Born this way ... or not?

[Steven_Draker]

Despite national advances in the fight for same-sex marriage, Americans remain sharply split on the origins of homosexuality, a new Gallup survey has revealed.

 

New data from Gallup's annual Values and Beliefs poll found that 37 percent of Americans believed that people became gay or lesbian as the result of favors like upbringing and environment, compared with 42 percent who said that people were born gay. Interestingly, the latter result is down 5 percentage points from 2013, when 47 percent of respondents said they believed people were born gay or lesbian.

 

The poll revealed some religious, political and demographic splits, too: those with college educations, whites, females, liberals, Democrats, high-income earners, and those who seldom or never attend church were the most likely to believe that being gay or lesbian is something people are born with.

 

The results of the poll were based on a random sample of 1,028 adults, age 18 and over, living in all 50 U.S. states and the District of Columbia.

 

Results from an earlier Gallup poll found that support for marriage equality had reached an all-time high in the U.S., with 55 percent of respondents in favor of recognizing same-sex unions.

 

Read more about the poll here.

 

 

http://content.gallup.com/origin/gallupinc/GallupSpaces/Production/Cms/POLL/yrwks7mnqemqvxubgbkeba.png

[Mark Gordon]

What I don't agree with is the question being posed as an either/or. Since the totals only come to 79%, I would surmise that some of the respondents felt left out as well. I'm with the scientific community in remaining agnostic on the issue. I think that both nature and nurture have the power to influence a given individual into turning out to be gay. I don't think there's any way for us to know for sure, that it could vary by the individual and that it shouldn't ultimately matter. Homosexuality is just another one of the wonderful kaleidoscope of attributes that comes naturally to some of us. In a vastly overpopulated world, it could even be argued that it promotes the survival of the human race.

[BigK]

What I don't agree with is the question being posed as an either/or. Since the totals only come to 79%, I would surmise that some of the respondents felt left out as well. I'm with the scientific community in remaining agnostic on the issue. I think that both nature and nurture have the power to influence a given individual into turning out to be gay. I don't think there's any way for us to know for sure, that it could vary by the individual and that it shouldn't ultimately matter. Homosexuality is just another one of the wonderful kaleidoscope of attributes that comes naturally to some of us. In a vastly overpopulated world, it could even be argued that it promotes the survival of the human race.

 

Well said!

[+ Gar1eth]

There are several questions here. We could all put in our own feelings and experiences. But it would all be anecodotal. The only thing I think I can truly say for myself is that I don't remember choosing.

 

Gman

[RadioRob]

There are several questions here. We could all put in our own feelings and experiences. But it would all be anecodotal. The only thing I think I can truly say for myself is that I don't remember choosing.

 

Gman

 

+1!

 

Why would someone CHOOSE something that disadvantages them in so many ways? Why would someone choose to be in a life where they are harassed and sometimes assaulted for their "choice".

 

If I made the choice to be gay, when did all the straight people make their decision to be straight and like girls?

[Phil_musc]

That's it exactly, RR.

[+ Gar1eth]

+1!

 

Why would someone CHOOSE something that disadvantages them in so many ways? Why would someone choose to be in a life where they are harassed and sometimes assaulted for their "choice".

 

Well the obvious answer is because we are deviants and attracted to sin.

 

If I made the choice to be gay' date=' when did all the straight people make their decision to be straight and like girls?[/quote']

 

You wouldn't need to actually pick this as it's the 'default' setting.

 

Gman