You're born gay, and that's that according to QMUL's Dr. Rahman

by Rhonda J Mangus | December 6, 2009 at 05:32 am

1767 views | 62 Recommendations | 21 comments

Dr. Qazi Rahman Queen Mary University of London's assistant professor in Cognitive Biology whose research interests include Cognitive Biology and the Psycho-biology of human sexual orientation, claims in Gay by nature: Part one: you're born gay, and that's that.

Dr. Rahman explains the impact of genes and hormones on homosexuality. Dr. Rahman views the nature vs. nurture debate as pointless, dispels the myths promoted by religious propagandists that sexuality is changeable, explains misunderstandings surrounding 'natural selection', discusses the 'Big Brother Effect', and holds mainstream media accountable for doing little to raise public understanding about the issue.

While almost all scientists accept homosexuality has purely natural causes, the debate has been mired in confusion. There have been conflicting reports about the existence of ‘gay’ genes and their significance. Religious propagandists have tried to promote the myths that sexuality is changeable. And the mainstream media, more interested in causing controversy than holding rational debate, has done little to raise public understanding about the issue. For Dr Rahman, who heads QMUL’s Biological and Experimental Psychology Group, it is quite clear: you’re born gay, and that’s that.

"The whole nature-nurture debate is entirely pointless,” he says. “Sexual orientation is not a choice because humans come in two types: one with a vagina, the other with a penis, so sexual orientation is entirely biological.

"We all end up at the same point: heterosexuality or homosexuality. There is little variation in between but this is not to exclude bisexual behaviour. People do not end up sexually attracted to bananas or animals for example. This is not a flippant comment. What I am saying is that we see the same characteristic traits and behaviours, resulting from a relatively small number of factors.

"We think the causes for different sexual orientations cluster around two areas. We know that just under half the variation in sexual orientation is down to genes. Then the rest of the variation is down to ‘non-shared’ factors, and those, like hormones, are primarily biological.”

Speaking to the question 'if homosexuality were inherited, wouldn't the genes for it disappear because of natural selection?' Dr. Rahman said:

“That is a common misunderstanding, and that is said by people with no understanding of evolutionary biology. Sexuality is a complex human trait, just like IQ or personality. It is determined not by a single gene, but how several genes work together. A whole range of features with reproductive disadvantages can be maintained in the gene pool down the generations, if only a portion of the genes responsible are advantageous to heterosexual carriers."

He continued: "One of the ideas is that heterosexual men that may carry some ‘gay’ alleles that result in more empathic and nurturing traits, which are thus more attractive to females, who might mate with them and then carry those genes on further. So long as passing on some versions of those genes is reproductively advantageous, the fact that at some point down the generations you end up with a completely homosexual male – with all gay genes activated – is inconsequential. Evolution will happily tolerate that as long as the general reproductive advantage for individuals is maintained.

"However," he added, "there is much work to do. We don’t yet know how this works. A couple of papers published last year suggested females, rather than males, benefited. Genes responsible for homosexuality have to do something, but they do not literally write the word ‘gay’ in the brain.

Explaining the hormonal influence on sexuality, Dr. Rahman continued:

"The level of exposure to sex hormones, such as testosterone, during life in the womb, seems to influence the direction of sexual preference. Everyone would be born female if it were not for testosterone. At stages during pregnancy, the hormone is introduced into the womb. The level of testosterone to which the foetus is exposed determines the level of masculinity. Some bodily markers provide an insight into exposure. One example is the relative length of index finger to ring finger.

"There are a whole range of measures like startle responses, a particular sound emission that comes from the inner ear and cognitive profiles, which show how people perform on different problem solving tasks."

So, are the brains of homosexuals wired differently? The 'Big Brother Effect':

"In males the big brother effect is also important. Gay men tend to be born younger in relation to their brothers. The maternal immune system recognises successive male foetuses and may form an immune response to particular types of protein that form on the surface of the brain in the developing foetus. This might affect sexual differentiation or it might produce some hormonal mechanism that produces that variation, too. The big brother effect only appears to be important when gay men are right handed. Left handed gay men owe their sexual orientation to other causes we are unaware of.

"Relatively recently, there has been lots of research into neurobiology – what goes on in the brain. Our lab has been working a lot on mental problem solving skills like spatial ability, finding your way around, finding important objects in a spatial environment, emotional skills and verbal recognition.

"And we know these are different between the sexes, but we find gay men tend to have a female type of spatial ability. Spatial ability is controlled partly by two regions of the brain. So if we know that gay men perform differently in these kinds of tests, that suggests that part of the brain either is structurally different or functions in a different way. That gives us an insight into brain development.

"Thanks to MRI scans, we also have the technology to look at the brain directly rather than just carry out problem solving tests on people. The studies in the last two years strongly suggest that in the adult gay brain, and lesbian brain, it is wired very differently to the straight brain.

In 2008, Swedish scientists at the Karolinska Institute compared the brain hemispheres of healthy gays and lesbians with heterosexual male and female adults. Read their findings, here.

In Gay by nature: Part two, Dr. Rahman addresses the issue of gay stereotypes and refutes psychoanalytic theories of why some people are gay. Dr. Rahman also suggests that research into gay brains may help combat homophobia. To read Part two, click here.

Read Gay by nature: Part one in its entirety.

Related stories can be found on NowPublic Human Sexuality Special News Coverage.

0 See all footage | View Slideshow

Share: email story | add to any | | facebook | stumbleupon

recommend This comment thread is now closed

Uwe Paschen

at 05:48 on December 6th, 2009

That should be that in deed, but unfortunately some will not accept it as such.

I am not certain though that it is not inherited, since many homosexuals still got married and had children due to social pressures. After all society was even more narrow minded only a few decades ago then it is today.

I know we have some in our family and this for generations. Still until recently they got married and had children to hide their tendency.

Rhonda J Mangus

at 06:08 on December 6th, 2009

And it is tragic, to say the least, that some homosexuals have married to hide their homosexuality, Paschen. I also find it is one of the worst betrayals to the spouses who think they are marrying a hetero-sexual, to any children born of such a false 'reality', and worst to the individual(s) who fears to live authentically.

Of course, many individuals will not accept Dr. Rahman's (and others) findings -- again, the indoctrinated mind is blind, Paschen. It is truly unfortunate because it is a privilege to know those different from ourselves.

I am very proud to be mother to a gay male. I have learned so much about the LGBT culture because of him. However, I have also had the unfortunate experience of up-close-and-personal with the dark side of society's social institutions. Nevertheless, Michael is encouraged to live as he chooses, authentically. Here's to hoping others' catch on:)!

Thanks for reading, commenting, and for the rec!:)

Alida Antonia Cornelius

at 13:29 on December 6th, 2009

I am totally convinced it's genetic. And from what I have heard, the genes are passed from the mother. So, people who are gay but continue to marry and have children, are passing on the genes.

No one would choose the social problems it carries if they did not have to.

Rhonda J Mangus

at 15:55 on December 6th, 2009

I am not so sure your interpretation is quite accurate, Art_By_Alida: "So, people who are gay but continue to marry and have children, are passing on the genes." but I do thank you for reading, commenting, and for the recommendation!:)

Hugh Askew

at 08:54 on December 6th, 2009

"People do not end up sexually attracted to bananas or animals for example."

That is laughably funny, if untrue. Were it true, there would be no need for laws dealing with bestiality.

The part where it disproves evolution is good, too.

His congregation will nod their collective heads in agreement with his sermon. They know.

YankeeJim

at 06:09 on December 6th, 2009

For me the scientific facts have mounted for a lifetime to explain that sexual orientation is genetic and that the world is not black and white. There are many shades of gray out there and we should learn to not only accept diversity, but to revel in the benefits that diversity affords society.

There will remain a lot of people stuck in a place where the lid is on thinking. For them, I look back on the journey of life and say, wish you were here.

Rhonda J Mangus

at 06:19 on December 6th, 2009

YankeeJim, "There will remain a lot of people stuck in a place where the lid is on thinking. For them, I look back on the journey of life and say, wish you were here."

Very well said, YJ! Thanks:)!

Rhonda J Mangus

at 06:16 on December 6th, 2009

Hugh, I don't know why Dr. Rahman said that, "People do not end up sexually attracted to bananas or animals for example."

The only explanation I can offer is he had evolution on his mind at the same moment:). Make sense?:)

The 'congregation' definitely knows -- that's another tragedy!

Thanks for reading and commenting!

Barbara McPherson

at 06:28 on December 6th, 2009

There seems to be a clear evolutionary advantage to having homosexuals in a community/family. The non-reproducing members of a family would contribute to the food production and child rearing thus ensuring a better chance of the children in that family to grow up. The genes get passed on regardless. There has been a similar argument put forward as to why humans live beyond their reproductive years.

Hugh Askew

at 07:21 on December 6th, 2009

hmmm. That would mean the entire theory would have to be written anew, unless we are to assign some sort of intelligence to nature. That would make nature rather God-like, so we can't have that.

Rory Cripps

at 09:46 on December 6th, 2009

Rhonda: What about bi-sexuality? How would that play into this?

Rhonda J Mangus

at 10:06 on December 6th, 2009

Rory, thank you for reading, commenting, and for the recommendation!

Dr. Rahman, although not elaborating on bi-sexuality, does not appear to exclude it.

"We all end up at the same point: heterosexuality or homosexuality. There is little variation in between but this is not to exclude bisexual behaviour."

Consequently, I would think that bi-sexuality plays into his findings:

"...we see the same characteristic traits and behaviours, resulting from a relatively small number of factors."

"We think the causes for different sexual orientations cluster around two areas. We know that just under half the variation in sexual orientation is down to genes. Then the rest of the variation is down to ‘non-shared’ factors, and those, like hormones, are primarily biological.”

Rhonda J Mangus

at 10:16 on December 6th, 2009

Rory, further explanation on bisexuality and studies, theories, and social responses can be found at wiki Bi-sexuality.

Rhonda J Mangus

at 10:30 on December 6th, 2009

"But, not all men who identify themselves as gay were born gay. Some gay men in primal therapy become straight, such as Anthony Perkins and his lover, both, and others remain gay.

How would he explain that?"

Probably the same way I would, Roy -- a lot of people know the dangers and the lie of so called 'ex-gay therapies'. IMO, anyone who claims them to be true are living a 'false reality'.

Nevertheless, I thank you for reading, your opinion, and for the rec:)!

Rhonda J Mangus

at 10:32 on December 6th, 2009

Roy, if you haven't already, you might want to read Gay by nature: Part two.

ranter22

at 11:15 on December 6th, 2009

If people are born that way, are they thinking already about whether they need to hide it?

Another idea would be to sanction society and elicit a valid acceptance.

People are people and what it is that they do or don't do is a matter for an individual to decide.

No one should either, hurt nor have to accept another behavior by any law or decree.

Discrimination laws are needed to help prevent abuses.

Anyone asking me for an opinion will get it, favorable or not.

I would not go about chastising or complementing something which is personal and would not appreciate being made to seem phonic of something if i did not agree to it.

Being very much human is my place to say that many of us have times where we embrace things in life, people, situations, etc.

Emotions run deeply at times and at other times even deeper.

Self submission by emotions to a way of life is very much voluntary.

Trapped in body of the opposite sex is just not feasible.

For if that were true, then a female who believes to be a male would be a male living with a female and the female would be looking for a female, and not a male. But because it is two females then both seek out the same sex feeling female and loving it. If the wishes were granted by some way, the couple would not want to be an item anymore. Truly a paradox.

From my point of view, Please remember, no matter what or who we are that our lives are ours but for a moment in time, Respect life and love one another and let the hate roam far away from where we are.

The money to the rich, The laws to the kings, The romance to the lovers.

Babel-Fish

at 12:32 on December 6th, 2009

I totally agree that people are born gay, there is however a very broad spectrum between how male or how female one can be. Many people can go through life never knowing their sexual balance. Sexual attraction is the key as a man I am only interested in the female shape and the smell of a woman, its what switches me on. ie: Mens bum's are not worth a second look. Yet I know I have a feminine side and that it gives me the balance of what and who I am.

In my opinion Dr Qazi Rahman still has not got all the answers but he is on track, bi-sexual are the only ones that can change their preferences if indoctrinated to do so and that seems very logic to me.

worshipnaked

at 17:04 on December 6th, 2009

Allow me to muddy the water by giving you a little more information about myself than you want to know. Based on my own very thorough research in human sexuality, I am a kinsey five. The sexual partners of my past and for the foreseeable future will be of any gender or sexual identity. It is only kinky the first time you try something new, after that its old hat. Dirty old men aren't the only people in the world with rabid sex drives. I started very young and have continued into middle age. I have been in long term relationships with a straight woman, and a gay man. I have known many pleasures, and hope learn of more before I leave this world. Having said that, I think wise to state that pedophillia is not only a crime, it is morally reprehensable. I am personaly not attracted to animals, but I grew up in a rural comunity in Alabama where it was not unheard of. I believe most of those boys grew through that phase of their sexual development as soon as they found human partners who were willing. So sexual identity for me you see, is more a matter of fact. I am sexual, and I am not ashamed to say that I like keeping my sexual options open. My domestic partner is now and shall forever be my husband. He chases younger men, and I go for lipstick lesbians. Every now and then a guest list for a garden party on my June birthday works out just right. Wouldn't you be so lucky to know me. Human sexuality is a capacious space that I have thoroughly enjoyed exploring. Every time is like the first time for me, even with my partner of 10 years.

John DPT Smith (not verified)

at 19:53 on December 6th, 2009

Roy and Rhonda, I have experience with primal therapy, and I'm with Rhonda. Primal theory has only hurt homosexuals by declaring their preferences a disease. Editor DPT

Rhonda J Mangus

at 16:53 on December 7th, 2009

QueensHart, with all due respect, this is the type of talk that prevents people from moving toward accepting homosexuality as innate. Why the 'blame-game'? And talk about stereo-typing, honestly. Too, I can recognize a 'wounded child' when I see one. Nevertheless, you are entitled to your Opinion. Thanks for sharing it!:)