thebeave

Hi... I'm a newcomer to this board. One thing I've always wondered about, but haven't heard sound explanations for is how the existence of homosexuality is explained by evolution. Anyone have any ideas on why it would even exist in the first place? I'm just curious... hope this topic doesn't ruffle any feathers. I tried the search function on this but came up empty handed. <img src="confused.gif" border="0">

tronvillain

Ah, the classic "evolution of homosexuality" thread! I have a few responses, but I'll leave them until tommorow.

HeatherD

I'd recommend a search through the archives. That topic has been discussed ad nauseum.

Oolon Colluphid

Well maybe not ad nauseam, but a fair bit. Here's the main ones:

<a href="http://iidb.org/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic&f=3&t=001129&p=" target="_blank">Homosexuality</a> (August 2001)

<a href="http://iidb.org/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic&f=42&t=000154&p=" target="_blank">Homosexuality and Evolution</a> (May 2001)

<a href="http://iidb.org/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic&f=42&t=000375&p=" target="_blank">How does Evolution explain Homosexuality? </a> (February 2001)

Cheers, Oolon

Theophage

I wonder, why is it that people assume that every possible feature of human beings has some sort of evolutionary explanation? I hate strawberry icecream. Does that have an evolutionary explanation? Evolution isn't the be-all end-all explanation of human behavior, folks.

Ernest Sparks

I suspect that the origin of this ploy lies in the tendency of researchers, pondering some particular fact about a species, to cook up scenarios that present some selective advantage for the fact.

Opponents are apt to notice this, they being essentially opportunistic demogogues, rather than seekers of knowledge.

tronvillain

Actually Theophage, I think looking for an evolutionary explanation is fairly reasonable in this case. Now, that doesn't mean it has to have some kind of adaptive purpose, though it could.

Dr Rick

Convoluted mechanisms that defy common sense are employed to explain how this trait might offer a reproductive advantage. Those who propose them ignore the wide variety of human sexual preferences which far exceed anything observed elsewhere in the animal kingdom.

What "evolutionary behaviour" theory can explain heterosexuality, homosexuality, foot fetishes, anal and enema obsessions, amputee fetishes, leather fantasies, masochism, and the literally dozens of other varieties of human sexual preferences?

Evolution brought us about, but it's a leap of faith to then conclude that it controls our thoughts and desires. That the behavour of an insect can be explained by evolution does not mean that it can or even should explain the behavour of a human.

Theophage

I would agree with this, Tronvillan. Perhaps if the question were asked more like:

"Is homosexuality an evolutionary adaptation?"

or something similar, rather than:

"...how the existence of homosexuality is explained by evolution"

which implies that ther must be an evolutary explanation for it.

That's all, just being grumpy...

tronvillain

rbochnermd: There is theoretically an evolutionary explanation for everything, but it could be identical for two entirely contrary behaviors (explaining the difference would have to be done at a higher level). However, I am not convinced that this is entirely the case when it comes to homosexuality.