The issue of childbearing ought (imvho) to be separated from the issue of marriage. I honestly don’t know the answer, but I would imagine the solution could be found not as a broad all encompassing rule, but looking at each situation individually. After all there are a lot of straight people who I am convinced would make rather bad parents.

Also just as a side note, the whole thing about sodom of the Religous (Un)Right is similar to what I imagine might exist in a dictionary 3000-4000 years in the future (unless some changes occur)
“American – (Am-er-i-k-an)
A person who attacks and slaughters innocents to serve their own greedy interests”

http://www.baylorlariat.com/archive.cfm?file=http://www.baylorlariat.com/archives/2004/20040227/022704a.html

Despite there being huge outcry about the terrible actions of the members of the newspaper, this article was approved by the editorial board at 5-2.
I do not know how long this article will be up since I’m sure they would like to bury it, but take a look while its still there.

I think that “choose” isn’t the right word though. Nature is out of our hands, but nurture can be as well. Life could force people into a mindset as much as they choose it.

If its something you’re born with, does that suggest that there will be some correlation between your ancestors sexual orientation and your own? I haven’t done the research. Is there?

Therefore it may be conditions in the womb that move positions on the sexuality spectrum. In any case the 3 “causes” still result in the same situation.

Also given that “gayness” (actually lesbianism was not illegal since Queen Victoria did not believe it existed) until recently was a crime punishable by imprisonment (before that stoning to death), doing far back genetic research might be a little difficult given the massive efforts of people to hide from intolerance and ignorance.

In response to your comments, it has been shown by various researchers that there is a genetic link, believed to be passed down through the mother. There is also evidence to suggest, as Tom does, that conditions in the womb can affect development in various ways.

Although I think nurture also plays a part, there needs to be a seed of nature in order for nurture to have its effect. I think sexuality is a spectrum rather than a binary choice … you have everything from 100% gay through to 50/50 (bisexuals who describe themselves as equally likely to be attracted to either sex) and to 100% straight. More likely, though, as with any spectrum, most people lie somewhere along the line.

I have many friends who society classes as lesbians who are attracted to men. Social constraints often dictate who you actually _date_ but I think there is a very definite case to say that sexuality is defined more by whom you are attracted to than how you actually follow through on that attraction.

If someone is celibate, does that make them asexual? I doubt this is the general view, yet if someone dates someone of the opposite sex, this seems to flick a binary switch in people’s heads to say they are straight. Equally the other way round. Elly is bi, but because she is in a long-term relationship with me, everyone assumes she’s a lesbian. Hardly the case.