The argument for furthering rights for people of the homosexual orientation has been recently, and for years before this, been compared to race issues. Someone with skin in a different shade was born that way, so therefore they deserve equal rights. Openly gay people say that they were born that way, and gradually realized their orientation throughout their life, and experiences. Regardless of opinions regarding gay marriage and rights, what scientific evidence is there supporting sexual identity predetermined before birth? I haven't spent much time researching, but i've yet to find evidence of a gene supporting that theory.

http://www.trueorigin.org/gaygene01.asp

http://www.narth.com/docs/istheregene.html

I'm genuinely curious, I don't want to start hostility!

I think they didnt find a specific gene yet, only gene markers suggesting there mite be some kind of genetic disposition to develop homosexuality.

But in addition to homosexuality being purely genetic, there is a possibility it mite be some kind of development "dysfunction" that causes it (hormone levels altered during the sexual development of the brain in the fetus, causing a "female" sexual part of the brain in a male fetus and vice versa).

So people could still be born being homosexual, thus being predetermined to become homosexual, it's just not necessarily genetic.

We had a similar thread/discussion a few days ago.

I will say that race is more then just skin color. These African albinos have mostly white skin, but their negroid facial features obvioulsy differ from caucasians.

    http://d13119294.u171.surftown.dk/images/gallerier/albino-africans/albino-africans09.jpg" width="101" height="126">

Yeah I think ethnicity is passed on from the parents while sexuality is something that may or may not change in certain ways during the pregnancy itself. Although like Slimebeast said, there are genetic clues, but no gay gene yet.

Either way, I think discussions like this are just kinda insulting, because a conclusion in either direction won't change my mind. They're humans, they're normal, and they deserve equal rights. They're gay and they're here to stay. The question shouldn't be "why are they gay?" but rather, "now what?" And the answer is... "give them equal rights."

James Watson (of Watson and Crick) says that he is convinced that a gay gene exists and when it is found it should be altered in each person accordingly. Controversial stuff for the guy who cracked the human genome, but I suppose he was a product of a different generation.

Myself, it doesn't bother me if people are gay or of a different race, I have friends that are both.

There was an old Fox Kids music video that was about not noticing what color people were. What happened in the video was all the multi racial people got dumped in differnt color paints. There is more to race than skin color. It was very obvious which paited person was which race.

I dont understand. What should be altered, and according to what?

Basically, Watson said that if we find a genetic cure for being gay it should be actively encouraged.

I agree, although the question really isn't that of equal rights. They have equal rights, they just don't like the lack of rights that none of us have.

I am not gay, but I can not marry a man just like a gay man can not marry a man. A gay man is allowed to marry a woman, thus our rights are equal.

I don't care if your gay or not, let anyone who wants to marry anyone marry. Let anyone who wants to put anyone else on there insurance do so.

Let me allow anyone I want to see me in the hospital.

Come on, these are not hard things to do.

homosexuality is just one of those things that should be left go; The whole born that way thing I do not believe