Most professionals agree that sexual orientation is a core part of a person that cannot be changed. In fact, many people believe that partly this is because there is a genetic component to sexual orientation.
But what a lot of people still wonder is why are some people gay? Plenty of gay men and lesbians are parents. But since a same sex couple can't reproduce together, the question of how homosexuality fits into an evolutionary model (where the species that reproduce and pass on their genes are most likely to survive and thrive) has remained.
Now two Canadian evolutionary psychologists think they might have an answer: kin selection hypothesis.
As Science Daily explains, "What that means is that homosexuality may convey an indirect benefit by enhancing the survival prospects of close relatives. Specifically, the theory holds that homosexual men might enhance their own genetic prospects by being "helpers in the nest." By acting altruistically toward nieces and nephews, homosexual men would perpetuate the family genes, including some of their own."
Whether or not this theory eventually gains widespread acceptance remains to be seen. But it is interesting to consider nonetheless!
Does this theory sound legit to you?
Image (c) Kristie Wells
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The theory may or may not be valid – there’s precious little evidence either way. My point, however, is to correct your definition of the evolutionary model – it is not the *species* that reproduces successfully that thrives, it is the *individual*. It’s actually quite important, in the context of kin selection (and the existence of altruism), to get that right.
Under this theory, because an individual gay person shares genes with other individuals, any help they provide to their family helps copies of genes that they share with their family to continue — including those genes that, under certain circumstances, cause someone to become gay.
Sorry for being pedantic, but it is actually quite different from “species” survival.
Thanks for clarifying.