I responded to you a couple of days ago but I fear the spam killer grabbed my post.

But the cliff notes as I remember them…

You are correct genes appear to play a part, but at least for now it looks like a small part.

You know we’ve already been through this, right?

Actually, twin studies DO suggest that something genetic is going on.

From NYT article on the Bailey study from the early 1990′s

“We found 52 percent of identical twin brothers of gay men also were gay, compared with 22 percent of fraternal twins, compared with 11 percent of genetically unrelated brothers,” said J. Michael Bailey, an assistant professor of psychology at Northwestern University in Evanston, “which is exactly the kind of pattern you would want to see if something genetic were going on.” By “unrelated,” Dr. Bailey was referring to brothers by adoption.

And from a Wiki article on the subject

“Twin studies give indications that genes may predispose some men to seek partners of the same sex. Hamer commented “From twin studies, we already know that half or more of the variability in sexual orientation is not inherited. Our studies try to pinpoint the genetic factors, not to negate the psychosocial factors.”[88] One common type of twin study compares the monozygotic (or identical) twins of people possessing a particular trait to the dizygotic (non-identical, or fraternal) twins of people possessing the trait. Bailey and Pillard (1991) in a study of gay twins found that 52% of monozygotic brothers and 22% of the dizygotic twins were concordant for homosexuality.[89] Bailey, Dunne and Martin (2000) used the Australian twin registry to obtain a sample of 4,901 twins.[90]“

True, we don’t know.

But…

Strong Clue #1: Identical twin studies show very low concordence for SSA.
This is an indicator that SSA is triggered (or not triggered) sometime after birth. This doesn’t mean that the prenatal environment isn’t important but a genetic/prenatal environment combo almost certainly isn’t the whole picture. For every environmental difference that babies experience in the womb, there are at least 100,000 differences they experience after birth. If you played the Vegas odds you’d have to guess it’s something that occurs after birth although probably at a very young age. My guess… first few months of life up to the first couple of years.

I absolutely agree with you, but the multiple factors you are talking about usually fall under one of the two general headings: Nature or Nurture

there is strong evidence right now for a genetic/biologic cause.

What there is right now is a lot of research into genetic/biological causes, so that is the evidence that gets the press. The environmental/psychological research has died out because it couldn’t find anything conclusive. I suspect the current research will have similar results.

As Greta pointed out in her article, it is quite likely there are multiple factors that determine a person’s orientation. Also, people may have different orientations due to different factors.

On another note (perhaps this should be another topic) Greta pointed out a lawsuit against UC in her article. You can read it here: UC-Calvery Lawsuit

Personally, I hope UC files a suit against Calvary for filing a frivolous suit. Hopefully a large judgment against Calvary would put a stop to this kind of non-sense.

Nick R says:
So, there’s no evidence for ex-gay beliefs about causation.

Really, Nick? NONE?

You are absolutely correct – there is strong evidence right now for a genetic/biologic cause. There is very little evidence supporting nurture in this case, which does make it odd when you hear some conservative Christians trying to push that as the main cause – probably because it fits their particular agenda.

I do agree with Mary and others that it is probably a combination of both though – and that goes for all orientations – but isn’t that what so many of us have already been saying on this blog for years???? Its not really anything new. I think most people in the gay community would acknowledge that it is a combination of both as well

One more time with this reprint

But it has absolutely no bearing on questions like job discrimination, or adoption of children by same-sex couples, or whether we should be able to marry. We don’t yet know the answer to this question … but for any practical, political, social, or moral purposes, it absolutely does not matter.

There are many conservative christians who say that it is both genetic and environment. And I think that’s what Greta’s article was about – that both sides need to admit that it’s a little of both and let’s get down to honesty.

I agree with Eddy that conservative wave away the weaknesses in their arguments and gays wave away the weaknesses in their arguments. And then both sides keeping stamping into the ground their entrenched “beliefs”

There is alot both sides have to learn. No one is completely right and no one is completely wrong.