parents have normal social relationships with their peers and adults. The picture that emerges from this research shows that children of gay and lesbian parents enjoy a social life that is typical of their age group in terms of involvement with peers, parents, family members and friends.

4. Are these children more likely to be sexually abused by a parent or by a parent's friends or acquaintances?

There is no scientific support for fears about children of lesbian or gay parents being sexually abused by their parents or their parents' gay, lesbian or bisexual friends or acquaintances.

In summary, social science has shown that the concerns often raised about children of lesbian and gay parents, concerns that are generally grounded in prejudice against and stereotypes about gay people, are unfounded. Overall, the research indicates that the children of lesbian and gay parents do not differ markedly from the children of heterosexual parents in their development, adjustment or overall well-being.

What can people do to diminish prejudice and discrimination against lesbian, gay and bisexual people?

Lesbian, gay and bisexual people who want to help reduce prejudice and discrimination can be open about their sexual orientation, even as they take necessary precautions to be as safe as possible. They can examine their own belief systems for the presence of antigay stereotypes. They can make use of the lesbian, gay and bisexual community, as well as supportive heterosexual people, for support.

Heterosexual people who wish to help reduce prejudice and discrimination can examine their own response to antigay stereotypes and prejudice. They can make a point of coming to know lesbian, gay and bisexual people, and they can work with lesbian, gay and bisexual individuals and communities to combat prejudice and discrimination. Heterosexual individuals are often in a good position to ask other heterosexual people to consider the prejudicial or discriminatory nature of their beliefs and actions. Heterosexual allies can encourage nondiscrimination policies that include sexual orientation. They can work to make coming out safe. When lesbians, gay men and bisexual people feel free to make public their sexual orientation, heterosexuals are given an opportunity to have personal contact with openly gay people and to perceive them as individuals.

Studies of prejudice, including prejudice against gay people, consistently show that prejudice declines when members of the majority group interact with members of a minority group. In keeping with this general pattern, one of the most powerful influences on heterosexuals' acceptance of gay people is having personal contact with an openly gay person. Antigay attitudes are far less common among members of the population who have a close friend or family member who is lesbian or gay, especially if the gay person has directly come out to the heterosexual person.

Where can I find more information about homosexuality?

American Psychological Association 

Office on Sexual Orientation and Gender Diversity
750 First Street, NE. Washington, D.C. 20002
Website
Email

Mental Health America (formerly the National Mental Health Association)

2000 N. Beauregard Street, 6th Floor
Alexandria, VA 22311
Main Switchboard: (703) 684-7722
Toll-free: (800) 969-6MHA (6642)
TTY: (800) 433-5959
Fax: (703) 684-5968
Website

• What Does Gay Mean? How to Talk With Kids About Sexual Orientation and Prejudice
  An anti-bullying program designed to improve understanding and respect for youth who are gay/lesbian/bisexual/ transgender (GLBT). Centered on an educational booklet called What Does Gay Mean? How to Talk with Kids About Sexual Orientation and Prejudice, the program encourages parents and others to communicate and share values of respect with their children.

American Academy of Pediatrics

Division of Child and Adolescent Health
141 Northwest Point Blvd.
Elk Grove Village, IL 60007
Office: (847) 228-5005
Fax: (847) 228-5097
Website

• Gay, Lesbian and Bisexual Teens: Facts for Teens and Their Parents 
  A simple and direct discussion of sexual orientation for young people who may be questioning their sexual orientation, and for parents who may first be learning their child is lesbian, gay or bisexual.

Suggested Bibliographic Citation

American Psychological Association. (2008). Answers to your questions: For a better understanding of sexual orientation and homosexuality. Washington, DC: Author. [Retrieved from www.apa.org/topics/lgbt/orientation.pdf.]

This material may be reproduced and distributed in whole or in part without permission provided that the reproduced content includes the original bibliographic citation and the following statement is included: Copyright © 2008 American Psychological Association

Scientists: there is no gene responsible for homosexuality

August 30, 2019

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A genetic analysis of half a million people has concluded that there is no single gene responsible for homosexuality.

The study, published in the journal Science, examined data from the UK Biobank and US biotech company 23andMe. nine0005

Some genetic combinations have been found to be associated with same-sex relationships, but genetic factors account for only a quarter of homosexual behavior.

Researchers scanned the genomes of 409,000 people registered with the British Biobank project and 68,500 people registered with the genetics company 23andMe.

Study participants were also asked about the gender of their partners.

As a result, researchers from Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology concluded that between 8 and 25% of homosexual behavior in people in society is determined by genetic factors - but not by any one gene. nine0005

It was found that 5 combinations of genes are associated with attraction to people of the same sex, one of them is associated with smell, the other with sex hormones. But together they determined less than 1% of homosexuality.

"There is no single gene for homosexuality, so a genetic test for a person's likelihood of having same-sex relationships won't work," says Ben Neil, professor of analytical and translational genetics at Massachusetts General Hospital who worked on the study.

"It's virtually impossible to predict a person's sexual behavior from their genome," he adds.

Fa Satirapongsasuti, 23andMe Senior Research Fellow, joins in: "These are natural and normal differences in our species, and this [research] confirms that homosexuality should not be 'cure'."

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According to David Curtis, professor emeritus at the Institute of Genetics at the University of California, "this study clearly shows that there is no such thing as a 'gay gene'.

"There is no such combination of genes in the human population that which would have a significant impact on sexual orientation. Rather, we see that there are a very large number of variants of gene combinations."

"At the same time, even if homosexuality is not genetically predetermined, as this study shows, this does not mean that it is not in some way an integral part of a person's personality."

LGBT rights NGO GLAAD said the study confirmed that it is impossible to say exactly to what extent gay and lesbian behavior is influenced by nature or nurture.

It is impossible to recognize a person's sexual orientation based on external signs

Stereotypes about how gay people should look and behave are not true, scientists have found. But even those people who call themselves loyal to sexual minorities succumb to the influence of stereotypes - to such an extent that they are ready to shock gays.

In psychology, there is a term "geydar" - a derivative of the words "gay" and "radar". This concept refers to the ability of a person to determine the sexual orientation of other people solely on the basis of external signs: appearance, manner of communication, occupation. nine0005

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Most often, such judgments are spontaneous and based on the first fleeting impression of the interlocutor, based on stereotypical signs of "masculinity" or "femininity".

Despite this, the existence of "Heydar" became the object of research by psychologists, sexologists and anthropologists at the end of the 20th century. Scientific articles that a “built-in radar” for calculating people with a non-traditional sexual orientation really exists were published in fairly serious journals, for example, in The Journal of Personality and Social Psychology (the impact factor of this publication is 5.031) or in a slightly less prestigious Archives of Sexual Behavior (impact factor is 2.589).

The Journal of Personality and Social Psychology back in 1999 published a study by a group of scientists led by social psychologist Nalini Ambadi of Stanford University. Psychologists have come to the conclusion that people can indeed determine the sexual orientation of a person with a greater probability than mere chance, and both video recordings and static images of a person can provide enough information for this.

American scientists led by William Cox from the University of Wisconsin-Madison conducted another study of the “gaydar” phenomenon and stated: in fact, such a phenomenon does not exist, and all “gay signs” - gender non-conformity, appearance, manner of speech - are nothing more than than stereotypes. Nevertheless, people (even those who claim that they are absolutely loyal to gays) are subject to these stereotypes to such an extent that they are ready to shock gays. Articles have been published in 9 journals0011 Psychological Science and The Journal of Sex Research .

During the experiment, people were shown photographs of men - both traditional and non-traditional sexual orientation. In the first experiment, men's hairstyles were removed from the photographs - according to the authors of the work, the hairstyle can always be easily changed, and therefore it cannot be considered as part of the human phenotype. The second time the pictures of the men were shown in their entirety. Each photo was accompanied by a series of stereotyped captions that the men depicted in the pictures made themselves, and they told the truth about themselves. nine0005

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The subjects were asked to look at the man's photo and a short story about himself and draw a conclusion about his sexual orientation. The results of the work showed that when making a decision, people were guided not by the phenotype of a person (since the presence or absence of a hairstyle in the photo did not affect the “verdict” and caused a change in the decision only in 4-7% of cases), but by signatures - that is, stereotypes, - which caused 24–28% of variations, but at the same time did not really reflect reality. nine0005

As it turned out, gay people are “calculated” on the basis of a man’s profession (hairdressers, interior designers and medical brothers became the most suspicious), his appearance (a good haircut and fashionable clothes are considered gay signs), preferences (those who do not want to be homosexual in the eyes of others, you should not confess your love for going to musicals and clothing stores, dancing, and also that he likes the work of the singer Cher).

The most masculine and certainly not gay men, according to respondents, are men who work as policemen or firefighters, are casually dressed, like to watch sports channels and play American football or basketball themselves. If a man drives a van at the same time and supports the Republican Party (we recall that the experiment was conducted in the USA), this finally removes all suspicions of being gay from him. nine0005

Thus, the scientists proved that the phenomenon of "geidar" does not imply the possession of any special intuition and is based solely on stereotypes. At the same time, even those who claim that they are loyal to gay men are subject to the influence of these stereotypes.

This was proven in an experiment where people who identified themselves as progressives and said they were comfortable with gays were asked to play a game with a male opponent who was reported with one of the following statements: “He is gay”, “He likes to go shopping”, “He is not gay”, “He likes to go shopping with his girlfriend”. nine0005

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It is obvious that the second statement indirectly hints at the non-traditional orientation of a person, and the last - at the traditional one. The essence of the game was as follows: when a red light came on, the subject had to press a button, as a result of which the opponent was shocked. The opponent was behind the partition and was invisible, and the participant could choose the strength of the current at his discretion. The goal of the game was to get ahead of the opponent and press the button before him. nine0005

In fact, the opponent was fictitious and there was no one behind the partition. However, the participant of the experiment himself sometimes received electric shocks: when the delay in his reaction exceeded a certain time, he experienced a shock of the same force that he had previously addressed to his partner.

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