New Study Reveals Gay Behavior Is Caused By Genetics And Environment

By: Samantha Garcia / Staff Writer

A study published by Science magazine–the largest of it’s kind to date– examined the genetics of same-sex behavior and concluded genetics do influence sexual behavior.

Although a singular “gay gene” doesn’t exist, there are several genetic factors that, in conjunction with sociocultural influences and environment, elicit same-sex sexual behavior, the study found. 

Philip K. Stoddard, a biology professor at FIU says a mix of biological and social factors influence same-sex sexual behaviors. 

“Most behavior traits have low genetic penetrance, meaning that genes exert limited control,” said  Stoddard. “The fact that most people seek out members of the opposite sex is due to unusually strong genetic penetrance.” 

In addition, there is strong evidence to show that being gay is a natural trait that is developed due to environmental circumstances. 

Melissa McCartney is an assistant professor in the department of biological sciences and STEM Transformation Institute at Florida International University. 

“Even the results aren’t a binary: it’s not that your orientation is a choice vs. your orientation is genetically determined,” said McCartney. She adds that the environment an individual develops in is not a choice.  

“The environment plays a role in the expression of almost all human traits and that environment includes things like the hormones you experience when you are developing,” said McCartney. 

She also agrees with the report, which concludes that both genetics and non-genetic factors play important roles in sexual orientation, concluding that five locations in the human genome are associated with this same-sex behavior at a statistically significant level. 

Although these findings don’t necessarily dictate whether an individual will be gay throughout the entirety of their lifespan, there is sufficient evidence to show that genetic factors and environment circumstances play a role in developing same-sex sexual behavior.

David Pacheco, an FIU who identifies as gay, thinks that being gay is natural. He disagrees that there is a correlation between environment and sexual orientation.

For Pacheco, homosexuality is found in other species such as bats and ducks, holding his stance that same-sex sexual activity is indeed natural.  

He also referenced McKrae Game, who founded Hope for Wholeness in South Carolina, a gay conversion center. Enveloped by the opposition and hate towards homosexuals- and at one point believing that being gay was wrong- he still came out as gay. This plot twist indicated that one’s environment can influence one’s perception of reality, but it can not influence one’s nature.

Pacheco also originally believed that being gay was wrong and not natural due to societal influences and opposition against gays. However, a mere innocent crush from one young schoolboy to another indicates that same-sex sexual behavior could be a natural occurrence.  

Pacheco said scientific discovery would help muffle opposition and help others understand the situation. When he came out to his family, opposition from his father was only calmed after he found scientific research assuring him that being gay was indeed natural.

“If society is what is making one believe they are gay, at one point in their lives they’re going to realize that they’re really not,” said Pacheco. “At the end of the day, one’s environment can change your perception of things but won’t change who you are.”