Sexual orientation is about who someone feels attracted to, like who they might want to date, be close to, or have as a life partner. For some boys and men, they might be attracted to other males, both males, and females, or have different feelings that don’t fit neatly into these categories.
Scientists don’t fully understand why males feel attracted to males, but they think it could be because of a mix of genes and hormones, and less likely due to life experiences and choice.
- Genes: Studies suggest that our genes might play a part in sexual orientation. While researchers haven’t found a specific “gay gene,” they have found some genetic patterns that might be common among people who are not straight. In a recent, statistically significant study published in 2019, researchers found 5 single points in the genome that seemed common among males who were non-heterosexual.
- Hormones: Hormones are chemicals in our bodies that affect how we feel. While babies are growing in the womb, the amount of certain hormones (androgens which are a product of testosterone) can influence who the fetus might be attracted to later. For example, if a baby boy is exposed to high levels of androgens in the womb, he might grow up to be attracted to girls. If exposed to lower levels, he might be attracted to boys. Recent research suggests the baby’s brain sensitivity to the androgen hormones plays a significant role in later sexual orientation.
- Brain Structure: Some studies show that certain parts of the brain, like the hypothalamus, might be different in people who are attracted to the same gender compared to those who are attracted to the opposite gender. Neuroscientists have successfully demonstrated that tissue within the hypothalamus is smaller in gay men than in non-gay men and instead is similar in size to females. In addition, there is a relative difference in the size of the left and right cerebral hemisphere among gay men and non-gay men.
- Environment and Social Factors: The environment and social experiences does not seem to determine the sexual orientation of individuals. For example, research has shown that a youth going to a single-gender school increases the likelihood of same-sex sexual experiences, however, most are not likely to be attracted to the same gender when they grow up. Also, a controversial study followed a sample of children who were raised as girls but had male body parts. 100% of the sample grew up to be attracted to girls, suggesting that how you’re raised doesn’t change who you’re attracted to.
- Sexual Abuse: Some studies examining the histories of gay and lesbian individuals wondered if people who were sexually abused as children might have a higher chance of identifying as gay or bisexual. Sexual abuse was defined as “sexual experiences with an adult or any person over 18 when the child or youth did not want the experience or was too young to know what was happening. The study found that the abuse did not cause a non-sexual orientation, and instead found these individuals were more vulnerable to predation and abuse because of how they behaved or were perceived by others.
In summary, there’s strong evidence that being attracted to the same or different gender is influenced by a mix of genes and prenatal hormones, and are less likely to be a result of social experiences or abuse.
Written By: Heidi Erisman, Registered Provisional Psychologist