by Jason Sorrell

Created on: January 22, 2009

To answer with a definitive "yes" or "no" to this question would be to over-simplify a very complex issue and lead to certain extreme risks. The correct answer is that, yes, a person can be born with a genetic predisposition toward being homosexual. That predisposition is natural, and should this trait express itself, then the individual should be allowed to pursue his or her genetic predestination. However, experience has shown us that environment can play a role in the expression of this genetic trait (often and unfortunately to the detriment of the individual) and there remains a level of choice in how the individual chooses to express this trait.

In other words, a genetic predisposition does not guarantee homosexual behavior. Ultimately an individual choice, often enfluenced by their environment, must come into play.

Let us consider why we must not make the mistake of assuming genetics, environment, or choice as the sole or even prime factor in homosexual or any other trait that society may deam "questionable".

Choice cannot be the prime or sole factor. If choice were the prime or sole factor, then society could consider the choice aborhent and make the choice criminal, as has been the case in some civilizations in the past and in some communities in our own country with regard to homosexuality.

Environment cannot be the prime or sole factor. If environment were the prime or sole factor, then society could create programs to reduce those environmental factors contributing to the possibility that the undesired behavior might manifest, as was the case and in some circumstances continues to be the case in our society (although our level of tolerance is greatly improved compared to a decade ago) in regards to homosexuality.

Genetics cannot be the prime or the sole factor, not because a person could be made into a homosexual by environment or truly be a homosexual by choice, but because a genetic reason as the sole factor would result in the eventual development of a screening process. A gene-therapy "cure" would be created for a behavior that is not a disease. The arguement that homosexuality provides no benefit to society or to the species in an evolutionary manner would be advanced. Individuals may be born with a predispostion, but that does not mean they will be homosexual, nor does the elimination of that genetic trait from our species mean that the behavior will cease.

All three factors must be weighed in order for homosexuality to obtain tolerance in

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