Family Divided: Daughter Identifies Herself as Transgender, Heartbreaking Experience of a Medical Mother [True Story
As a doctor, Yalan told her daughter that the gender of the human body is determined by genes and cannot be changed by surgery. "Born in the wrong body" is a great lie. Pictured here is an anti-transgender rally on January 21, 2023 in suburban San Diego County, California.
[Epoch Times, August 11, 2023] (Interviewed by Mingzhu Xue, Epoch Times correspondent in San Francisco, and co-reported by Yifan Yi, features reporter) Chinese immigrant Yalan's daughter, who believes she is male, was not allowed to tell her parents by her school, and has been hiding it for a long time for her. Yalan could never have imagined that such a thing would come to her family. In a recent interview with Epoch Times, Yalan recounted the excruciating pain she experienced.
Yalan is a doctor who immigrated to the United States from China with her husband in the early years. The couple, both Christians, live in the middle of the country and have three children - two sons and a daughter.
The youngest daughter, Mei Hui, was born in the United States in 2004 and is 19 years old. In Yalan's mind, Mei Hui is a very good child, "Her math class progresses about two years faster than other children, she is very hard working, self-disciplined, kind, a very good child. We never worry about anything going wrong with her."
However, Mie suddenly told her parents when she was about to turn 18 that she was transgender and would have to change her sex when she turned 18. Yalan and her husband were dumbfounded, "What a bolt from the blue!" They never knew that their daughter self-identified as transgender.
Later Mie told her parents that when she entered puberty at the age of 12 or 13, her body underwent some changes and she felt uncomfortable. It happened to be a time when her school teacher talked about things like transgenderism and LGBT (the acronym for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender). Mie had questions at the time about whether or not she had this problem as well.
Yalan noticed that Mie didn't talk to her parents much after she started high school. But the couple didn't take it too personally; they thought it was because the child was entering puberty and distancing herself from her parents. Yalan didn't understand until later: when Mei Hui told a teacher at school about her self-identification as transgender, the teacher told her not to tell her parents, "Your parents are Christians, if you tell them, they will not want you, what will you do then?" "You don't tell them, we'll keep it a secret for you."
When she was 16 years old, she publicly admitted that she was a male at school, changed her name, and was called by her teachers and classmates by her new name. Mie originally thought that after coming out (LGBT people refer to the act of disclosing one's gender identity as "coming out") the pressure was released and she would feel better. But her mood didn't get better, it got worse.
Mr. and Mrs. Yalan still didn't know it, but they noticed that Mei Hui began to suffer from severe insomnia and emotional instability, sometimes even cutting herself with a knife. In fact, Mei-Huei was struggling internally because of her sex change, and she dared not communicate normally with her parents. Yalan said, "Because all the people told her not to tell us."
After Yalan sensed her daughter's condition, she began to try to communicate with her, but didn't figure out what was going on with her daughter. Every time Yalan called the school and asked the counselor how the child was doing and if she had observed any problems, the school teacher said, "It's fine, it's fine, she's very good."
Mei Hui's older brother, sister-in-law, and second brother, knew about Mei Hui a long time ago, but they had all been brainwashed by the school, and they all cautioned Mei Hui not to talk to her parents about it. Mei Hui's pediatrician not only hid it for her, but also took the initiative to call the transgender clinic to make an appointment for Mei Hui.
"She even changed her name at school, so her teachers know about her condition, her classmates know about it, maybe their parents know about it, and the community knows about it," says Yalan. Yalan said, "Only my husband and I didn't know."
Yalan said, "Those teachers at the school are horrible, they are the ones who put my child in this situation and turned my child against his parents."
Informed when it was too late
After being kept in the dark for several years, it was in Mie's last year of high school that Yalan first learned the truth about Mie.
In October 2021, Mie was in her fourth year of high school (12th grade) and had a little over half a year to go before she graduated. The school had parent-teacher conferences for the first month of school, and it was only when Mie was worried that her mother's teacher would accidentally slip up when she arrived at school that she told her parents she was transgender and gave her male name.
Although Yalan and Mr. were very shocked, they tried to keep their emotions in check. They asked Mie what her plans were. Mie said that she was going to get a sex change when she turned 18. At that time, there were only 2 months left before she turned 18, and according to the law in the United States, at the age of 18, she was an adult and could do everything on her own. Yalan and her husband were completely confused.
As a doctor, Yalan told her daughter that the human body's gender is determined by genes and cannot be changed by surgery or any other means. This so-called transgender care is very harmful to a healthy human body. A doctor's duty should be to save lives, but nowadays doctors are mutilating the healthy bodies of teenagers with drugs and surgeries, which is absolutely unethical behavior and the wrong thing to do.
But Mi-Huei doesn't listen at all, and she believes that she was born in the wrong body. Yalan said that her body had been healthy since she was a child and that there was nothing wrong with it, and that it was her mind that was the problem. Mie then said, "My mind is like that, so I'm going to change my body."
Yalan had no way to convince her daughter. "We came from mainland China and have experienced a lot, but it was never expected that something like this would happen to our family."
"It feels like taking on the world."
To help her daughter from being transgender, Yalan sought help everywhere, but found it much harder.
"All the people pushing for her to be transgender, all the people supporting her to be transgender," she said. Yalan said, "We looked everywhere for help, the church, friends around us, and we couldn't find any help. No one helped us, everyone was supportive of being transgender, and all the parents of the kids we grew up with were silent." One parent even came to them and said, "Your child can do whatever she wants, she's happy, you should support her.
Yalan and her husband tried hard to find an honest counselor to counsel their daughter to see if she had any mental illnesses, but they couldn't find any. Yalan said that the American Psychological Association, the American Academy of Pediatrics, and the American Medical Association all support and affirm transgenderism. "All the medical associations are like this, as long as you say you have gender anxiety, these organizations are affirming your gender identity, pushing you hard, forcing you to take medication and undergo surgery to change your sex," she said.
Yalan said that not only are the medical and education sectors infiltrated and gagged, but even the whole society is controlled on the issue of transgenderism, even the churches are no exception. Many churches now have rainbow flags (flags symbolizing the LGBT community) hanging in front of their doors. Yalan has tried to seek help from the church, but in the few churches near her home, no one dares to speak about it, and even the pastor is silent.
"My husband and I felt like we were up against the world, with no power at all. There is pressure from all sides, and all the people are against you. We were desperate."
"We were left on our own in the dark with no one to talk to." The baby would have turned 18 in two months, but I couldn't do anything, there was nothing I could do," Yalan said. All the people were pushing her (to change her sex), and she had grown so big that I couldn't force her. There was really nothing we could do but ask God."
After Mi-Huei confessed to her parents, her mental condition worsened, and her insomnia at night became worse, so that she could not go to school for many days. Because she missed so many classes, Mie almost didn't graduate. In May 2022, Mie left home after graduating from high school.
Yalan and her husband used to be proud of their family. "My husband and I were most proud of our family, and all of our efforts were for this family. We really love our children and really do the best we can to give them the best environment possible." Yalan said, "But our family is completely divided by this incident."
"America is going through a 'Cultural Revolution'."
Yalan deplores the fact that even though Mei Hui suffered from severe mental distress, she excelled in all her classes until her third year of high school, earning A's in every subject, and that such an outstanding child was persecuted to such an extent - not being able to rest, not being able to sleep, wanting to self-harm, committing suicide, and almost not being able to graduate, and her parents had no way of understanding her, so why is it that this is happening?
Yalan and her husband experienced the Cultural Revolution in China, and she believes that what is happening in the U.S. is very similar to the Cultural Revolution in China. "These kids are like the Red Guards, they want to destroy traditional culture, break up the family, and break with their parents, almost the same as the Cultural Revolution".
"LGBT has turned into a so-called belief for the children, just like communism, which on the surface seems to be pursuing equality, tolerance and progress, but in fact wants everyone to become LGBT," Yalan said.
Yalan believes that there is a force behind the transgender movement that seeks to gain power by promoting transgenderism, which it uses to control all of these people. This force destroys the most important foundations of society - family, ethics and morality. It's like the Cultural Revolution of the Communist Party of China, the so-called "breaking up the old and establishing the four new," which broke up all the traditional concepts, the family, and the order. These things are now happening in the United States.
"Who doesn't know that gender is male and female?" Yalan said, "Now to get all people to recognize that gender is not just male and female, but there are dozens of other kinds, which in itself is brainwashing, a political campaign to get all people to lie. It's scary, exactly like the Communists."
"The feeling my husband and I had was that we were up against the world and had no power at all. There's pressure on all sides, all the people are against you. We were desperate."
"There's going to be retribution, and all of us are going to have to pay a very heavy price for this."
After Mie confessed to her parents, her mental condition worsened and her insomnia at night became so severe that she was unable to attend school for many days. Because she missed so many classes, Mie almost didn't graduate. Yalan and her husband used to be proud of their family. "My husband and I are most proud of our family and all our efforts are for this family. We really love our children and really do the best we can to give them the best environment." Yalan said, "But our family is completely divided by this incident."
"America is going through a 'Cultural Revolution'."
Yalan deplores the fact that even though Mei Hui suffered from severe mental distress, she excelled in all her classes until her third year of high school, earning A's in every subject, and that such an outstanding child was persecuted to such an extent - not being able to rest, not being able to sleep, wanting to self-harm, committing suicide, and almost not being able to graduate, and her parents had no way of understanding her, so why is it that this is happening?
Yalan and her husband experienced the Cultural Revolution in China, and she believes that what is happening in the U.S. is very similar to the Cultural Revolution in China....
What is "the beauty of being an adult"? The original meaning is to fulfill the good deeds of others, but we extend it to "understanding and respecting the approval of others".
This year is the first year of same-sex marriage in Taiwan. The Gay and Lesbian Alliance calls for friends who care about the gay community, such as elderly long term photos, destigmatization of AIDS, sex education, workplace equality, marriage equality, barrier equality, legalization of sex work, aborigines and new aborigines, transition justice, and other related communities.
Last year, we talked about the ubiquitous fake friendliness, and this year we are going to talk about the fake friendly sex equality education; everyone has room to learn more about gender equality, and teenagers are the main subject of sex equality education in schools, so that they can know their own desires and understand the various kinds of sexual relationships that really exist in the society, so that teenagers can start to learn gender equality education with themselves as the main subject.
2023: Josh Seiter's turning point, from coming out of the closet to overcoming death rumors
The year 2023 will undoubtedly be a turning point for Josh Seiter. The former Bachelorette contestant, Chicago resident, Chicago Kent College of Law graduate, mental health advocate, and OnlyFans content creator bravely came out as bisexual this summer. A move that not only affirms self-identity, but also challenges society, Seiter's courage and honesty provides a source of strength and hope for many who are struggling.
However, as he came out publicly, Seiter encountered a series of challenges. He once dated a male dancer, but the relationship ended. To add insult to injury, his social media accounts were hacked, leading to rumors of his death. This chain of events caused Seiter a great deal of stress and distress, forcing him to withdraw from social media and spend time in a health facility.
In a conversation with Windy City Times, Seiter shared some of his journey. He admits that the past few months have been extremely difficult for him, but he's also trying to stay positive and trying to learn and grow from it. He recalls his experience with electroshock therapy at the age of 21 and how he enrolled in law school six months after treatment, which made him realize that life is a marathon, not a sprint. The death hoax tested his resilience once again, but it also made him even more determined to believe that there is nothing he can't overcome.
Seiter also talks about his homeschooling experience and how he faced social challenges because he was homeschooled. His story reminds us that everyone's upbringing is unique, and that understanding and accepting these differences is the key to building a more inclusive society.
Seiter's story is especially inspiring during National Coming Out Month. His public coming out is not only an affirmation of self-identity, but also a challenge to society, encouraging more people to be brave enough to be themselves. His experiences and insights provide invaluable support and advice to those struggling with mental health issues.
Seiter's story shows us that no matter how difficult or challenging we are, we can find the strength to overcome them through courage, perseverance and a positive attitude. His experiences and insights are an encouragement and inspiration to all, reminding us to look for opportunities to grow in the face of adversity and to be brave enough to be ourselves.
Scientists Discover First Genetic Variation Associated with Bisexual Behavior in Humans
In a recent scientific study, scientists have for the first time identified genetic variants associated with bisexual behavior in humans, a finding that not only provides insight into sexual diversity, but also reveals the link between these genetic markers and heterosexual men's ability to engage in risk-taking behaviors and produce more offspring. The study, led by University of Michigan professor Jianzhi Zhang, was published Wednesday in the journal Science Advances.
The study is based on data from more than 450,000 people of European descent enrolled in the UK Biobank, a long-term genomics project with significant benefits for health research. The research builds on a groundbreaking paper published in Science in 2019, which found that genetic variation influences whether or not a person engages in same-sex behavior to some extent, although environmental factors have a greater impact.
Professor Cheung explained that past studies have tended to lump all homosexual behavior into one category, but in reality there is a range. By studying the complete DNA or genomes of participants and combining this information with survey results, Chang and his co-author Siliang Song were able to confirm that the characteristics associated with homosexual and bisexual behavior are in fact different.
The study revealed that male heterosexuals who carry these markers, called bisexual behavior (BSB)-related alleles, pass on these genes by having more children than average. In addition, men who describe themselves as adventurous tend to have more children and are more likely to carry the BSB-associated allele. This suggests that male BSB-related alleles may have a reproductive advantage, which could explain their past persistence and predict their future maintenance.
However, alleles associated with exclusive same-sex behavior (eSSB) are associated with fewer children born to heterosexual men, suggesting that these traits will disappear over time. Data from the UK Biobank also show that the proportion of people reporting bisexual and homosexual behavior has been rising for decades, possibly due to increased openness in society.
The study estimated that whether a person's behavior is bisexual or not has 40% a genetic influence and 60% an environmental influence. The researchers emphasized that their findings mainly contributed to the diversity, richness and better understanding of human sexuality and were not intended to imply or endorse discrimination on the ground of sexuality.
The study not only provides new insights into the genetic basis of sexual orientation, but also emphasizes the complexity and pleiotropy of nature, where one gene can influence multiple traits. The findings of this study provide important insights into the evolutionary context of human sexual behavior and open new avenues for future research.
Sex and Relationships: Why do gay men often have older brothers? Explaining the Birth Order Effect
In today's society, sexual orientation and gender identity are increasingly openly discussed, and scientists are constantly exploring the biological and psychological mechanisms behind these topics. Recently, a compelling study has refocused on an interesting phenomenon: having one or more older brothers may increase a man's chances of being gay.
According to Scott Semenyna, a professor of psychology at Stetson University, this phenomenon, known as the "sibling birth order effect," has been documented not only in Canada and the United States, but has been observed globally, including in Samoa, southern Mexico, Turkey and Brazil. This discovery challenges our traditional understanding of the formation of sexual orientation and triggers further exploration of the underlying biological mechanisms.
Prof. Semenina points out that researchers have noticed this phenomenon since the 1990s. Theoretically, the likelihood of a man being attracted to a man increases by about 331 TP3T for each additional brother, which means that a man with one brother is about 2.61 TP3T more likely to be homosexual than a man without a brother, and this increases to 3.51 TP3T with two brothers and to about 81 TP3T for a man with five brothers. For men with five brothers, the probability increases to about 81 TP3T.
The mechanisms behind this effect are not fully understood, but researchers have explored potential associations with parental chromosomes and possible biological factors.2022 A study published in the Journal of Sex Research found an even stronger correlation by looking at data from more than 9 million people in the Netherlands born between 1940 and 1990. Researchers at the University of Melbourne found that the likelihood of a man entering a same-sex relationship increased by 411 TP3T if he had three older brothers compared to men with three older sisters, and by 801 TP3T if this was compared to having three younger brothers.
Notably, this pattern was also observed among women, albeit with a relatively weak effect size. This finding suggests that there may be some association that is at least partially driven by biological mechanisms.
However, the experts emphasized that even if such a pattern exists, it affects only a small fraction of the general population. The vast majority of people with multiple brothers are still attracted to the opposite sex. The study reminds us that the formation of sexual orientation is a complex process that is influenced by a variety of factors, including but not limited to genetics, biology, environment and personal experience.
As scientific research progresses, our understanding of sexual orientation formation will become more comprehensive. This will not only help us better understand gender diversity, but also provide a scientific basis for promoting social inclusion and acceptance.
Colton Underwood Talks Potentially Cool Season of 'The Bachelor'
A New Chapter in Reality TV? Colton Underwood Discusses Potentially Cool Season of 'Bachelor'
In an age where diversity and inclusion are increasingly at the forefront of society, the entertainment industry is constantly adapting to reflect this change. In a recent interview with Entertainment Weekly, The Bachelor Season 23 star Colton Underwood spoke about the possibility of an LGBTQIA+ themed season of the iconic dating show. The news undoubtedly opens up a new chapter in the future of the reality TV show.
The Bachelorette and its spin-offs such as The Bachelorette and Bachelor in Paradise have become staples of reality television, attracting viewers from a wide range of backgrounds. However, as time goes on, viewers and producers alike are looking for more diversity and inclusion.
Colton Underwood revealed that he has spoken to a number of producers, suggesting that the series is listening to the audience's call for more inclusivity. He noted that adjusting the show's traditional format to accommodate the complexity of the gay protagonist is a challenge, but also an opportunity.
Underwood believes that while the established format of The Bachelor may present challenges, other dating shows such as Love Is Blind and Ultimatum featuring the Cool Kids season can serve as models. He emphasized that our community is diverse and we follow different rules, so a specialized approach to cool dating shows is necessary.
The buzz around an LGBTQIA+ season of The Scholars has been growing, especially after hints from executive producers Jason Ehrlich and Bennett Grebner. Ehrlich wants to show a broader love story, while Grabner has pointed to ongoing discussions about introducing a queer protagonist.
The series has made great strides in inclusivity in recent years. in 2019, Demi Burnett proposed to Christian Haggerty, becoming Bachelor in Paradise's first same-sex engagement. In addition, Brooke Broughton was the first openly bisexual protagonist in Australia, a milestone for the series.
With the introduction of a queer Bachelor potentially on the horizon, it's clear that the dialogue and potential tweaks to the beloved format are a step towards a fuller representation of love and relationships in mainstream media. As society continues to evolve, we look forward to seeing more stories of diversity and inclusivity presented in our favorite shows.
Emmerdale Star Ash Palmisciano Talks About the Importance and Impact of Playing Transgender Characters on Emmerdale
Ash Palmisciano: The Importance of Playing Transgender Characters on 'Emmerdale'
When Ash Palmisciano first appeared on Emmerdale in 2018, the out-of-the-closet trans actor knew the role would be important. However, even he didn't really realize the true significance of playing the role of Marty Barton until years later.
Emmerdale, the British soap opera, has been a favorite of viewers since its premiere in 1972. Parmigianino's appearance on the show not only introduces new and old fans to the trans-driven storyline, but also includes Marty confronting anti-trans prejudice, speaking openly about what it's like to be trans outside of the big city, and dealing with his relationship with Amy Wyatt (played by Natalie Ann Jamieson) in an upcoming episode.
Parmigiano told PinkNews that it means a lot to him to be able to play his first transgender role on Emmerdale. He said, "I grew up on TV soap operas, and for me to be in a big British show as the first transgender character is surreal because that's what I want to do. It's what I've always wanted to do."
Marty's continued presence has allowed the show to cover some "fascinating transgender stories," such as the character's experience of undergoing top-of-the-line surgery, "the difficulty of coming out to her family," and even "the basic meaning of transgender people. The Transgender Story". Palmisciano admits that such storylines were rare on television at the time, and that Emmerdale was "really starting from scratch".
Sharing the stories of transgender people was "very important" to Palmisciano, who appreciated being able to "show the whole story," as such storylines are sometimes pushed to the sidelines. He said, "The role I play is very important ...... because people still don't really understand what's under the umbrella of transgender people, but more importantly, the fact that he exists in that world is huge."
While Parmigiano has experienced great joy and won support for his role as a transgender character, he has also faced strong opposition for his Emmerdale role. He admits that when he took the job, he wasn't prepared or "didn't realize the extent of transphobia."
Because I've been through what I've been through, I'm even more passionate about trans rights," Parmigiano says. I'm not an activist. I'm an actor, but because of what I've been through, I feel like I have to do something. I have to try to make a difference. I have to help educate people."
Through his role in Emmerdale, Ash Palmisciano not only provides a strong voice for the transgender community, but also educates and inspires a global audience, demonstrating the normalization and acceptance of transgender people in society.
2023: Josh Seiter's turning point, from coming out of the closet to overcoming death rumors
The year 2023 will undoubtedly be a turning point for Josh Seiter. The former Bachelorette contestant, Chicago resident, Chicago Kent College of Law graduate, mental health advocate, and OnlyFans content creator bravely came out as bisexual this summer. A move that not only affirms self-identity, but also challenges society, Seiter's courage and honesty provides a source of strength and hope for many who are struggling.
However, as he came out publicly, Seiter encountered a series of challenges. He once dated a male dancer, but the relationship ended. To add insult to injury, his social media accounts were hacked, leading to rumors of his death. This chain of events caused Seiter a great deal of stress and distress, forcing him to withdraw from social media and spend time in a health facility.
In a conversation with Windy City Times, Seiter shared some of his journey. He admits that the past few months have been extremely difficult for him, but he's also trying to stay positive and trying to learn and grow from it. He recalls his experience with electroshock therapy at the age of 21 and how he enrolled in law school six months after treatment, which made him realize that life is a marathon, not a sprint. The death hoax tested his resilience once again, but it also made him even more determined to believe that there is nothing he can't overcome.
Seiter also talks about his homeschooling experience and how he faced social challenges because he was homeschooled. His story reminds us that everyone's upbringing is unique, and that understanding and accepting these differences is the key to building a more inclusive society.
Seiter's story is especially inspiring during National Coming Out Month. His public coming out is not only an affirmation of self-identity, but also a challenge to society, encouraging more people to be brave enough to be themselves. His experiences and insights provide invaluable support and advice to those struggling with mental health issues.
Seiter's story shows us that no matter how difficult or challenging we are, we can find the strength to overcome them through courage, perseverance and a positive attitude. His experiences and insights are an encouragement and inspiration to all, reminding us to look for opportunities to grow in the face of adversity and to be brave enough to be ourselves.
Sex and Relationships: Why do gay men often have older brothers? Explaining the Birth Order Effect
In today's society, sexual orientation and gender identity are increasingly openly discussed, and scientists are constantly exploring the biological and psychological mechanisms behind these topics. Recently, a compelling study has refocused on an interesting phenomenon: having one or more older brothers may increase a man's chances of being gay.
According to Scott Semenyna, a professor of psychology at Stetson University, this phenomenon, known as the "sibling birth order effect," has been documented not only in Canada and the United States, but has been observed globally, including in Samoa, southern Mexico, Turkey and Brazil. This discovery challenges our traditional understanding of the formation of sexual orientation and triggers further exploration of the underlying biological mechanisms.
Prof. Semenina points out that researchers have noticed this phenomenon since the 1990s. Theoretically, the likelihood of a man being attracted to a man increases by about 331 TP3T for each additional brother, which means that a man with one brother is about 2.61 TP3T more likely to be homosexual than a man without a brother, and this increases to 3.51 TP3T with two brothers and to about 81 TP3T for a man with five brothers. For men with five brothers, the probability increases to about 81 TP3T.
The mechanisms behind this effect are not fully understood, but researchers have explored potential associations with parental chromosomes and possible biological factors.2022 A study published in the Journal of Sex Research found an even stronger correlation by looking at data from more than 9 million people in the Netherlands born between 1940 and 1990. Researchers at the University of Melbourne found that the likelihood of a man entering a same-sex relationship increased by 411 TP3T if he had three older brothers compared to men with three older sisters, and by 801 TP3T if this was compared to having three younger brothers.
Notably, this pattern was also observed among women, albeit with a relatively weak effect size. This finding suggests that there may be some association that is at least partially driven by biological mechanisms.
However, the experts emphasized that even if such a pattern exists, it affects only a small fraction of the general population. The vast majority of people with multiple brothers are still attracted to the opposite sex. The study reminds us that the formation of sexual orientation is a complex process that is influenced by a variety of factors, including but not limited to genetics, biology, environment and personal experience.
As scientific research progresses, our understanding of sexual orientation formation will become more comprehensive. This will not only help us better understand gender diversity, but also provide a scientific basis for promoting social inclusion and acceptance.
Scientists Discover First Genetic Variation Associated with Bisexual Behavior in Humans
In a recent scientific study, scientists have for the first time identified genetic variants associated with bisexual behavior in humans, a finding that not only provides insight into sexual diversity, but also reveals the link between these genetic markers and heterosexual men's ability to engage in risk-taking behaviors and produce more offspring. The study, led by University of Michigan professor Jianzhi Zhang, was published Wednesday in the journal Science Advances.
The study is based on data from more than 450,000 people of European descent enrolled in the UK Biobank, a long-term genomics project with significant benefits for health research. The research builds on a groundbreaking paper published in Science in 2019, which found that genetic variation influences whether or not a person engages in same-sex behavior to some extent, although environmental factors have a greater impact.
Professor Cheung explained that past studies have tended to lump all homosexual behavior into one category, but in reality there is a range. By studying the complete DNA or genomes of participants and combining this information with survey results, Chang and his co-author Siliang Song were able to confirm that the characteristics associated with homosexual and bisexual behavior are in fact different.
The study revealed that male heterosexuals who carry these markers, called bisexual behavior (BSB)-related alleles, pass on these genes by having more children than average. In addition, men who describe themselves as adventurous tend to have more children and are more likely to carry the BSB-associated allele. This suggests that male BSB-related alleles may have a reproductive advantage, which could explain their past persistence and predict their future maintenance.
However, alleles associated with exclusive same-sex behavior (eSSB) are associated with fewer children born to heterosexual men, suggesting that these traits will disappear over time. Data from the UK Biobank also show that the proportion of people reporting bisexual and homosexual behavior has been rising for decades, possibly due to increased openness in society.
The study estimated that whether a person's behavior is bisexual or not has 40% a genetic influence and 60% an environmental influence. The researchers emphasized that their findings mainly contributed to the diversity, richness and better understanding of human sexuality and were not intended to imply or endorse discrimination on the ground of sexuality.
The study not only provides new insights into the genetic basis of sexual orientation, but also emphasizes the complexity and pleiotropy of nature, where one gene can influence multiple traits. The findings of this study provide important insights into the evolutionary context of human sexual behavior and open new avenues for future research.