Outer Wingnuttia: The APA Admits There's No Gay Gene

Or at least, that's what wingnut daily would like you to believe.

What they are squawking about is a change in wording in one of the American Psychological Association's brochures, which now reads:

There is no consensus among scientists about the exact reasons that an individual develops a heterosexual, bisexual, gay, or lesbian orientation. Although much research has examined the possible genetic, hormonal, developmental, social, and cultural influences on sexual orientation, no findings have emerged that permit scientists to conclude that sexual orientation is determined by any particular factor or factors. Many think that nature and nurture both play complex roles; most people experience little or no sense of choice about their sexual orientation.

In perspective, this means what? It means nothing more than the research results to date are inconclusive. A lack of conclusive results doesn't mean a great deal here. There is far too much about human development that we don't fully understand. I suspect that the search for causal understanding of a lot of human development, not just sexual identity, is in this boat. Like the search for extraterrestrial life, the absence of confirming evidence at this point is hardly sufficient to rule out the understanding being sought.

Of course, that's just reasoned investigation taking place - it's not like the denizens of Outer Wingnuttia bother with such trivial matters as reality anyways.