Study Seeks Clues To Homosexuality
1,000 Gay Brothers And Relatives Participate In Study Seeking Genetic Clues
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Julio Cabrera poses in a park near his home in Chicago on Aug. 20, 2007. Cabrera and his brother, Mauricio, from Olathe, Kan., are among 1,000 pairs of gay brothers nationwide who are donating blood or saliva to help scientists search for genetic clues about the origins of homosexuality. (AP)
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Photo Essay
Gay Pride
A landmark Supreme Court decision and Canada's move to legalize gay marriage make for an especially joyous month of gay pride celebrations.
They are among 1,000 pairs of gay brothers taking part in the largest study to date seeking genes that may influence whether people are gay. The Cabreras hope the findings will help silence critics who say homosexuality is an immoral choice.
If fresh evidence is found suggesting genes are involved, perhaps homosexuality will be viewed as no different than other genetic traits like height and hair color, said Julio, a student at DePaul University in Chicago.
Adds his brother, "I think it would help a lot of folks understand us better."
The federally funded study, led by Chicago area researchers, will rely on blood or saliva samples to help scientists search for genetic clues to the origins of homosexuality. Parents and straight brothers also are being recruited.
While initial results are not expected until next year - and will not provide a final answer - skeptics are already attacking the methods and disputing the presumed results.
Previous studies have shown that sexual orientation tends to cluster in families, though that does not prove genetics is involved. Extended families may share similar child-rearing practices, religion and other beliefs that could also influence sexual orientation.
Research involving identical twins, often used to study genetics since they share the same DNA, has had mixed results.
One widely cited study in the 1990s found that if one member of a pair of identical twins was gay, the other had a 52 percent chance of being gay. In contrast, the result for pairs of non-twin brothers, was 9 percent. A 2000 study of Australian identical twins found a much lower chance.
Dr. Alan Sanders of Evanston Northwestern Healthcare Research Institute, the lead researcher of the new study, said he suspects there is not one so-called "gay gene."
It is more likely there are several genes that interact with nongenetic factors, including psychological and social influences, to determine sexual orientation, said Sanders, a psychiatrist.
Still, he said, "If there's one gene that makes a sizable contribution, we have a pretty good chance" of finding it.
Many gays fear that if gay genes are identified, it could result in discrimination, prenatal testing and even abortions to eliminate homosexuals, said Joel Ginsberg of the Gay and Lesbian Medical Association.
However, he added, "If we confirm that sexual orientation is an immutable characteristic, we are much more likely to get the courts to rule against discrimination."
There is less research on lesbians, Sanders said, although some studies suggest that male and female sexual orientation may have different genetic influences.
His new research is an attempt to duplicate and expand on a study published in 1993 involving 40 pairs of gay brothers. That hotly-debated study, wrongly touted as locating "the gay gene," found that gay brothers shared genetic markers in a region on the X chromosome, which men inherit from their mothers.
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I think that is why they are doing the study.
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LOL. What a surprise. An evangelical Christian. Like he doesn''t have his own "agenda." These guys just kill me. Are there any heterosexuals reading this board that think they could "convert" without harm. If these guys weren''t so dangerous, they would be laughable.
As for ***...I don''t know why they are so hated by straight people. They aren''t doing any harm to you...leave them alone.
If genetics is found to play a role in the development of a homosexual orientation, then we must see it in the same light as we do the development of schizophrenia or diabetes: something to be treated and ultimately prevented.
I was shocked when I saw a man dress drag and he was my foster father using my blindniss against me and abused me when his wife was in hospital. Most parents disown that behaviour. They whine to the state to make them women using state money.
I will stand firm on my grounds however, that two adult people that love and respect each other (regardless of their gender, race, etc) should not be judged if they are doing nothing to harm your life. Let them live their lifestyle...what does it matter to you (meaning the general public)?
Your post doesn''t make sense. First you say "I couldn%u2019t change my sexual oreanatation (orientation)" then you state that homosexuality is a choice and not a gene. So now you like the opposite *** or is it no *** at all? Its important to know because you may just be abstaining or did you really change inside and now long for a sexual partner of the opposite ***? I am a heterosexual and could not change that no matter how hard I tried God or no God. If people are born homosexual then that would mean God had a hand in it because he created all things right? Was it a mistake? Did he do it on purpose? There are many reasons why the church wants us to believe it is a choice. The Bible does seem to be against homosexuality but it was written by man.
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Posted by lajestnix7 at 02:46 AM : Oct 16, 2007
+ report abuse
There is a VERY big difference between a Homosexual and why you professed to be. I can''t see why ANYONE would "choose" to be homosexual? Why would they subject themselves to the kind of treatment and rejection Homosexuals suffer every day. IF I were you I''d clean up my act. You seem to have bought into the Religous Reich and it''s hatred. One look at history on such things as human rights as far as where Christian Conservatives have stood and you KNOW you are wrong. Christian Conservatives have NEVER NOT ONCE in the history of this nation been on the RIGHT side of such arguments. Sieg Heil and Amen
Its a choice made, there''s nothing genetic about it.
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Posted by Hwy71So at 07:18 AM : Oct 16, 2007
It''s a known fact that chilren of alcolholics have a greater chance of becoming alcolholics themselves. That''s a proven fact! ..Morning rick
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Posted by singinrick at 08:01 AM : Oct 16, 2007
Not bad, back was out, might email you. You?
Posted by farmerbb at 06:55 AM : Oct 16, 2007"
They''ve been trying to stamp out murder, theft and rape too...
Posted by singinrick at 07:43 AM
What about Paul/Saul?
I''m a preacher''s kid from a devout Christian family and I have an aunt and uncle and two cousins that are gay........as well as myself. It does definately run in clusters in my family.
What I find most comical of all is that most straight MARRIED couples repeat a verse from the BOOK OF RUTH in their wedding ceremonies......."Where thou goest I will goest.....etc......etc" Funny that was Naomi talking to Ruth - those two women loved one another........and those are the verses that straight American immulates..........got to love that........
Their rants and raves do serve a good purpose, though: they turn off more people and convince many more how utterly ridiculous is their religion.
I know for a fact that being gay is not a choice. Nobody else, no book or belief in some super spook, can possibly read my mind and determine that what I know as fact is not so. Religions are built upon lies and deceit anyway, so them telling another lie in order to have another group of people to oppress and demean is simply typical of their pattern of behavior. They did it with people of other races, other religions, but those are now "off-limits" for the most part, so they attack gay people now because they can.
As soon as someone says, "I''m a christian", I immediately distrust them and view them as a threat.
Extraordinary claims require extraordinary proofs. It''s much, much more likely that if Jesus came out of his tomb, he wasn''t dead when they put him in there. It''s not like he was beheaded or something--"hey that sucker jumped right back on there"--a death by exposure is hard to detect. Many people, every year, are pronounced dead then are revived. Like a guy who was undergoing his own autopsy when he woke up a few weeks ago, as reported in the national press. Then, after Jesus (of course, that wasn''t even the guy''s name, but a corrupted Whitey version) showed up again. his snake oil salesmen / televangelists of the day played it up for all it was worth, and it succeeded, especially when the world''s greatest military superpower found it a convenient faith, as Christianity teaches people to be slaves. "Slaves, serve your masters"--Paul.
So if you claim our 10 billion year old universe somehow revolves around some Jewish rabbi from the middle east a couple thousand years ago, you gotta do better than that, Chuckie! Otherwise: It''s just another fairytale.
That is the most stupid statement I''ve ever heard.........Hmmmm I have a MBA, work in a professional field, I make a lot of money, I have two children and am active in my community.......my wife is beautiful....probably better than you could ever get.........nope I''m not nasty and ugly..........I drive by your trailer park everyday........
Retarded and ignorant heterosexuals.........
Again people following the herd of sheep off a cliff! Duh!
Posted by bks59
Oh here we go again with this trying to prove that homosexuality rather than being an anomaly is actually genetic. The APA was bought off by this group years ago after it confirmed that homosexuality was indeed outside the norm,like pedophilia. Or is that genetic too? We aren''t concerned with your sexuality or what you do behind closed doors. But when you try to legitimize your relationships and equate it with normal, healthy relationship between a man and a woman and then try to sanction it with a license to marry, you aren''t keeping your sexuality private now are you. Thank you very much, but it it you people that want to ram your lifestyle down our throats that''s irritating. You are free to do what you please, unless it involves underage children and marriage.
Actually I was thinking your interbreed opinions were the anamoly buddy - my counterparts are over 12% of the population strong........you might be scared MUDROSE we are all around you. You might even work NEXT TO ONE and don''t even know it.....you better be VERY VERY CAREFUL you ignorant bigot.
Got to love the educated masses of Americans CRZMEAT. Most likely my meat is larger than yours......lol!
Brown County political leader faces *** charges
Gannett Wisconsin Newspapers
GREEN BAY %u2014 The chairman of the Republican Party in Brown County faces criminal charges for allegedly fondling a 16-year-old Ethan House runaway and providing him with beer and marijuana late last year.
Donald Fleischman, 37, of Allouez, was charged last month with two counts of child enticement, two counts of contributing to the delinquency of a child and a single charge of exposing himself to a child....
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