Since it’s been all the talk of social conservative extremists these days, let’s talk a little psychology. Watch any news broadcast and you’ll hear folks going on about how there’s no genetic component to homosexuality because we’ve seen no proof. Which is fine in my book, because were we to actually find said proof, social conservatives would no doubt leap on the bandwagon and try to figure out a way to fix our genetics so that none of us would be gay anymore. Before I came to my senses and realized that I’m beautiful exactly as I am, I spent a great deal of time trying to figure out what made me gay. I wanted to know why so that I could find some justification for it, plagued as I was with the knowledge and guilt that somehow, somehow, I was to blame for my very nature.
Psychology Today has an article with an interesting new idea: what if homosexuality really does have an evolutionary basis? And what if, despite our so-called choice not to procreate physically, we all somehow instinctively tried to further our genetics anyway? (This entire post is moot, however, if you look at projected statistics for the human population. We’re termed “abominations” and are told that we’ll be the cause of the end of human existence, and yet if our populations continues to expand at the rate it’s going there’ll be more than 10 billion people on this earth in the next 50-100 years. That’s way more people than I’m sure the poor earth’s resources can handle, so if there ever was any cause to have more gay people, I suppose that might be it.)
But I digress. In this article, Aaron Goetz and Kayla Causey explore ideas about what gay men have to offer the world in terms of evolutionary ideals. As in, there’s a reason women like to be around us. Here’s a very basic hypothesis on the genetics aspect:
Overly simplified, this “tipping-point” model (originally introduced by G. E. Hutchinson in 1959, and then later popularized by Jim McKnight in 1997 and Edward Miller in 2000) posits that genes associated with homosexuality confer fitness benefits in their heterosexual carriers. If only a few of these alleles are inherited, a males’ reproductive success is enhanced via the expression of attractive, albeit feminine traits, such as kindness, sensitivity, empathy, and tenderness. However, if many of these alleles are inherited, a “tipping point” is reached at which even mate preferences become “feminized,” meaning males are attracted to other males. In explaining this model, Miller asked readers to imagine a genetic system in which there are five different genes that place an individual along a masculine-feminine continuum. Each of the five genes has two alleles, one that pulls the individual to the masculine side and one that pulls to the feminine side. If a man inherited all of the feminine-pulling alleles (of which he has a 3.125% chance: .55), he will become homosexual. If he inherited less than all five of the feminine-pulling alleles, however, he would not be homosexual. Although originally proposed in simple form in 1959, this model was finally empirically tested in 2008 and 2009.
But here’s where it gets interesting:
Behavioral geneticists at the Queensland Institute of Medical Research lead by Brendan Zietsch (joined by sexual orientation expert Michael Bailey and evolutionary geneticist Matthew Keller) found that psychological femininity in heterosexual men elevated the number of opposite-sex sexual partners, suggesting that their femininity was often attractive to women (think Johnny Depp). In addition, these researchers and those at Abo Akedemi University in Finland (lead by Pekka Santtila) independently predicted that if the “tipping point” model was correct, then heterosexual men with a homosexual twin should have more of the attractive feminine-pulling alleles and thus more opposite-sex sexual partners than members of heterosexual twin pairs. The Finnish group also measured the number of children and age at first intercourse between heterosexual men with a homosexual twin brother and heterosexual men with heterosexual twin brothers. While the findings did not reach statistical significance, data suggested that heterosexuals with a homosexual twin had slightly more opposite-sex sexual partners, slightly more children, and were a bit younger at the age of first intercourse than heterosexual twin pairs.
What this tells me is that sexual selection is not only about the most physically robust among us, but also about those whose behavior is more ideal. We as gay people may not all further our species through physical reproduction, but we very much impact the world we live in and we can and do make a difference in how we move forward into the future.
I love Kathy Griffin. I was excited to see the picture of her and her mother at the Prop 8 protest in West Hollywood in May, since I was there literally right next to them by the stage. And yes, her mother is gorgeous.
At yesterday’s 2009 World-Wide Developer’s Conference, Apple unveiled a series of new awesomeness, including improved laptops, Snow Leapord, and perhaps most exciting, the new iPhone 3GS. You can check out the Apple’s own version of their information here, and if you’d like to read reviews and commentary from a variety of sources, Gizmodo has a nice roundup of articles to read.
I’ve been wanting an iPhone for ages but despite my using Mac in most areas of my life, I refuse to make the switch to AT&T. I’ll instead keep waiting for Verizon to loosen up about their own cell phone software and also to maybe (maybe!) cease the whole per-megabyte charge option for good. Maybe in 2010, if we’re lucky, the exclusive contract AT&T holds with Apple will be over, and the iPhone can be used by multiple carriers. (I personally believe that all cell phones should be able to be used on the network of the customer’s choosing, but that’s another rant for another day.)
Are you interested in getting the new iPhone? Leave your thoughts, ideas, or rants in the comments.
Oh, Maggie Gallagher. Maggie, Maggie, Maggie. We need to talk sweetie. See, I totally respect your right to your opinion about marriage and all that, but I think there’s a deeper issue you have here. At first I thought I was merely speculating, but the more I saw you, the more I realized it’s true: you have a problem. See, while you profess to speak the truth of your religious book, you’re really hiding the truth behind your desire to not see the gays get married: you’re angry that you have no gay friends.
If you even had one gay guy for a friend, love, even just one, he would never let you go on national television one more time while wearing that red smock of yours. In fact, chances are he’d never let you wear red ever again. You’ve shot your wad, overplayed the redness of your wardrobe, and have left us to come to the conclusion that either you have only one outfit that you ever wear, or else your closet is full od duplicate outfits. And since you’re not Michael Kors, I refuse to let you play the “trademark wardrobe” card.
You have a problem, Maggie, let’s face it. It took me all of three minutes to do a quick YouTube search and discover the following pictorial history.
You and Perez Hilton on Larry King LIve:
You and Joe Solmonese on Hardball:
You and Michaelangelo Signorile on CNN:
You on your own NOM California announcement:
And then there’s you on Dr. Phil:
If you’re going to further subject us to your bland presence and stale arguments, the least you could do is make us think that you take a shower and do your laundry from time to time. It’s the little things, Maggie Gallagher, it’s the little things. Trust me.
In a little tidbit of gay-friendly news, Obama is celebrating gay pride with us this year, following in Bill Clinton’s footsteps by publicly saying so:
“LGBT Americans have made, and continue to make, great and lasting contributions that continue to strengthen the fabric of American society. There are many well-respected LGBT leaders in all professional fields, including the arts and business communities. LGBT Americans also mobilized the Nation to respond to the domestic HIV/AIDS epidemic and have played a vital role in broadening this country’s response to the HIV pandemic.
Due in no small part to the determination and dedication of the LGBT rights movement, more LGBT Americans are living their lives openly today than ever before. I am proud to be the first President to appoint openly LGBT candidates to Senate-confirmed positions in the first 100 days of an Administration.”
Of course, not everyone is happy about this. Heaven forbid the president actually publicly state that law-abiding citizens who live in peace and only want the same freedoms everyone else enjoys deserve that freedom and respect. The homo-obsessed One News Now is saddened and dismayed by the news. That is, at least their writers are. I followed a link to one of their polls out of sheer curiosity, and was surprised to discover this:
That’s right, the leading vote on the uber-conservative website is that this is well-deserved! With over 40% of the votes, no less. That means that of the some 56,000 people who responded to the poll, nearly 23,000 of their readers think gay pride month is a good thing. Seems they’re following the little motto of this here website…
In honor of what would have been Harvey Milk’s 79th birthday, I dedicate this post to a man who, even in death, continues to touch the lives of millions. The world is a better place thanks to Harvey Milk, and we continue on, working to further spread peace, love, acceptance, and hope the world over.
Just gay it!
Photo credit: I took this photo when I was in San Francisco at the beginning of April. It was my first time visiting, and it truly is an amazing place.
Just Gay It! is a relatively new and fresh website. As a current graduate student (and gasp! an openly gay one), posting is intermittent. There’s not too much I can do about that at this point, but that’s where you come in.
I’d love to hear from you, dear reader, be you a new reader who just found this website or a reader who’s been following it for a while. Just a few quick questions, if I may. Please feel free to respond in the comments section below, or else I happily accept email: phil (at) justgayit (dot) net. I promise I’ll try to respond to everyone. Here’s my questions:
1. What do you like most about Just Gay It!?
2. What content would like to see more of?
3. What content does not interest you?
I welcome suggestions, ideas, etc. Thanks for taking a moment and helping me further improve this website!
As long as we’re in the midst of Nipplegate 2: The One Where We Wish She Had a Crazy Sun Pendant This Time, I have a few questions for Carrie Prejean and Maggie Gallagher. But first, this video:
I’m still not a big Perez fan, but I have to give him props for going against Maggie “Marriage is Between One Penis and One Vagina” Gallagher and actually being pretty tactful the whole time. I couldn’t give a fig about the pageant at this point, which is not to say that I cared that much about it to begin with. But I digress.
My question for Maggie and Carrie is this: We’re fighting for equality because this is about our lives. We’re not out to destroy your marriage, we don’t hate heterosexuals, we’re not the ones physically beating up other people or bullying them mercilessly because we don’t like the fact that they’re attracted to members of the opposite sex. This is about us, Mags, not about you. And since telling you time and again to your face doesn’t seem to do the trick, we’re going to keep fighting the good fight until our equality is affirmed not only in this country, but across the globe. There’s no excuse for denying our humanity; there’s no excuse for allowing nations to imprison us when we hold jobs and pay our taxes and give back to the societies in which we live; there’s no excuse for bullying us into submission when we’ve done absolutely nothing wrong.
Most of us just want to be left alone and allowed to live in peace with the same benefits everyone else enjoys. Since everyone’s so fond of quoting the forefathers of this country lately, I’ve got a quote of my own to sum up my point here. Suffice it to say that it has something to do with life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. If there’s anything I know about people, Maggie and Carrie, it’s that I know a happy person when I see one. I can’t help but feel that neither of you are striving for happiness. But then, denigrating others in the name of a religion you never question* is not, the last time I checked, the secret to happiness.
Just gay it!
*Please note the use of my language. I’m not saying not to believe, but I am saying that it’s appropriate to challenge your beliefs. If you don’t, I daresay you’re sinning in the name of the religion you claim to uphold. Think about that.
According to Andrea Lafferty, who makes a living by hating people who are different (be it of religion, national origin, sexual orientation, etc.), a peaceful protest that utilizes a bullhorn to help spread a message that decries the very dangerous “ex-gay” movement at one of its little “conventions” at a church is actually a form of “terrorizing the Christians.” Allow me to translate some of the vitriol spewed by Lafferty in one of her recent blog posts. (The video she refers to that shows the “evil, horrible acts” of the gay protesters is at the bottom of this post.)
The latest explosion of gay hatred toward heterosexuals and ex-gays occurred on Tuesday afternoon at Park Street Church in Boston. The church was hosting an Exodus International conference for those dealing with unwanted same-sex attractions.
…hatred toward heterosexuals and ex-gays: The only heterosexuals they were protesting, dear Andrea, were the ones who claim to know more about our bodies and our states of mind than we do. The message for those people trying to change their very nature is that not only is that not healthy, it’s not needed. Some of us accept others exactly as they are.
…unwanted same-sex attractions: The only ones who don’t want same-sex attractions are those running the conference. It’s fine if they don’t want it, but given that many of us are gay, we DO want same-sex attraction, thank you.
They desecrated a cemetery where Samuel Adams and other Revolutionary War heroes are buried. But, why should that matter? They want sodomy and they want everyone in America to embrace their depraved behaviors. Anyone who opposes them faces vilification, harassment, and violence.
…desecrated a cemetary: Oh Andrea, they walked on the sidewalk that winds through the cemetary. But I can see how similar that is to looting graves and spraypainting headstones, so I completely understand your confusion.
…embrace their depraved behaviors: Why, I do believe that the Bible says that two loving people holding hands in public is depraved. And obviously, wanting to make a life-long commitment and supporting the society we live in is a fast track to Hell, am I right?
I won’t give any more attention to this woman who really deserves no attention at all, but I will conclude this entry to offering a response to a question she posed:
This adds “sexual orientation,” “gender,” and “gender identity” as protected classes under federal law. Gays want protection from “hate,” but is Congress going to protect heterosexual Christians from gay hate and violence?
I’m afraid, Andy, that your definition of “violence” is grossly melodramatic. The protection GLBT people are seeking is that of keeping our jobs, being hired without having anyone consider our sexuality, owning homes and renting apartments, and above all, being allowed the opportunity, nay, the right, to live productive lives as we see fit, that do no harm, but make the world a better place through openness, honesty, acceptance, and love. I’ve heard no reports of children being taunted for their religious beliefs (in deference to you, their Christian beliefs), certainly not to the point that more than one pre-adolescent boy opts to commit suicide rather than dealing with the taunting on a daily basis about something which they likely did not even comprehend. You say that you love these children, and want to save them, but if you were to embrace them now only to turn on them when they turn 18 and have the inalienable human right to fall in love with whoever they fall in love with, I can feel nothing but sorrow for you. The path you have chosen to walk is not one of love, dear Andy, and I daresay you know it.
June 13, 2009 
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