First off, I'm sure that this tends to be a charged topic and I don't want to step on toes here. However, some things have been bothering me regarding certain view points that don't add up or simply cause me to question the subject. It came up in an another thread but it's something that a good number of people tend to say.

[quote=@Darcs]
But you're essentially comparing something people are born with, being gay 
[/quote]

That brings up something I've always had a bit of conflict with and that is the supposition that one is born gay. That would posit that gayness is genetic rather than a choice or even a lifestyle formed from psychological factors. That they literally are forced into a state of being gay just like I don't have any say in being genetically Asian.

So does that mean there is a genetic sequence that determines your sexuality? That, in fact, it is an alterable condition given sufficient understanding of the genes and a method by which one could change it? How much is attributable to personal experience, environment, and psychological factors if it can be attributed to anything but genetics?

I keep hearing "They're just born that way" and that "they can't help who they're attracted to". I can't help but feel like that's a cop out; a way to avoid thinking too hard about what would cause a divergence from the breeding instinct that helps us choose our mates. I mean our brains are hard-wired with preconceptions that are sub-conscious. Years of evolution and instincts born of breeding to survive have to account for something don't they?

There are many known cases of homosexuality in almost all animals. Animals actually tend towards bisexuality from what I'm understanding rather than being exclusively homosexual which is considered a rarity. The various results are flawed though because they fail to make the distinction between bisexual and strictly homosexual relations. Of course, there isn't a whole lot of proof (that I know of) that other animals are capable of the levels of emotional and intellectual commitment to a relationship that we humans tend to espouse, but it's not even a case of the animals being monogamous or not. Those animals which only temporarily pair up like sheep are just as likely as the ones who mate for life like penguins.

The science behind it all is kind of sketchy to be honest. It's a loaded subject and those who research it are scrutinized heavily by both sides of the debate on homosexuality. It's kind of to the point where the results are hard to trust because they either miss something, are afraid to voice their thoughts, or are biased in one way or another.

I'd like to hear your thoughts on it. No hate language or crude jokes please. Though I doubt any of you would engage in such crass behavior I just want to make sure that there are no misconceptions about the intent of this thread. Given the recent judgment handed out by the US Supreme court, I felt a need to expand my understanding of what is popular belief regarding homosexuality and why.