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by Leelila_Strogov from West LA

Last Post 100 days, 15 hours Ago


A fascinating new Swedish study has shed some light on the possible correlation between the architecture of our brains and our sexual orientation. Detailed analysis of the brains of 90 people -- both gay and straight -- found that gay men have brains with architecture strikingly similar to that of straight women. Lesbians' brains, on the other hand, are similar to those of straight men. In the study, that used both MRI and PET scans of the subjects' brains, researchers found that straight women and gay men both have highly symmetrical brains, with equal-sized right and left hemispheres. In straight men and gay women, however, the right hemisphere is significantly larger than the left. 

The scans also found intriguing differences in the amygdala, the section of the brain that apparently makes connections between stored information and emotional reactions. In straight women and gay men, the amygdala is rich in connections that allow for sophisticated interplay of thoughts and feelings. In straight men and lesbians, though, the amygdala shows more "fight or flight" responses. "It's a more action-related response," one of the study's authors explained.

Researchers believe the brain differences originate in the womb during pregnancy. Their theory... that exposure to male hormones "masculanizes" the brain, and that when the levels of these hormones are unusually low during the gestation of a boy and high during that of a girl, the child's sexual orientation becomes gay. 

I found this study to be so interesting not only because of the light it may shed on gayness, but on straightness too! I didn't know the differences between the way straight men and women process information and emotions was that stark and biological in nature, but I guess maybe they are... though we are, of course, so much greater than the sum of our biologies...

So what's your reaction to all this? Does this new study confirm or challenge your belief that homosexuality is a "lifestyle choice" or an inborn characteristic? And does it either solidify or change the way you view the whole idea of gay marriage, something many will be thinking about with the upcoming November ballot measure that could ban same-sex marriage in California?

Finally, do you think this study sheds any light on some of your own relationships with people of the opposite sex? 
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Happyg read my blog
Jul 2, 2008 | 4:15 PM

Not at all. I've always been a proponent of civil unions that afforded all applicable rights afforded to heterosexual couples. The only stumbling block has been a small portion of the Gay and Lesbian society's insistence that this union be called a "marriage".
As a Massachusetts resident this issue has been worked and re-worked Ad infinitum. I've always found it hypocritical of the left, that with each Supreme Court nominee they insist that Roe v. Wade is Stare Decisis (settled law),and thus, can not be changed, but when it comes to what the definition of who the participants are in a marriage, is not.
The radical agenda of a small percentage of G&L's who were determined to tell America that "we're here, we're queer, get used to it", caused a backlash that has placed the propects of many G&L's from ever achieving those benefits far into the future. As a result of their actions there are many loving gay and lesbian couples who may never see loved one on his/her deathbed. The sad part is that for two years prior to the creation of "new law" by radical judges here in Massachusetts, most G&L's I corresponded with didn't care what the hell it was called, as long as they got the benefits. Once again, the many suffer for the few.


Human Sexuality Explained?
And does it either solidify or change the way you view the whole idea of gay marriage,

craftyguy read my blog
Jul 2, 2008 | 7:50 PM

it shows that homosexuality is a mental disorder and is not natural or normal ..what it doesnt show is how cool it is to watch when its between two hot chicks!!

DfDeportation read my blog view my photos
Jul 2, 2008 | 8:26 PM

Like Ellen Degeneres and Rosie O'Donnell?

johntheman read my blog
Jul 2, 2008 | 9:58 PM

WOMEN ARE DEFINITELY MORE EMOTIONALLY COMPLEX THAN MEN. STRAIGHT ONES I MEAN. WE JUST KNOW IF THINGS ARE RIGHT OR NOT AND DONT KNOW WHY OR CARE. IF THEYRE NOT RIGHT THEN WE TAKE OFF. SO THAT RESEARCH IS RIGHT. WE DONT ANALYZE THINGS. WHATS THE POINT. WOMEN ANALYZE THINGS TO DEATH FOR NO GOOD REASON. HOMOSEXUALITY IS FOUND IN NATURE IN ALL KINDS OF SPECIES SO I DONT KNOW WHY HUMAN BEINGS CANT EXCEPT IT AS A NORMAL THING EVEN THOUGH ITS AN EXCEPTION NOT THE RULE LIKE ALOT OF OTHER OTHER NORMAL THINGS. I DONT HAVE ANY PROBLEM WITH GAY MARRIAGE AND DONT UNDERSTAND WHY SO MANY PEOPLE ARE AGAINST IT WHEN IT ISNT GOING TO EFFECT THEIR OWN LIVES AND LEADS TO RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN CONSENTING ADULTS WHERE NO ONE IS BEING HARMED OR MOLESTED ETC. EVEN THOUGH I CANT AGREE WITH CRAFTY ON THAT POINT IM STILL WITH HIM ON WATCHING THE SPARKS FLY BETWEEN TWO HOT CHICKS (NO NOT ELLEN AND ROSIE, THANKS FOR RUINING THE FANTASY DFDEPORTATION).

marv read my blog view my photos
Jul 2, 2008 | 11:35 PM

leelila, you knew the capital of australia is canberra. 170 mi south-west of Sydney, and 400 mi north-east of Melbourne,construction began in 1913. Like Washington,DC Canberra is a planned city. Major roads follow a wheel-and-spoke pattern rather than a grid. The city's design was heavily influenced by the garden city movement and incorporates significant areas of natural vegetation that have earned Canberra the title "bush capital". pop 335,000.

isn't this interesting?

DfDeportation read my blog view my photos
Jul 3, 2008 | 1:33 AM

Leelila,

You cna comment on my blog. It's okay, nobody will know...

Esau_Isaacson
Jul 3, 2008 | 2:22 AM

well Leelila, there was a study done at some place where surveys are taken and the data led to the conclusion that gay men and gay women tend to be different from straight men. straight women were thought to be illogical, capricious, and shallow in conversing. thus their survey responses were discarded. you're special. you're loved. you know it!

dasvics read my blog view my photos
Jul 3, 2008 | 12:35 PM

Citizens should have equal rights, no matter what. Homosexuality is a sin just like lying, so if people aren't given equal rights based on sins, then none of us would have any.
However, the word 'marriage' should remain to describe the union between a man and a woman only. And I don't care how many bogus studies people come up with, homosexuality is wrong no matter how hard anyone spins it. Just like lying is wrong no matter how hard anyone tries to spin that. Wrong is wrong period.
Next thing you know they'll have discovered the 'violent' gene or the part in your brain that makes you an adulterer or a thief.
'But honey, I can't help it, I was born with the left part of my brain smaller. That's why I steal.' haha....yeah right!

DfDeportation read my blog view my photos
Jul 3, 2008 | 6:17 PM

We will vote in November. How will you vote?

mystere read my blog view my photos
Jul 3, 2008 | 6:25 PM

Hi Leelila!

Now about this study: I am still skeptical about its findings, in that a person always has a choice, no matter what. We all have our strengths and weaknesses no matter how our brain is shaped, and who knows what happened to these people prior to their first encounter? I look forward to reading other responses to this.

Leelila_Strogov read my blog view my photos
Jul 3, 2008 | 6:59 PM

happyg -- interesting take, i.e. the idea that one form of gay union may be suffering at the expense of the fight for another.

craftyguy -- thanks, as always, for the sensitive, heartfelt response... ;-)

dfdeportation -- there are many instances in which i prefer not to imagine people engaged in certain activities, whether straight or gay... this may be one of those times! what's with the raunchy avatar picture, anyway?

johntheman -- this is an interesting perspective, i.e. that we should not be threatened by something when it doesn't impact our own lives negatively. live and let live, huh?

Leelila_Strogov read my blog view my photos
Jul 3, 2008 | 6:59 PM

marv -- interesting indeed... so did you know that canberra's architect was an american?

esau -- c'mon now, you don't really think most women are illogical and shallow, do you? and what's wrong with capricious, anyway... some of my favorite people in the world are capricious! in any case, thanks for the compliment... :-)

dasvics -- i can't figure out which side of this thing you're on! but i have to say i can't help but think of what johntheman said when you draw parallels between being gay and lying, stealing, being an adulterer or a thief. in all those situations, an outside party is being unfairly hurt. but can you draw the same conclusion about homosexuality? what exactly makes it sinful?

mystere -- point noted. we do all have strengths and weaknesses and demons to wrestle. i just don't know if you can call sexual orientation a strength or a weakness. interesting take, though, and one that makes me think of another article i read that stated that sex drive -- and hence one's propensity to be faithful to one's partner -- may also be genetically hardwired. that plays to both your and dasvics point about choices and self-control.

DfDeportation read my blog view my photos
Jul 3, 2008 | 8:45 PM

Funny how you can say my avatar is raunchy, but you're not sure about Homosexual Marriage being sinful? That is amazing. Typical PC journalism. No wonder why people don't take you so-called journalists at FOX or the L.A. Times seriously. And as for my avatar being raunchy? How dare you be so culturally insensitive...

marv read my blog view my photos
Jul 3, 2008 | 11:15 PM

mighty lee, as i understand the itinerary, we go directly to melbourne from honolulu. canberra will be six months later.
don't forget your meds. love you more than you love me! marv

marv read my blog view my photos
Jul 4, 2008 | 12:02 AM

tita is throwing me out. i am going home. back on in 15 mins

marv read my blog view my photos
Jul 4, 2008 | 1:44 AM

sorry i was delayed. a group of our constituents needed some heartfelt listening and i felt i ought to represent the company.
i wanted to know what is the top story at KHON. here it is: (Rup ignore this blog).

"And right there I said, dear lord, please, you created my body please take care to make it well, and Father Damien can you please pray for me because I need you, your intercession to help me to get well," Audrey said.

The tumors began to shrink and were gone altogether within 5 months.
"I put everything in his hands, I trusted him and I figured from here on I am not going to worry about it," Audrey said.

"There has never been another one described, so we call it in medicine a complete spontaneous regression of her liposarcoma,” Chang said. “It's very remarkable, very unusual, never previously described.'"
The Vatican carefully vetted the case, a process that took years.

"They want to make sure that this is not a hoax, that this is not some kind of a scam," Chang said.

It was almost in jeopardy when the hospital lost track of some original evidence -- in somewhat of a clerical miracle, the doctor had set more biopsy slides aside, key proof to the pope for approving the case as miracle.

"That's how I look at a miracle, you can't explain it," Audrey said.
She says Damien has always been a saint to her, but she's thrilled the world will know, too.

"I think the greatest thing that's happening is to the villagers in Kalaupapa," she said. “He offers hope to everybody and he's kind of like a hero to all of us."

Still to come from Rome -- a da

Paul_D read my blog
Jul 4, 2008 | 2:19 AM

who is running the news at KHON. that is not a lead story. i'd say go with "Oil prices remained near record highs above $145 a barrel" in Asia after Saudi Arabia's oil minister suggested his country doesn't plan to boost production.
Light, sweet crude for August delivery was little changed, down 3 cents at $145.26 a barrel in Asian electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange, midday in Singapore. Crude futures rose to $145.85, a record high, in New York on Thursday before settling at a record finish of $145.29 a barrel. Oil prices have risen more than 50 percent so far this year.

dasvics read my blog view my photos
Jul 4, 2008 | 4:04 AM

Hey Leelila, I'm trying to be on the right side, the one that pleases God.

Why is homosexuality a sin?

Well because God says it is. Period. Who are we to question God? I'm certainly not going to. I'm sure he has his reasons, and I'm sure their damn good ones.
I believe homosexuality is wrong, but, I don't judge or dislike anyone in the least because of it. Lying, cheating, stealing, etc...are all wrong and who hasn't committed at least one sin? We all have, so I see no reason to mistreat anyone. (I'm referring to SINS- not laws, well, someone who breaks the law shouldn't be mistreated either, but they should pay for their crime.)
Its complicated because even though I don't agree with it, I don't want to mistreat anyone who is gay. Does that make sense?

dasvics read my blog view my photos
Jul 4, 2008 | 4:20 AM

And yes, you're right! It's all about 'Choices'. Sometimes I'm at the Bank, standing in line, I see the vault, hmm...I could easily jump over the counter and....well, you get the picture. Or, I see an incredibly handsome, intelligent man and hmm...we could easily go somewhere...etc...
We're all capable of sin, but we all have the ability NOT to sin as well. It's our choice because God gave us free will. Right?

statueman read my blog view my photos
Jul 4, 2008 | 6:19 PM

A christian trying to reconcile science with the presence of absence of choice in this matter is faced with only one conclusion. For me that conclusion is simply that some difficulties come with birth and others we find all on our own. Sin is described by a prophet in the old testament as something to be "healed" from. I've always felt that we all get a set of strengths and a set of weaknesses. So to say "in sin did my mother concieve me" has to be balanced out with the "talents" that have also been given each one of us at birth.

However... I think that it is all to obvious that homosexual inclinations are indeed a part of the body package for some folks... as is an angry temperment a tendency toward obsessive compulsiveness and other challenges to living a happy, healthy and productive life.

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Leelila_Strogov

Leelila Strogov is a general assignment reporter for Fox 11 News, specializing in investigative and feature reports.

Member Since: 9/25/2007