Georgetown University’s Newspaper of Record since 1920

The Hoya

Georgetown University’s Newspaper of Record since 1920

The Hoya

Georgetown University’s Newspaper of Record since 1920

The Hoya

Lecturer Discusses Neurobiology, Sexual Preference

There is a biological link between the brain and a person’s sexual preference, visiting lecturer Simon LeVay argued Tuesday in the Intercultural Center.

LeVay, a renowned neuroscientist known for his research on sexual orientation and the brain and author of 11 nonfiction books, delivered a lecture called “Gay, Straight, and the Reason Why,” in which he explained the genetic and hormonal factors that can influence sexual preference.

The presentation was organized as part of the senior seminar for neurobiology majors, who chose to focus their final year’s studies on the science of sexual orientation. LeVay’s most recent book, which shares the same name as the lecture, has been central to their curriculum.

LeVay began his lesson by first addressing the notion that homosexuality among animals is rarely found, a preconception that he claims is simply incorrect. LeVay’s view is not universally accepted.

“Myths like Noah’s Ark claim that heterosexual behavior is the standard throughout the animal kingdom, but there are some species where individuals have a lifelong preference to the same sex,” he said.

Certain male sheep, for example, have been found to mate exclusively with other males. In a video shown during the presentation, a male sheep was given the choice between a male and a female mating partner. He chose the male.

Moving on to address homosexuality in humans, LeVay clarified that he was not arguing that human sexuality is predetermined by biology, but rather that there are biological influences that may predispose individuals to a certain preference.

One of these influences, he said, could be genetics.

“Homosexuality does run in families,” LeVay said, adding that men with gay brothers and women with gay sisters have increased chances of being gay themselves. People whose twins are gay have an even greater likelihood of homosexuality, in some cases as high as 50 percent.

LeVay also observed that although stereotypes of gays can be misleading and destructive, there is a grain of truth to them.

“In childhood, men who are effeminate in some sense have an increased likelihood of being gay as adults, and women who tend [to lean toward] masculine activities and male playmates have an increased likelihood of being lesbians,” he said.

According to LeVay, gay people often perceive themselves as different than other members of their own gender.

“Gay people tend to be a patchwork of different traits, and this seems to make their sexual identity more important than just who they want to have sex with,” he said.

According to LeVay, studies have begun to demonstrate a convincing neurological link between hormonal reception and sexual identity. LeVay himself has spent much of his time studying the third interstitial anterior hypothalamus (INAH 3), a region of the brain that seems to be most directly responsible for sexual identity. His findings have demonstrated that the region is larger and more pronounced in straight men than in gay men.

Sexuality is also influenced by prenatal hormone reception, LeVay explained, especially the reception of testosterone. In women, increased levels of the hormone before birth may result in an increased likelihood of the individual becoming a lesbian.

“Prenatal [testosterone] influences the sexual differentiation of the brain, which leads to the development of certain gender traits and sexual orientation,” LeVay said. This process is also influenced by genes, random variability and the environment.

In his concluding remarks, LeVay explained that he believes that his work will help people accept homosexuality. Still, he said, the science behind sexuality should not be the only reason.

“As a gay man, I hope that people will accept people because of who they are, not because of some scientific theories.”

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