So why are some people heterosexual while others are homosexual? The College Life Committee recently sponsored a panel discussion titled “Gay Sexual Orientation: From Whence Does It Come?”

Panelists said there are no definite reasons, just theories. Panel moderator Jill Hirt, director of planning and institutional research, said some theories focus on genetic and other biological factors, while others focus on sociological and psychological factors. The “nature versus nurture” discussion about human behavior still applies here too.

Biology professor Charlie Achenbach believes homosexuality does have a genetic component. He said it could be “a multi-gene trait… which is booted by the environment” – a combination of nature and nurture.

Achenbach explained a theory presented in Milton Diamond’s book titled “Brain Sex.” This theory suggests that the hormonal environment in the uterus may affect the hypothalamus which controls emotions, growth, obesity and many other functions.

“The microenvironment in the womb seems to set the pattern in chromosomes,” Achenbach said.

One point psychology professor Cyd Skinner wanted to make clear is that homosexuality is not a mental illness and reparation therapy has never been proven to work. She said that sexual orientation does not change throughout life. What changes is a person’s realization of who they are and subsequent change in behavior.

“In psychology, we don’t care if this is nature or nurture, but about helping people with their problems,” Skinner said.

In her work, Skinner counsels people dealing with the effects of discrimination because of their sexual orientation. She deals with their feelings of depression and lower self-esteem.