Gay and homosexual
"Gay" encompasses a broader sense of identity and community, while "homosexual" is a more clinical and descriptive term. Knowing how to talk about identities of gender and sexuality is key to understanding LGBTQ+ experiences.
According to Avert. It very much appears that same-sex sexual attraction is not a choice but acting on it is; so if you define gay as the mere presence of same-sex attraction, then from everything we understand, homosexual gay is not a choice.
Probably because the word lesbian exists as well, one is slightly more likely to refer to men when using the word gay; but note that it is very often also used for women. Why Are People Gay? Medically reviewed by Harry Croft, MD. All Rights Reserved.
Are they gay by choice or is being gay genetic? Considering whether people choose to be gay is complex. No one knows for certain why any individual is gay, but the current thought is that being gay is not a choice. If, on the other hand, you consider someone to be gay only if they act on their same-sex attraction then being gay can be considered a choice depending on an individual's behavior.
According to Psychology Today3. The connections in the amygdala and the corpus callosum have both been shown to be different depending on the sexual orientation of the individual. The precise genes involved in the causes of being gay have not yet been identified but they appear to come from the mother.
Both gay and homosexual can be used for both sexes, and they mean mostly the same thing; the differences are subtle. Psychological reasons also appear to be part of why a person is gay. [6] Many gay and lesbian people are in committed same-sex relationships.
While psychological factors may increase the likelihood that someone is gay, no single factor is known to cause homosexuality. Whether science can ultimately and the biology of being gay or not, it's important to support all adults in their choices no matter how they identify.
Learn the distinctions between "queer" and "gay.". Estimates as to the number of gay people in the population range from 1-in to 1-in, so why are some people gay? Site last updated October 10, Natasha Tracy. “Homosexual” and “gay” mean the same thing these days.
If a person is an adult, is it anyone's business whom he or she is attracted to or has sexual relations with? Modern science is working to show that genetics is one of the causes of being gay, although some science conflicts in this area. Additionally, some studies have found that the brains from homosexuals differ from the brains of heterosexuals.
The reasons people are gay are both physiological and psychological. Gay simplest answer is to look at the definition of the word "gay. Homosexual behavior has also been documented in many non-human animal species, [17][18][19][20][21] though domestic sheep are the only conclusively documented example of nonhuman animals exhibiting exclusive same-sex orientation.
Study of family history reveals that homosexual men have more homosexuals in their family tree than do heterosexuals. In conclusion, while "gay" and "homosexual" both refer to individuals attracted to the same sex, they have different connotations and historical contexts.
But the real question is, does this really matter? “Homosexual” is a word that is used more clinically while “gay” is a word used more generally.