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People “Born Gay”? - American Psychological Association

Writer:  Peter Kupisz
Peter Kupisz
Nov 9, 2019
2 min read

Updated: Aug 1



The issue of homosexuality is certainly controversial. Part of the controversy involves the question of whether people are "born gay." Despite what has been frequently touted in the media, there is no conclusive evidence that anyone is born with same-sex desires. There may be genetic factors involved but these do not necessarily determine someone's sexual orientation. The American Psychological Association comments on this issue.


What causes a person to have a particular sexual orientation? There is no consensus among scientists about the exact reasons that an individual develops a heterosexual, bisexual, gay or lesbian orientation. Although much research has examined the possible genetic, hormonal, developmental, social and cultural influences on sexual orientation, no findings have emerged that permit scientists to conclude that sexual orientation is determined by any particular factor or factors.

The APA notes that most researchers point to a mix of influences working together — environmental, cognitive, and biological — with orientation often taking shape early in a person's life.

This point is actually one the Bible itself anticipates. Scripture doesn't treat temptation as something a person invites or chooses to feel — it recognizes that people are drawn toward desires they didn't select for themselves, and that this pull can feel deeply ingrained.

Whatever the mix of factors behind same-sex attraction, the presence of an unchosen desire isn't, on its own, treated in Scripture as sin; it's the response to that desire — what a person does with it — that carries moral weight. This distinction offers a starting point for Christians navigating this topic with compassion: acknowledging the reality and difficulty of unchosen temptation, while still holding to a biblical vision for dealing with that desire.



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Reference


“Answers to Your Questions for a Better Understanding of Sexual Orientation and Homosexuality,” https://www.apa.org, 2008, https://www.apa.org/topics/lgbt/orientation.

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