Dec 16, 2020

Many wonder what makes people gay. The answer is not so simple, as it is likely a combination of emotional, hormonal, biological, and environmental factors. Genes can contribute to determining sexuality, but the role is limited, with a contributing factor of roughly 8-25%. This article will dig into this, and other homosexuality statistics, as well as cover myths and stereotypes surrounding gays and the LGBT+ community as a whole.

Article Contents

Statistics (Editors Picks)

  • Genes play a limited role in determining sexuality, but do in fact contribute to homosexuality. 
  • Genes can explain 8-25% of why people have same-sex relations
  • Biologists have documented homosexual behavior in more than 450 species
  • Most scientists agree that sexual orientation (including homosexuality and bisexuality) is the result of a combination of environmental, emotional, hormonal, and biological factors.
  • The majority of pedophiles are not gay or other LGBT individuals. In fact, some studies even show that 90% of child molestation is committed by heterosexual men.
  • There is inconclusive evidence on whether gay people are smarter, on average than their straight counterparts. 
  • There is no definable 'gay lifestyle.'

Homosexuality Statistics

Why are people gay?

Many individuals may wonder why people are gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, etc. Are people born gay? Do people have a choice in their sexual orientation? Well the answer is not quite simple. Most studies determine that sexual orientation is based on emotional, hormonal, biological, and even environmental factors. As a result, there are many different factors that contribute to someone being gay, and these factors may be different depending on the person. So when answering why people are gay, the answer is actually quite tough. However, it is safe to assume that at least one of the aforementioned factors may play a role. When determining whether people are born gay, it is important to look at whether there is a gene that determines sexuality. There have been many studies on this, and scientists have concluded that genes themselves can only contribute to about 8-25% of the reason why people are gay. As a result, there is definitely a contributing factor, but as mentioned before, there are other factors at play as well. In addition, humans are not the only species where homosexuality has been documented. In fact, scientists have been able to document homosexual behavior in over 450 species. 

Key Statistics: 

  • Genes play a limited role in determining sexuality, but do in fact contribute to homosexuality.
  • Genes can explain 8-25% of why people have same-sex relations
  • Biologists have documented homosexual behavior in more than 450 species
  • Most scientists agree that sexual orientation (including homosexuality and bisexuality) is the result of a combination of environmental, emotional, hormonal, and biological factors.

Sources:

Gay Myths & Stereotypes

LGBT Pedophilia & More

There are many myths and misconceptions, as well as stereotypes, about the gay and LGBT+ community as a whole. We attempted to answer a few burning questions that we had discovered with the truth through our own research. Here are some of the questions and answers.

Are pedophiles more commonly members of the LGBT+ community?

There is a blatant misconception that pedophiles are more commonly members of the LGBT+ community. The truth is that the majority of pedophiles are certainly not gay or LGBT+. In fact, there have been studies that show that 90% of child molestation is committed by heterosexual men. 

Are gay people smarter?

Many people wonder if there is a link between being homosexual and having higher intelligence. There are many members of the community that argue that they have seen in their life a correlation between homosexuality and high intelligence, but the results are inconclusive - and though some studies have shown this to be true, it could possibly be due to other factors. Before a final answer can be given, there needs to be more in-depth research completed. 

What is the gay lifestyle?

There is definitely a stereotype when it comes to the ‘gay lifestyle.’ Many people attempt to define this, but there is no definable ‘gay lifestyle,’ LGBT+ people are different from one another in the same ways that heterosexual people are different from one another. 

Key Statistics: 

  • The majority of pedophiles are not gay or other LGBT individuals. In fact, some studies even show that 90% of child molestation is committed by heterosexual men.
  • There is inconclusive evidence on whether gay people are smarter, on average than their straight counterparts
  • There is no definable 'gay lifestyle.'

Sources:

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