From The Guardian:
Compared to straight men, gay men are more likely to be left-handed, to be the younger siblings of older brothers, and to have hair that whorls in a counterclockwise direction.
US researchers are finding common biological traits among gay men, feeding a growing consensus that sexual orientation is an inborn combination of genetic and environmental factors that largely decide a person’s sexual attractions before they are born.
Such findings—including a highly anticipated study this winter—would further inform the debate over whether homosexuality is innate or a choice, an undercurrent of California’s recent Proposition 8 campaign in which television commercials warned that “schools would begin teaching second-graders that boys could marry boys”, suggesting homosexuality would then spread.
Some scientists say the political and moral debate over same-sex marriage frequently strayed from established scientific evidence, including comments by Republican vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin that homosexuality is “a choice” and “a decision”.
It seems to be a matter of faith for some Christians (like Mrs Palin) that homosexual people choose their sexual orientation, that homosexuality can almost be ‘caught’. Frankly, who would choose to be looked down upon and even despised? In Australia, gay-identified young men (aged 18 – 24) are more likely to attempt suicide by a factor of almost 4. Most of these attempts occurred before having a same-sex experience and before publicly identifying themselves as gay. Does that sound like it’s a choice?
How should the Church respond to gay people if being homosexual is not a choice? How should we relate to people in loving, committed same-sex relationships? How should we relate to homosexual people who show the fruit and gifts of the Spirit? These are real questions, affecting real people.
Sunday’s Gospel will challenge us with John the Baptiser’s message of repentance. Are we challenged to repent, to think again, to turn around, when it comes to how we relate to gay people?
Good questions!
Another question could be: If homosexuality cannot be chosen, do we then want to create a culture or climate where homosexuals instead choose to live out this side of their lives in secret?
(this I believe is the case, and typically leads to situations where homosexuals end up leading a double-life, lying to their surroundings about their true selves, sometimes even being outspoken agains homosexuality while secretly engaging in homosexual acts)
Would we want hypocrisy or exclusion to be the only alternatives for homosexuals?
More excellent questions—and I believe this is in fact what we do.