It just my opinion but (I wouldnt know because my sexual prefernce is straight) I believe that Gays and Lesbians are actually born with that preference because how does a person develop a sexual preference if they weren't already attracted to the same sex. Am I wrong?
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The fact of the matter is that while some research has been done, there's no evidence to support either side of the argument. It is known, however, that there is a tendency in homosexuals to have a slightly smaller hypothalamus. It is important to note that scientists have not cited this as a significant enough source to attribute the difference between gay and straight. Wikipedia online desribes the hypothalamus as follows:
The hypothalamus (from Greek ὑποθαλαμος = under the thalamus) is a region of the mammalian brain located below the thalamus, forming the major portion of the ventral region of the diencephalon and functioning to regulate certain metabolic processes and other autonomic activities. The hypothalamus links the nervous system to the endocrine system by synthesizing and secreting neurohormones, often called releasing hormones, as needed that control the secretion of hormones from the anterior pituitary gland — among them, gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH). The neurons that secrete GnRH are linked to the limbic system, which is very involved in the control of emotions and sexual activity. The hypothalamus also controls body temperature, hunger and thirst, and circadian cycles.
I don't know if there's anything to prove whether someone is born gay or if they choose to be. However, one question that I just can't get over is WHY anyone would CHOOSE to be gay? Especially in today's society where if you're gay, you're ostricized by many people, you can't go into an emergency room if your partner is seriously injured, you can't get a health insurance plan for your partner, and you can't marry your partner.
I think the real question is WHY should it matter if it's a choice or if it's genetic? I have many gay friends, and I have never, NEVER heard any of them ever say that their sexuality is a choice, or anything to that effect. After seeing one of my best friends be in a very loving (and yes, same-sex) relationship for over a year now, I really don't see much of a difference between a same-sex relationship and a heterosexual relationship.
Whether it's a choice or not should not matter. If you love someone enough to say to the whole world that you want to stand by their side for the rest of your life, then you should be able to.
I agree with you on the WHY part. It seems like life would have a lot more obstacles if you were gay. Why CHOOSE a harder life?
I sorta lean more to the side that you're born the way you're born even though research/studies show variations. The reason being is... there wasn't a certain age where I decided to make the choice to be straight. For as long as I can remember I've always been hetero =)
It seems to be a combination of factors, but largely genetic. Ultimately it doesn't really matter. If someone is gay, straight or bisexual, so what? It is like someone being right, left or both handed.
I don't see how it could be merely genetic. For example, twins are born and later in life one identifies as gay and one as straight, if they share the same genes how can their sexuality be purely genetic?
I have heard many people, particularly women, claim they are lesbians because men just hurt them. So I suppose in that instant they have chosen to be gay. (Of course that could imply that they are physically attracted to men and choose not to act on that attraction. Which brings up the quesiton what constitutes gay anyway?)
Does it matter?