WHAT ARE SOME INDIVIDUALS GAY WHILE OTHERS ARE NOT?

As clinicians, we often hear the acronym LGBTQIA+ in reference to those with a variety of gender identities and sexual orientations. But are you aware of what those letters stand for? The abbreviation refers to various gender identities and sexual orientations including Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer/Questioning, Intersex, and Ally. The ‘+’ in the acronym can include various other identities including pansexual, demigirl, demiboy, gender non-binary, gender non-conforming, gender fluid, asexual, and aromantic. As this is a growing field, new identities and terms are emerging, and it becomes essential for clinicians and medical professionals to educate ourselves in order best help our clients and families.

What is sexual orientation? It is an individual’s preference of sexual partners. Is sexual orientation just sexual attraction? Research shows that sexual orientation is not only sexual attraction, but also sexual identification and sexual behavior. All three components generally align well and are significantly correlated. However, one’s identity and behavior can vary for a variety of reasons including political, religious, opportunities, culture, and parental/societal expectations.

Ultimately, what determines your sexual orientation? Is it determined in the mother’s uterus and is biological? Do we have a ‘gay gene’? Or could it be a change in the brain?

IN THE MOTHER'S UTERUS

Research suggests that a person’s sexual orientation is determined biologically when a child is in their mother’s uterus. Varying amounts of sex hormones at varying times in prenatal (pre-birth) development influences a person’s gender and sexual orientation.

Human sexual hormones include testosterone, estrogen, progesterone and other related hormones. In research completed on animals, it was identified that biological sex, i.e., being male and female is influenced by changes in prenatal testosterone. This was found through animal studies that have shown that by injecting sex hormones, such as testosterone at various stages of development, there are changes to specific parts of the brains and bodies of these animals. These changes depended not only on the amount of testosterone injected but also on the timing of the injections.

Since sexual orientation is a gendered trait, meaning that sexual orientation is a part of gender, current research on the development of sexual orientation is primarily focused on prenatal sex hormones. Based on animal studies, it is likely that the critical period for sex hormones in humans is pre-birth. Prenatal sex hormones are found to influence gender and gendered traits, so it is safe to assume it also influences sexual orientation.

While such studies have been conducted in animals, it is unethical to inject sex hormones into human fetuses in the uterus. So how do we know that sex hormones influence gender and sexual orientation in humans? Researchers study conditions that mimic the studies in conducted in rats. One such condition, called Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia (CAH) which is a disorder that causes the adrenal gland to secrete excess testosterone during prenatal development in pregnant women. Children of these women with CAH are significantly more likely to be homosexual compared to the children of women without this condition.

Since sexual orientation is one aspect of gender, it can be assumed that human sexual orientation is also influenced by changes in testosterone and other sex hormones during prenatal stages of development.

According to a presentation by C&A’s Doctoral Intern Sushmitha Mohan, “same-sex attraction is a part of a package of gender a-typical traits.” She emphasized that sexual orientation is an aspect of gender that emerges from prenatal sexual differentiation in the brain, which is influenced by their genes, sex hormones and brain systems,” said Mohan. This implies that sexual orientation is a biological trait that is determined when the fetus is developing in the mother’s uterus.

Mohan also presented that there were structural and functional differences in brains and bodies of gay and straight people, which may also be influenced by the prenatal levels of sex hormones. According to research, some characteristics of the bodies and minds of gay men are shifted in a straight female direction compared with straight men, and some characteristics of the bodies and minds of lesbians and bisexual women are shifted in a straight male direction compared with straight women. These shifts are identified in specific traits and do not indicate gender reversals. It’s important to also keep in mind that these shifts occur in only a few gendered traits (e.g., the lengths of fingers), and do not influence all gendered traits.

DIFFERENCES IN THE BRAIN AND BODY

The human brain is essentially gendered, meaning that male brains are typically different than female brains in various ways. However, studies show that the brains of gay men and women are more similar to the brains of the opposite gender in a few specific ways. Some of these changes are in parts such as the hypothalamus and anterior commissure.

In humans, the hypothalamus is approximately the size of a pea. The hypothalamus is a gland in your brain that controls the hormone system. It releases hormones to another part of the brain called the pituitary gland, which sends hormones out to your different organs. The anterior commissure is a bundle of nerves connecting the two temporal lobes.

Studies that examined the differences between gay and straight men and women found that the brains of gay men were similar to straight women in some ways, and the brains of gay women were more similar to that of straight men in some ways. For example, the anterior commissure, which is typically larger in women than men, was found to be larger in gay men than straight men. In a different study, the corpus collosum was found to be significantly larger in gay men than straight men, which is more typical of female brains. Similarly, parts of the hypothalamus (a cell cluster called INAH3) was found to be gender shifted for gay men. Other gender shifted brain differences include the sizes of hemispheres of the brain, and differences in lateralization.

Some studies have also identified finger length ratios, known as the 2D:4D ratios, to be different between gay people and straight people. This ratio is the length of the index finger divided by the length of the ring finger. Straight males typically have a lower 2D:4D ratio and straight females have a higher 2D:4D ratio. Several studies have found that lesbians have lower ratios (more male liken ratios) and that gay men have higher ratios (more female like ratios).

DOES BEING GAY RUN IN FAMILIES?

The short answer is Yes! Gay men and women are more likely to have gay siblings than straight men and women. Typically, about seven to 16% of the same sex siblings of gay people are found to be gay.

There are a few reasons for family clustering, including genetics. Studies show increased rates of homosexuality or bisexuality among non-sibling relatives of gay or bisexual people, and increased rates in same-sex siblings vs. opposite sex siblings. In twin studies, there is a 50% concordance rate in identical twins and 30% concordance rate of homosexuality in non-identical twins. Research also suggests that it is the maternal inheritance of genes that predispose males to same-sex attraction. In addition, it is identified that it one gene in chromosome-8 could influence homosexuality in men.

Another interesting study showed that gay men, on average, have more brothers than straight men. However, the influence of older brothers is not a direct one but hypothesized to be mediated by their mother (her immune system). This theory proposed that mother’s immunization against male-specific antigens changes during each pregnancy, which could affect changes in sex hormones in pregnancy, and thus sexual orientation.

DO GAY PARENTS RAISE GAY CHILDREN?

It should be noted that the vast majority of gay people have straight parents. Studies show that children raised by gay parents do not differ from average in any single developmental/cognitive characteristic when compared to children raised by heterosexual parents.

If your child is struggling with self-identification or orientation, please call C&A at 330.433.6075. One of our caring clinical staff members will provide help for families.

C&A Doctoral Intern Sushmitha Mohan presented the information for this blog post at an agency training on Feb. 18. Mohan’s doctoral internship with C&A will end on June 30, 2022.

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STARK COUNTY SCHOOLS MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS

16 Apr, 2024

The sixth annual Stark County Schools Mental Health Awareness Week is May 6-10 Child and Adolescent Behavioral Health (C&A), CommQuest Services and Pathway Caring for Children will partner to bring positive mental health awareness to more than 53,000 students and 7,000 support and administrative staff in all 18 Stark County School districts.

UNDERSTANDING RACE IN SOCIETY AND THERAPY: CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS’ EXPERIENCES

By Chris Alpert • 16 Nov, 2023

In the film, I’m Not Racist… Am I? as introduced and explored in first of this three-part blog post series, the participants engaged in multiple workshops that address race and racism. Interpersonally, the group of students grapple with their own differences and similarities, which impact the content and emotions they share with each other. There are several moments in the film that demonstrate the clear differences in the participants’ understanding of race. In the first workshop, the students were exposed to the idea that all white people are inherently racist seeing as American society was founded on principles meant to support white people (see more on structural racism here, here, and here for further understanding). Several white students in the film became emotional during that workshop. Most students remained quiet. Following this workshop, a black student and a white student were filmed independently of each other in their own homes and discussed the workshop and what they learned with their families. The white student discussed the differences between structural racism and bigotry with her mother and struggled to identify with the principles taught in the training. The black student stated to his mother how almost everything spoken in that workshop applied to him. The student further discussed his feelings by stating how overt racism is and yet how “subliminal” it is at the same time. How can something be so in your face and yet under your feet simultaneously? I immediately reflected on the dialectic of something being so clear and yet so vague. The film continued to grapple with student differences. At the beginning of the film, one white male student discussed with his mother how he feels that all individuals, if they apply themselves wholeheartedly, have the same chance of success regardless of their skin, gender, sexuality or other demographic factors. As a white man myself, I must confess that when I was in high school, I had the same mindset. How could it be different? Especially when I was reading mythic bootstrap literature in high school classes. Sure, the harder you work the more you deserve, but that statement does not work for all Americans. I had not accounted for racial factors that inhibit the growth of others, not to mention socio-economic factors, nationalities, citizenship status, gender and age. I continued to reflect on these statements and connected them to my experience in high school in New York City. In the wake of the Black Lives Matter movement responding to the murder of George Floyd, multiple private progressive schools in New York, including the one I went to, suffered scrutiny from students and alumni who identify as black, indigenous people of color (BIPOC). Multiple Instagram accounts surfaced with the handle “BLACK AT [school name].” I read the posts in 2020, and again before writing this post, and remembered feeling horrified knowing these acts of racism, bigotry and microaggressions happened all around me. This was subliminal to me, yet overt to others.

UNDERSTANDING RACE IN SOCIETY AND THERAPY

By Chris Alpert • 01 Nov, 2023

When I first came to Child and Adolescent Behavioral Health (C&A), I was unsure what to expect regarding race and diversity at both the organization and in Ohio. Having grown up in Harlem in New York City and attended graduate school in San Diego, CA, I had heard stereotypes about Ohio, specifically that Ohio was a very white state. At C&A during orientation, we discussed the role of first impressions for clients and discussed how the front desk staff are considered, “the directors of first impressions.” I loved this term. After orientation, I wondered, why we didn’t discuss demographic factors such as race and gender? We generally pick those up upon first impressions and have implicit biases and judgements in those first impressions. It was odd to me that we did not discuss these demographic factors. As the summer and fall progressed, I noticed that there were few discussions about race as it impacts C&A and the kids and families we serve. I noticed the number of white staff at C&A and reflected on my own privilege as a white man who can easily avoid the discussion of race because I do not suffer discrimination on an individual or systemic level. I reflected on my first experiences discussing race in high school. When I was in high school at the Calhoun School, my father received a grant to create a film and workshops that addressed race and racism seen through the eyes of high schoolers in New York City. My dad had completed a training hosted by the People’s Institute for Survival and Beyond. This training opened my father’s eyes to his own white privilege and motivated him to teach kids, specifically white kids, about their privilege earlier in life. I first saw the film, I’m Not Racist… Am I? (see more here ), toward the end of high school after it had come out in 2014.

THE DANGERS OF MARIJUANA USE

By Dr. Karita Nussbaum • 20 Oct, 2023

Ohio is at a crossroads once again with marijuana on the ballot next month. The following article is from Every Brain Matters, an organization that believes that the THC in marijuana is a dangerous and addictive drug. Every Brain Matters is a trusted source of educational material based on the latest scientific evidence. One of the major criticisms of expanded marijuana legalization is that it makes the drug more accessible to minors. A brand-new study just published in JAMA Pediatrics shows that it has become a valid concern.

LET YOUR LIGHT SHINE – SOUTHERN NIGHTS: ILLUMINATING HOPE AND MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS FOR THE YOUNGER GENERATION

By Savannah Okray • 11 Sep, 2023

For the last few months, C&A has been diligently preparing for the 18th Annual Let Your Light Shine – Southern Nights presented by The Repository by organizing auction items, printing tickets and using their creativity to make sure that eventgoers feel as though they are walking into an evening in the south, with barrels and lanterns to boot. The committee, led by chair Jen Frey and co-chair Molly Sperling and auction chair Stacy Remark are hard at work, it’s crucial to remember that this event raises awareness and dollars to support the agency’s programs and services amid suicide prevention and awareness month.

GROWING WITH YOUR CHILD AS A PARENT

By Dan Mucci • 30 Aug, 2023

I have grown up as a parent for the last four and half years! As luck would have it, a little more than four and a half years ago, I started at Child and Adolescent Behavioral Health (C&A) in the mission advancement department with my responsibilities being the marketing and development coordinator. Some might say, I did a good job of raising my two kids, who were teenagers at the time. But, boy, if I had known of the services C&A offered and even some of the parenting tools for my toolbox, parenting might have been even better.

WHAT DID YOU DID THIS SUMMER?

By Dr. Karita Nussbaum • 09 Aug, 2023

This summer I attended a Marijuana Prevention conference near Denver, Colorado. I was curious to know what the locals were saying after 10 years of legalization. The speakers included a Denver Police Commander, school resource officer, medical doctor, residential treatment program CEO, deputy from the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA), Executive Director of the National Drug and Alcohol Screening Association and others related to educating the community and defending children’s rights. In the audience were parents, professionals and advocates for children from all over the United States. The conference was geared toward the protection of children.

FROM DARKNESS TO DISCOVERY: MY COLLEGE JOURNEY OF SELF-TRANSFORMATION

By Savannah Okray • 24 Jul, 2023

When I arrived on campus, I tried to immerse myself in college culture. I joined a sorority, the speech and debate team, and two other clubs which were extensive time commitments, factoring in no time to relax or focus on bettering my mental health. This lack of attention to my mentality, combined with my low self-esteem that prevented me from making friends led me down a dark hole in which some days I thought it would be better if I wasn’t here. About four weeks into school (at Ohio University), I realized that I had to do something, as I knew it was not safe for me to continue down the road I had been on. From there I moved home and attended an inpatient treatment center where I worked with counselors for five hours a day, learning coping skills and other ways in which I could help mend my suffering mental health. Through the lessons I learned I was able to get the skill set and help I needed and returned to school three weeks later.

THIS IS WHY WE CELEBATE

By Mary Kreitz • 19 Jun, 2023

This time of year there are a lot of celebrations happening in our communities – Memorial Day, Pride Festivals, Juneteenth celebrations, 4th of July and many more. These events aren’t just frivolous excuses to have parties, backyard barbecues or festivals. They are important cultural and civic events we need these celebrations.