Born gay or made gay? Or is it not that simple?

Jun 27 2006

Born gay or made gay? Or is it not that simple? The nature-versus-nurture debate remains a hot topic in discussions of homosexuality, so the Dana Centre in London is bringing together leading scientists for the first time to reveal their opinions at a one-off evening debate.

Sven Bocklandt, University of California, Los Angeles, will discuss his current research which continues the groundbreaking work of Simon LeVay and Dean Hamer in the 1990’s which claimed that homosexual orientation could be genetically passed to men on the x chromosome which they get from their mothers.

Dr Qazi Rahman, Psychobiologist, City University and author of Born Gay will argue how attempts to find a sociological cause for homosexuality have little foundation. He’ll also discuss male versus female sexuality: how men tend to be more polarized between gay and straight and how women tend to be more fluid in their sexuality.

Bocklandt and Rahman will be joined by Jeffrey Weeks a British academic, sociologist, social historian, and gay activist who will look at the other interpretations of sexuality.

With advances in our understanding of genetics and developmental biology, can scientists really offer an answer to sexual preference? Can biological explanations of sexuality really explain the full diversity of human sexuality? Perhaps some answers do lay in society and upbringing.

Sourcing Sexuality will take place at the Dana Centre - the Science Museum’s ambient and acclaimed bar and café in the heart of South Kensington dedicated to discussing contemporary science, health, medicine and technology in a cultural context – on Tuesday 18 July. A live webcast of the event can be viewed at www.danacentre.org.uk.

Kat Nilsson, Event Manager Dana Centre added: “The study of human sexuality is often portrayed through sensationalist rhetoric. Yet, there is much work being done that gives greater insights into this, one of the most important biological human drives. This event will open up a vital debate about the origins of human sexuality.”