Natural Sexuality

                                                  

Love is like a Butterfly. Meditation Photography. Web. Accessed Dec. 2010.

Is homosexuality natural? That depends on what you define as "natural". If you prefer to define "natural" to mean "within the nature of a thing", then it is. Despite our protests, all things do what is in their natures to do. Homosexuality is natural in the sense that it has always existed and is not limited to human beings but occurs in other animals. The question of homosexuality in nature is somewhat moot because there is a list of things that are natural and yet have no purpose. According to recent studies of homosexual animals observed in nature and captivity, especially in mammals, it would seem homosexuality is a perfectly natural occurrence since it often occurs in species we do not see as having enough intelligence or subtlety to make a "choice" in the matter, but rather follow their instincts to where they lead

  Homosexuality has always been an existing trait found within a part of the human population. Their has been examples of it throughout history, including the Romans and Ancient Greece. “the noble lover of beauty engages in love wherever he sees excellence and splendid natural endowment without regard for any difference in physiological detail” (Homosexuality). Homosexual sex has been very present throughout history, and often very accepted. But at the same time, homosexual "lifestyles" (wanting to live and share your life solely with the same sex) has rarely been accepted that's something very modern. Most ancient societies that were accepting of homosexual had very big rules and regulations and conditions. The older mentor and younger protege format in ancient Greece, for example, were allowed so long as you still loved women, still got married to a woman and raised a family. Homosexuality was deemed to be unnatural when there was a sudden rise in Christianity. 

     

African Plains. WordPress: Photo Murals. Web. Accessed Dec. 2010.

Besides, naturally speaking if it was anti-natural for humans, we would not be able to do it. It would be impossible. We would not have the capacity. To believe in natural laws, individuals must understand that we cannot break them, and are tied by them. We cannot be unnatural, such is outside our ability. Its like flying, we cannot do it without mechanical assistance. So saying that humans being gay is unnatural is like saying that there's humans that can fly. Regardless of how we end up feeling about the situation, though, it seems that creative forces behind the Universe have larger and more complex plans for sexuality than mere reproduction can account for, and that nature will continue being true to itself even if we do not care for its plans.

First of all, the concept of homosexuality is not new. Their has been examples of it throughout history, and it is currently being displayed between many different species of animals, primarily social animals. The best overall summary of most respected researchers is that homosexuality (like most other psychological conditions) is due to a combination of social, biological, and psychological factors. There are not many people who believe there is a gay gene right now, but it is not impossible. "the genetic factors behind sexuality and sexual orientation, notes that it may turn out that the brains of gay men possess only some 'feminized' structures, while retaining some masculine ones, and this is reflected in how they act on their sexuality" (Park). The implications that biology plays a role in homosexuality are strong, though. Most believe it starts in the womb. Either stress or having multiple children, especially a family with a lot of boys born previously, creates a gay child. 

                             About the Lemur. The Zoo Society. Web. Accessed Dec. 2 2010.

Perhaps it does not have to with each individual, but the whole species as a group. Maybe if there were no gay individuals in any species, then the struggle for mating rights would destroy the population. Lets say that if a small fraction of the population is gay, the pressure during the mating season would be less, leading to a higher probability of birth and survival of young ones. Procreation is necessary for the species to continue, but with 8 billion people on the planet now, procreation is not the biggest concern for survival. For the species to continue people need to "back off" from the high breeding rate, before we consume all of Earth's natural resources. The population cannot keep growing like this, we will eventually run out of room, and perhaps homosexuality is the answer to "slow down" this ever increasing breeding rate. Think about it, overpopulation is a huge issue, and maybe the increase in homosexuality is that humans do not need to reproduce as much anymore, and to help control the population, gay people were produced. 

So is homosexuality natural? Some would say that homosexuality is perfectly normal, always has been and can be found in many species, not just in humans. Homosexuals have existed for a long time, all over the world. There are currently millions of people who engage in the same committed relationships practiced by heterosexuals. There have been studies showing that homosexual men have the same physiological effects as heterosexual women when given stimuli of attractive men. So, the decision to engage in a homosexual relationship is comes from the same instincts heterosexuals have, and is not a conscious effort to repress heterosexual urges.

Work Cited

Abrams, Michael. The Real Story on Gay Genes. Dicover: Science, Technology, and the Future. June 2007 issue. 

Coghlan, Andy. Survival of Genetic Homosexual Traits Explained . New Scientist: Life. Web. 13 October 2004. <http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn6519>.

Homosexuality. Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy. Web. 26 Nov. 2006. <http:// plato.stanford.edu/entries/homosexuality/>.

Mondimore, Francis Mark. A Natural History of Homosexuality. The Johns Hopkins University Press. Baltimore, Maryland: 1996. 

Owen, James. Homosexual Activity Among Animals Stirs Debate. National Geographic News. Web. 23 July 2004. <http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/ 2004/07/0722_040722_gayanimal.html>.

Park, Alice. What the Gay Brain Looks Like. Time. Web. 17 June 2008. <http://www.time.com/ time/health/article/0,8599,1815538,00.html>.

Greatest Hits- Hilary

Hilary

I enjoyed reading all of your post you presented in your blog. You are a great writer and have a unique style of writing that allows you to get your ideas across in an understandable way. In a lot of your post you displayed a great voice and creative thoughts, which makes reading your posts delightful to read. The posts that I really enjoyed reading and I think would be great for your final essay were German Influence, Women in Music, and Animal Homosexuality. 

I thought the way you wrote German Influence was very creative and had a great base for you to start up an essay. While reading this post I did not realize the amount of impact German culture has had on today's economy. You did a great job explaining the three major contributions, which were movies, foods, and customs.  

I really like the way your wrote Women in Music. This post had a great voice and displayed some very compelling ideas. In this post you made a point that the music industry likes to go out of their way to justify the negative portrayal of women. In today's society if you are a women and do not accept this kind of music, your considered or labeled an outcast. I think you did a great job getting your points across to your audience. I particularly liked this post because you made so many good arguments, which kept me wanting to read more. 

Animal Homosexuality, I think you be great for your final essay because it was well written and has such a great base to work from. You have a great voice, ideas, and a really strong source that comes from Jeffrey Kluger's "The Gay Side of Nature," and with a bit more research and think this post could be a brilliant final essay. 

Greatest Hits- Tasha

Tasha

I really enjoyed reading through your posts for this semester. You have a creative way of writing that I found highly entertaining. You have a great voice throughout your posts and I got of sense of your personality through you're writing. The posts that really stood out to me were Can't But Me Love, Corrupted Sounds a lot Like Corporation, and Do We Need Monogamous, Heterosexual Relationships. 

I really liked that way you started off Can't Buy Me Love, it just immediately grabbed my attention. The introduction was creative and set the tone for the rest of the post. I completely agree with the statement you made in the beginning of your post, that materialism has made this country what it is today. I thought this post was very well put together and had some great ideas. 

I enjoyed reading Corrupted Sounds A Lot Like Corporation because it was creative and entertaining. I like that you gave example of current musician in today's music to get your points across. You had a lot of strong ideas and I think with a bit more research this post would make a great final essay. 

Do we need monogamous, heterosexual relationships? I think is probably one of your strongest posts. It was structured very well, and it was informative and entertaining all at the same time. You had great opinions throughout your post. I also agree with a lot of your statements, that the human being no longer need monogamous relationships to reproduce. But we do need marriage and monogamous relationships to establish strong relationships and finding love. I think this post would make a great final essay. 

Week 12 Blog Reviews

April:

In the beginning of your Control vs Freedom post, you stated that you did not know a lot about politics and government and with that being said, I think you did a pretty good job with this post, considering that you knew so little. You had some good ideas and with a bit more research this post  has the potential to be great. 

I really enjoyed reading your 11/4 post. You had a great opener in the beginning and it immediately grabbed my attention. The quotes that you used from the reading were placed well and enhanced you''re writing. I think you did a really good job with this post, keep up the great work. 

Morgan:

I enjoyed your WWII and Finance post. You had some great ideas and they were executed well, throughout you''re writing. Your post was very well organized and flowed nicely to one idea to the next. The only thing I would add is a good attention getter in the beginning but other than that, I enjoyed reading this post. Great Job. Your Ultimate Freedom and Human Morality post was very well put together. Your ideas were clear and well written. I like that you added a personal experience  to get your point across. I agree with you that many reside somewhere in the middle of libertarianism and complete governmental control, I know I certainly do.

Finance by the Numbers

Sorry, 
There will be no post today... I am not feeling well :(

Brave New World

Libertarianism is an abstract politcal concept, not an actual party or party line. They advocate a much smaller government; one that is limited to protecting individuals from coercion and violence. Libertarians tend to embrace individual responsibility, oppose government bureaucracy and taxes, promote private charity, tolerate diverse lifestyles, support the free market, and defend civil liberties. You could describe a party as Libertarian, however. A Libertarian party would hold the common belief that an individual should be as free to run their own life as possible. Obviously in modern times you do not get pure Libertarian parties because in essence they support the idea that we do not need political parties to be governed.

Libertarians support maximum liberty in both personal and economic matters. Libertarianism does not work in theory, because it is not backed by empirical practice, it eschews any responsibility for any of its failures, on all subjects, circumstances, and under all conditions. Libertarians want the least amount of government interference in their lives as possible. They want you, the people, to make decisions based on your personal interests, not government's interest.

I've never felt I had to pick a political party to align myself with and owe them some kind of allegiance. My friends and family have voted for, campaigned for, and worked for different parties, always basing it on the candidate. It mystifies me how so many people can defend every element in their party's platform when that platform was constructed in an arbitrary manner. My views generally encompasses about half the positions from each of the two major parties with maybe a smidge of the Libertarian. I also take many character issues into account and I believe in doing some deep researching, interviewing, asking, etc about a party even if it's asking another person's view on that party. Remember that as a citizens we need to vote, and when we vote put America before any political party and we will do okay.

Week 11 Blog Reviews

April 

I completely agree with you're Purchasing Happiness post. Society as a whole thrives off consumption and material goods. The quotes from the reading help back up your thoughts and supported your argument. 

I really enjoyed your American Italians post. I liked how you connected with the audience by describing your families journey in America. Your introduction was great, I felt like I was right there with your Nona in the back of the store moving boxes. Your intro really grabbed my attention and made me want to read more. You also displaced  an incredible voice, while reading I could imagine every word, great job this week.

Morgan

I liked your 10/28 post. Obviously you did a lot of research and it is displayed well through your post. Your introduction was structured really well, it had a lot of interesting facts. But I will say that it could use a good attention getter it was a but dull in the beginning. I like that you added a personal touch to the post, by describing your friends experience living in North Dakota.   

I really enjoyed reading your Never Good Enough post, it was very interesting. You presented the positive and some negative effects to materialism. I also like that you went through the history and how materialism came to thrive in our society. I think you did a great job this week can't wait to read more.