PBC inspired question I feel like I've been hearing a lot lately about multiple instances of gay-ness in families (I have to friends who are siblings and both gay, I have another gay friend who's mom is gay, etc). Do you thing it's something that actually "runs in the family" so to speak? What's your explanation of this phenomenon? (maybe it's not quite a phenomenon, but anyway...)

there've been tons of studies some are even reputable. But basiy, it seems that homosexuality is somewhat heritable, which means it runs in families, but is not passed along quite so visibly as, say, eye color.

unofficial study (ie, my own observation) seems I've noticed a few multiple birth babies in which one of the twin/triplets is gay. more often in fraternal (obviously) rather than identical twins. could be a statistical fluke though.

they've done twin studies and adoption studies and just piles and piles of studies. There's evidence for heritability, but like all evidence, people like to argue that it's totally obvious, or complete bullshit, or flawed methodology, or a sign that the aliens are about to land and assimilate us, etc.

Amy Ray has two older gay sisters. my g/f has 2 bisexual aunts, a bisexual uncle, 3 bisexual cousins... i don't know of anyone in my family, though..

I think it is. my first cousin, who is similar to me in many ways, is also gay - well, I mean... she's not out or anything, but just looking at her in pictures makes me gaydar go off. and then, who knows if any of my ancestors would have been gay if it was more acceptable in their time? it's interesting. my ex's dad is gay, and I think her mom is totally gay but she's so 'religious' she will never admit it.

oh, and yes. a family in the building I grew up had one daughter that was uberbutch (and uberHOT. she was my inspiration for many private thoughts... heh.) and a son that was ubergay. the other son was like the 'ideal man', total straight dude, so it's not like 'environment' or anything that did it... I totally think it's genetics, to a degree.

I totally think it's genetics, to a degree. i like that. an absolute followed by a conditional. that's got style (with jazz hands, of course).

it's residual lawyerism. believe an idea absolutely, but allow a feasible escape route if necessary.

don't they have pills for that?

It's a disease I'm willing to live with. It ensures I sound smarter than I really am.

*jazz hands*

my brother is gay and so am I :) thankfully for my parents my sister got the strx gene