Sexual Orientation

Q: At what age do teens decide their sexuality?A: What we think you are asking is at what age do teens decide their sexual orientation. The term sexual orientation refers to an individual finding himself or herself sexually attracted to people of the same sex, opposite sex or both. Sexuality is a broader term and reflects the fact that all human beings have sexual feelings and desires.Not a lot of up-to-date research is available to answer your question. What we do know suggests that most people become aware of their sexual orientation before adolescence, even though they may try to deny these feelings.

A new poll released today shows the largest measured gap between Americans who believe individuals are born gay and those who believe sexual orientation is caused by external factors. According to Gallup , 47 percent of Americans chose "nature" over "nurture" when asked about same-sex orientation, while 33 percent say they believe being gay is a product of an individual's upbringing and environment. As recently as 2011, public opinion on the causes of sexual orientation were about equally split.

As a recent college graduate and proud Morgan State alumna who served as president of our campus' Gay-Straight Alliance, I have found that many people in Baltimore are supportive of others, no matter what their sexual orientation. I hope that the state legislature does the right thing and votes for House Bill 175, the Religious Freedom and Civil Marriage Protection Act. It's the job of our elected officials to vote for their constituents and not for their disapproval of people's differences.

What does it say about our society when the sports and national news headlines as well as social media are all saturated with reports of a professional athlete's sexual orientation ("NBA player Jason Collins coming out is a defining moment in sports," April 29)? Who really cares? What kind of people care about someone's choice of partners? I don't understand why anyone chooses to tell the world that they prefer one sex over the other. That is a personal choice and only people with too much time on their hands or an unnatural desire to know about everyone else's private business will feel the need to know this information.

The broad statement against discrimination passed by Carroll Community College trustees last night stops short of naming sexual orientation, although it names other categories such as race and gender."

IS THERE A biological basis for homosexuality? With gay marriage now supported by Massachusetts' highest court and homosexuality likely to be a hot issue in the presidential campaign, the question of whether sexual orientation is an innate or acquired trait is increasingly urgent. Since at least 1991, some scientific research has suggested that there is a biological basis to homosexuality - meaning sexual orientation is at least partly natural destiny, not a choice. But that point is open to debate, and our understanding is still fuzzy.

A NEW Northwestern University study of twins and adoptive brothers provides some of the strongest suggestions to date that sexual orientation is determined in large part by genetic factors.Interviewing 56 identical male twins in which at least one twin was a homosexual, researchers found that in 52 percent of the cases, the other twin also was gay.By contrast, such pairings were seen in 22 percent of 54 fraternal twins and 11 percent of 57 adoptive brothers.Co-author J. Michael Bailey said the study, released yesterday, "suggests a genetic contribution to sexual orientation," since brothers with the most identical genetic material were most likely to be gay."

As the Baltimore City Council moves to deter attacks on gays and lesbians through a local hate-crimes law, a state delegate who sponsored Maryland's hate-crimes statute wants to expand the law to include sexual orientation.State law covers racial and ethnically based hate crimes.Del. Samuel I. Rosenberg, a Baltimore Democrat, said he is drafting a bill to be introduced in the General Assembly in January to amend the state law in the wake of Matthew Shepard's killing Oct. 12 in Laramie, Wyo. The university student, 21, was killed in part because he was gay.Since last week's incident, gays and lesbians across the country have been calling on local, state and federal lawmakers to draft measures to help deter attacks on people because of their sexual orientation.

Troubled by the killing of a gay University of Wyoming student last week, the Baltimore City Council is taking steps to deter attacks against the city's gays and lesbians who do not have the protection of Maryland's anti-hate crimes statute.Council President Lawrence A. Bell III introduced a hate crimes bill last night, and the rest of the council joined him as co-sponsors, ensuring the measure's passage.The bill almost mirrors the state's law, which imposes sanctions against those who abuse or attack individuals because of race or ethnicity.

THE MATTER is one of fairness and justice: Everyone should be treated equally, regardless of race, age, gender -- or sexual orientation.Everyone should have the same right to apply for a job or to rent an apartment without fear of discrimination. Yet gays and lesbians do not have that right under Maryland law.A bill seeking to ban prejudicial treatment on the basis of sexual orientation is one of Gov. Parris N. Glendening's prime objectives in the legislative session.He has devoted more effort to passing this bill than any other.

For 102 years, people have been treated unequally by the Boy Scouts, and on Jan. 28, the organization's board delayed a vote on whether to allow local chapters to decide whether to admit gay members and leaders. In Maryland where gay couples are now legally allowed to get married, they still may not be allowed to join Scouting. This ultimately provides an adverse consequence to a newly-earned freedom. No one should not be declined from the Boy Scouts because of sexual orientation.

An Annapolis company whose old-fashioned trolleys are iconic in the city's wedding scene has abandoned the nuptial industry rather than serve same-sex couples. The owner of Discover Annapolis Tours said he decided to walk away from $50,000 in annual revenue instead of compromising his Christian convictions when same-sex marriages become legal in Maryland in less than a week. And he has urged prospective clients to lobby state lawmakers for a religious exemption for wedding vendors.

As someone who loved the 2000 movie "Billy Elliot," I had doubts that it could be turned into a stage musical. I figured too much of the gritty mining town atmosphere of the original would be lost, for a start. And I was suspicious that the many touchy subjects in the story -- masculinity, sexual orientation, the value of the arts, etc. -- could survive the transformation. I feared there would be too much watering down, maybe even dumbing down. Instead, as I was happily reminded this week ...  seeing "Billy Elliot" again when it arrived at the Hippodrome , the result is remarkably effective.

I predict that the Nov. 6, 2012 election will be a benchmark in American history. The re-election of a black president is a bugle call to the future to begin. The status quo is dying to make way for a new sense of democracy. The numbers showed that there are more of "us" then there are of "them. " The Republican Party could not muster enough of their camp to overtake those of us who want change. This alone is historical. Moreover, here are the historical reasons for my prediction: Since the nation re-elected Barack Obama, bigotry is in decay.

It seems odd that the voice for a "no" vote on Question 6 should be that of a Virginia legislator, but even stranger is his argument against Question 6 ("Vote no to immorality," Oct. 27). Virginia Del. Bob Marshall argues that Christian theology should govern this country. If he would object to Sharia law being imposed on us, he should be just a vigorous in objecting to Halacha (Jewish religious law), or strict Catholicism, Calvinism, or Confucianism. This is a secular nation, decidedly not a Christian theocracy.

If you believe the following, you should vote for Mitt Romney: •You like a candidate changing his positions from one debate "performance" to the next stump speech (or when one of his handlers "corrects" his latest position) just to garner votes. •You still cling to the fantasy that a return to Bush-era tax cuts and policies, via the Romney/Rep. Paul Ryan agenda, will lead to more jobs and economic growth despite the disastrous economy George W. Bush left us in 2008. •You want government calling the shots when it comes to dictating women's reproductive health options.

A former medical resident said his hospital evicted him from married students' housing for living with a same-sex partner. A former apprentice for a manufacturing company said his performance ratings dipped after he challenged a male supervisor to stop sexually harassing him. The gay men's testimonials, delivered last night from the podium of a college lecture hall, launched a renewed effort by Gov. Parris N. Glendening on behalf of not-yet-drafted legislation...

A PARENT handed us a pamphlet given to his ninth-grade son in a Baltimore City school. Displaying graphic pictures and language on "safe sex," it encourages teen-agers to experiment with just about every form of sexual behavior. Recently, a 10-year veteran of management called us to describe how he reprimanded a woman for her poor work performance, and because the woman is a lesbian, his employer wrote him up and made him take sensitivity classes. He is certain that he handled this individual with professionalism, treating her no differently from any other employee.

Dan Cathy, president ofChick-fil-A, says we are shaking our fist at God by supported gay marriage ("Crowds flock to Chick-fil-A to back owner on marriage," Aug. 2). I would like to say this to Mr. Cathy: We now know that sexual orientation is not a choice; it is in our DNA, we are born heterosexual or homosexual. If you believe in God, you believe God made us in His image. Thus, God made both straight and gay people. Over the years, religious people have been able to accept that the world is not flat and that the sun does not revolve around the earth and that these facts do not threaten one's faith.

It isn't what the owner of Chick-fil-A says that makes me never want to eat at his fast food restaurants ("Crowds flock to Chick-fil-A to back owner on marriage," Aug. 2). As far as I'm concerned, he can spout off hate speech at gays, Jews, African-Americans, or anyone else he wants. That's his business to be as rude or as ignorant as he wants, and the appropriate response is just to not listen to his nonsense. This is still America, after all. What I do not condone, however, is that Dan Cathy will take my money that I would spend on his "food" and donate some of it to hate groups who are intent on denying gay people their equal rights as Americans.