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A few weeks ago I was talking with an old friend about the General Assembly debate on civil partnerships and the marking of such relationships by clergy. We have often bantered about these issues. But as we were talking that evening I could tell that he was genuinely unsure about homosexuality. His uneasiness wasn’t to do with the Biblical verses that some contend condemn homosexuality, it wasn’t because he didn’t have any contact with homosexual people – it was because, for him, “it just isn’t natural.”

Homosexuality is not natural. This is a common argument by some who see homosexuality as sinful. In order to see it as such, of course, it has to be a life-style choice. It must be a conscious decision: the ‘natural’ orientation is heterosexual, but certain people choose to be gay.

The anecdotal evidence I had personally heard seemed at odds with that common perception. For example, a colleague my wife once worked with remarked, “You think I would choose to be gay? You have to be kidding! It would be much easier for me to be straight. It has been so difficult for my parents to come to terms with. I would never do that to them by choice. It’s not a choice, this is who I am.”

So what is natural? In this article we will look at the current research on homosexuality from both the essentialist (i.e. biological factors) and constructionist (i.e. environmental factors) schools, looking at the studies into whether ‘nature’ or ‘nurture’ affect homosexual orientation.

2. Introduction to Scientific Studies

1. The purpose of science is to help us better understand our world and to distinguish fact from fiction.
2. Scientific studies vary in quality and rigor, ranging from observational impressions to rigorously controlled trials. In general, studies that reflect well controlled designs are considered more credible or likely to be true than those based on anecdote. Researchers publish their findings in peer-reviewed scientific journals to ensure that the methods and results of studies are reported honestly and including that the limitations of each study are openly acknowledged.
3. In addition to considering whether a scientific result is statistically significant, it is important to consider the magnitude of the result and the limits of interpretation.
4. In human research, including research on homosexuality, ethical considerations are always paramount. The search for human knowledge must always be conducted within a framework that respects participant’s rights, that it is considered warranted (the benefits outweigh the risks), and is just.