Gay: Nature, Nurture, or Censure?

There is much debate over how homosexuality occurs. Is it in the genes, or a process in gestation? Or is it due to the way a child is raised?

I think there's a third source of influence which is largely ignored: Opposition.

We know that, around puberty, kids start to break away from their parents. They begin to challenge their boundaries, and to recreate themselves as individuals. Often, they will adopt behaviors at odds not only with their parents, but also with society at large. We see this in clothing choices, hair styles, and music.

At the same time, kids are developing their sexual identities. Do kids develop sexuality in response to outside pressures?

Over the past couple of decades, the outcry against homosexuality has been on the rise. At the same time, the number of adolescents identifying as homosexual has also increased. This correlation needs to be examined.

There have been allegations that homosexuals recruit young people. This may turn out to be very far from the truth.

It may be that the anti-gay people are driving youngsters to be gay.

The best prevention may actually be to ignore homosexuality altogether.