Why do people decide to be gay

For many teens, these experiences are simply part of the process of sorting through their emerging sexuality. Across cultures, 2% to 10% of people report having same-sex relations. Thinking sexually about both the same sex and the opposite sex is quite common as teens sort through their emerging sexual feelings.

For them, it can feel like everyone is expected to be straight. A few scientists think so. Being straight, gay, or bisexual is not something that a person can choose or choose to change. Why Are People Gay? – Physiology Modern science is working to show that genetics is one of the causes of being gay, although some science conflicts in this area.

No one fully understands exactly what determines a person's sexual orientation, but it is likely explained by a variety of biological and genetic factors. There are several types of sexual orientation that are commonly described:. These changes involve both the body and the mind — so just thinking about someone attractive can cause physical arousal.

But these experiences, by themselves, do not necessarily mean that a teen is gay or straight. Some gay teens say they had same-sex crushes in childhood, just as their heterosexual peers had opposite-sex crushes. Despite myths and misconceptions, there is no evidence that being gay is caused by early childhood experiences, parenting styles, or the way someone is raised.

Editor’s note (2/8/): This article was lightly edited for clarity. Adolescence is the dawn of sexual attraction. But in addition, gay and lesbian teens often deal with an extra layer of stress — like whether they have to hide who they are, whether they will be harassed about being gay, or whether they will face stereotypes or judgments if they are honest about who they are.

And despite gender stereotypes, masculine and feminine traits do not necessarily predict whether someone is straight or gay. Gay people are represented in all walks of life, across all nationalities, ethnic backgrounds, and in all social and economic groups. Being gay is also not considered a mental disorder or abnormality.

Some teens may experiment with sexual experiences, including those with members of the same sex, as they explore their own sexuality. The term sexual orientation refers to the gender that is, male or female to which a person is attracted. Like their straight peers, gay teens may stress about school, grades, college, sports, activities, friends, and fitting in.

These new feelings can be intense, confusing, sometimes even overwhelming. Becoming aware of — and coming to terms with — one's sexual orientation can take some time. And recognizing one's sexual orientation is part of that process. It happens due to the hormonal changes of puberty.

No matter why those genes are still around, we do know that being gay is partly genetic and partly determined before a baby is even born. According to Psychology Today, 3 "In recent years, evidence has accumulated that a homosexual orientation is. Efforts to change gay people to straight sometimes called "conversion therapy" have been proven to be ineffective and can be harmful.

They might feel they need to deny who they are or hide an important part of themselves. Knowing one's sexual orientation — whether straight or gay — is often something that kids or teens recognize with little doubt from a very young age. In the U.S., 1% to % of women and men, respectively, identify as gay.

By middle school, as they enter adolescence, many gay teens already recognize their sexual orientation, whether or not they have revealed it to anyone else. This tells us that sexual orientation isn’t a learned behavior or a choice. They may feel like they have to pretend to feel things that they don't in order to fit in.

Once aware, some gay teens may be quite comfortable and accept their sexuality, while others might find it confusing or difficult to accept. Despite these numbers, many people still consider. Scientists may have finally solved the puzzle of what makes a person gay, and how it is passed from parents to their children.

They often feel different from their friends when the heterosexual people around them start talking about romantic feelings, dating, and sex. In fact, people don't choose their sexual orientation any more than they choose their height or eye color. Those who didn't realize they were gay at first often say that they always felt different from their peers, but didn't exactly know why.

Teens are beginning to discover what it means to be attracted romantically and physically to others. The reasons people are gay are both physiological and psychological. Health and mental health professionals caution against any efforts to change a person's sexual orientation.