Mystery of the "gay gene"

The recent sacking of Prof Brendan Bain has become a controversial issue among the masses. J-FLAG is now advocating for the decriminalization of same sex acts. While I agree that homosexuals should have certain rights just as anybody else, I will not support them advocating that society should accept that behavior as norm.

Homosexuality is nothing new. The practice has been in existence for centuries. It is prevalent in both humans and animals. As such, scientists have done extensive research on the practice. This was to prove whether homosexuality was genetic or a choice. However, to fully understand this issue, we have to examine the issue of ‘sexual orientation’. Researchers have proposed that sexual orientation is determined before birth. As such, genetics play a significant role in determining sexual orientation.

Gay gene found?

A study of gay men in the US has found fresh evidence that male sexual orientation is influenced by genes. Scientists tested the DNA of 400 gay men and found that genes on at least two chromosomes affected whether a man was gay or straight. A region of the X chromosome called Xq28 had some impact on men's sexual behaviour – though scientists have no idea which of the many genes in the region is involved, nor how many lie elsewhere in the genome.

Michael Bailey, a psychologist at Northwestern University in Illinois, reveals that, “the study shows that there are genes involved in male sexual orientation. The work has yet to be published, but confirms the findings of a smaller study that sparked widespread controversy in 1993, when Dean Hamer, a scientist at the US National Cancer Institute, investigated the family histories of more than 100 gay men and found homosexuality tended to be inherited.” He also stated that “Sexual orientation has nothing to do with choice; we found evidence for two sets [of genes] that affect whether a man is gay or straight. But it is not completely determinative; there are certainly other environmental factors involved.”

Research is biased

The problem that I have with this research is that it very subjective. Most of what I have read about genetics and sexual orientation is mostly centered on ‘gay’ men. What I have failed to see, is that no research has been done on lesbians (females) and bisexuals – those said to have multiple sexual orientation. Are we to conclude that females and bisexuals sexual orientation is not determined by genes? And if so, it is a choice? One study by Rice et al. in 1999 failed to replicate the Xq28 linkage results. If that is the case, what are we to believe?

Additionally, something that I want to understand is that, if homosexuality is determine by genes, that would mean, in any case, that the gene in the carrier would be recessive. If that person has a homosexual child, that would mean that in that child, the gene is dominant. So, how will that child be able to pass on that gene? For, that child will be attracted to the same sex, and he or she will not be able to reproduce – a man cannot impregnate a man neither a woman a woman.

Moreover, if there is such a gene, how it is that it has been recessive for so many generations (that means for another generation to come, reproduction has to take place, and for reproduction to take place, it has to be between heterosexuals) and it just happen that this specific child receive that “gene”. Research have also shown that females are the predominant carriers of the gene, so why is the gene always the dominant in the ‘male’ child, what about the female?

What if I decide to enter various prisons, separate the murderers from the rapists and do an extensive research on them and during my research, I found out that the murderers have a similar marker on a specific gene that the rapists do not have and the rapists have a specific marker on a gene that the murderers do not have, should I conclude then that there is a gene that determine murderers and rapists and therefore it is not a choice? And if that is the case, we should accept it because they have no control over who they become?

Choice or biological

There have been numerous research and testimonies of person who were gay and became heterosexuals and vice versa. As such, the debate of whether being gay or lesbian a choice will continue to avail. A curious young lady once asked the question, “Can people choose to become gay?” One person responded in saying “One of my friend's actually, decided to turn bi-sexual. I asked her "Why?" she said, "I want to experiment with my gender preferences." I said "that's....Interesting?", and she responded "Sometimes people are born the way they are -either gay, lesbian, bi sexual - and the rest of us are just in for the experiment. I want to see how girls appeal to me. Lately, I've noticed that I can find a girl to be just as cute as a guy. So, I want to go out there and see where I can go with this."

I saw a few people in middle school decide they want to try and be "lesbian" or "gay". It was almost a trend. I'm not too sure if they were born this way, never knew they could have the potential to desire the same sex, and later found out after puberty. As a result, from middle school and on, I started to believe that yes, some people can chose to turn gay or lesbian. At least this is the response I have gotten from a few friends who actually decided to make the change and stay that way for six years. Today, I have no current knowledge regarding their sexual preference status.

We can study and research as much as we want to substantiate any behavior. Whether we believe homosexuality is a choice or biological. I put it to all the gay lobby groups that please continue to advocate for the rights of these people, but do not tap into the realm of trying to force society to accept that behavior as norm.

Kenroy Davis is an educator and commentator on social issues. Email feedback to: kenroy.davis20@gmail.com