The Chicago Sun-Times reports on the search for a genetic cause of homosexuality. The short article begins with a surprising admission that scientists do recognize same-sex attractions' developmental nature:
The thinking now is that sexual orientation is determined by roughly 40 percent genetic factors and 60 percent environmental factors.
They also mention studies on twins that point to environmental causation, as when one identical twin experiences same-sex attraction, the brother (who shares the same genes) is also gay only about half the time.
Another surprising idea in the article is that some gays actually fear the discovery of a "gay gene," because such a discovery may lead to the development of medical treatments or even a "cure" for homosexuality. Why should they be opposed to a so-called "cure"? Most LGBT activists believe it is healthy and right for a person--even a child--to undergo hormone treatment and even surgery to change their biological gender. Why then is changing one's orientation, if possible, so frightening?
Personally, I think this ambivalence points to the truth of what homosexuality really is--a defense mechanism. As long as its cause is an enigma, and arguments are not too concrete, it's easy to accept as unchangeable because it's so consuming and unknowable. But if a specific "switch" were ever found, be it psychological or biological, then it would only be a matter of turning the switch off, and to the same-sex attracted person that is very scary.
The homosexual identity is about more than attractions; I know for me it was a place of protection from hurt and disappointment. I thought I'd learned that the "traditional" family didn't work, and trying to interact with other males as one of them only led to humiliation. So I found a way (however unconsciously) to insulate myself from any vulnerability to it. Aside from the addictive pleasure, homosexuality is a powerful ally that's hard to learn to live without.
So, on second thought, it's not so surprising to see that many gays want to let their homosexuality continue to be a mystery that can't be solved.