I wouldn't worry about him doing gymnastics making him gay.

Any influence you had on his sexuality happened already when he was in your womb.

I was under a shitload of stress during my second pregnancy, so my bets are on my second son. Each subsequent son has an increased chance of being gay - so my bets are also on my littlest son as well

http://sciencefocus.com/f...y-genetics

Aside from a few superficial differences (among them penis and ring-finger length – both longer in homosexuals), gay and straight men’s bodies appear the same. The exception is homosexual men’s brains, which show remarkable similarities to the brains of heterosexual women, suggesting that sexual orientation depends on the effect hormones have on the developing brain.

In 1996 Blanchard and Professor Tony Bogaert revealed a peculiar phenomenon: the more older brothers a boy has, the greater their chances of being homosexual. This ‘fraternal birth order effect’ meant that each subsequent brother increases the odds of being gay by 33 per cent. An only child has a two per cent chance, but with 10 brothers the odds are over 20 per cent. But why the increasing odds? Blanchard believes it’s related to how a mother’s body protects itself when pregnant with a son.

Here's a useful article about how to prevent homosexuality

http://fathersforlife.org...venti.html

WTF!!! when the hell was THAT written???

I did gymnastics as a kid, and I am straight. I was surrounded by women in leotards, so no lack of hetero fantasy to influence my young mind.

I think gymnastics is a pretty and graceful sport, that may be why gay men like it, along with diving and figure skating.

And that is all the stereotyping I need to do tonight

In general I think it depends on age and how the person describes it.

For example, of a man is a doing gymnastics right now and he's in his 20's and describes it as "a job" or "demanding" then he's probably straight.

If he, however, was inducted at a young age, and describes it as "a graceful sport", he's gay. Like, really gay.

It really just depends on the situation.

ZombieKitten said:

beatriceau said:

ZombieKitten said:

Here's a useful article about how to prevent homosexuality

http://fathersforlife.org...venti.html

WTF!!! when the hell was THAT written???

Wow, I always thought your sexuality just is, just like height or eye colour, but I guess it is both genetics and environment intertwined! Like in some country (i cant remember which) families that don't have a daughter bring up the youngest boy as a girl and they grow up to be extremely feminine. As I say it wouldnt make me think any less of my child, but my husband is a bit of a bigot, and it would be so hard on my son, as he adores his dad. I really wish everyone would just live and let live, so people wouldn't suffer for unessesary reasons.

Really? I've heard of some families, even here in the United States, raising their daughters as boys but never really the other way around.

NDRU said:

I did gymnastics as a kid, and I am straight. I was surrounded by women in leotards, so no lack of hetero fantasy to influence my young mind.

I think gymnastics is a pretty and graceful sport, that may be why gay men like it, along with diving and figure skating.

And that is all the stereotyping I need to do tonight

I used to think that there was some legitimate association...BUT in light of the American Football players and freaking RUGBY players coming out of the closet...that goes out the window for me.

Sport is like anything. You play it because you like it & you're good at it, regardless of your sexuality.

Although...I'd be interested to see if there are any gay BOXERS out there. Boxing is one of those sports that I guess I still stereotype as a "manly-man" sport.

Why would a child's interest in sports make him gay? I don't get that logic... maybe I'm not understanding what you're talking about. If people wanna bed uglies with penises or clits, it wouldn't matter if they prefer basketball or ballet regardless if hormones have anything to do with a child's sexuality at all. He's only nine, why would anyone need to wonder if he was gay at this age?

PurpleJedi said:

I used to think that there was some legitimate association...BUT in light of the American Football players and freaking RUGBY players coming out of the closet...that goes out the window for me.

Sport is like anything. You play it because you like it & you're good at it, regardless of your sexuality.

Although...I'd be interested to see if there are any gay BOXERS out there. Boxing is one of those sports that I guess I still stereotype as a "manly-man" sport.

There are plenty of gay men who are extremely masculine (manly-men). I'm sure there are gay boxers, though I don't know of any who are out.

Incidentally, I have a friend who plays on a gay Rugby team.

I'm just thinking outloud, I don't think sport choice =/= sexuality. It just so happens some of these guys are gay that are involved in sports. Same with straight men who are involved in sports. It don't matter what sport. There's some openly straight guys who are involved in ballet. I wouldn't be worried about someone's sexuality regardless of the sport. Like I said, nine years old is too young to wonder about that.

If you're really worried about this, also introduce him to drag racing as a way to counterbalance things.

RodeoSchro said:

If you're really worried about this, also introduce him to drag racing as a way to counterbalance things.

Excellent idea.

Timmy84 said:

ZombieKitten said:

I still think it's nature not nurture. I posted that second article only because I found it so crazy people thought like that. Blaming the mother for being "immodest" or too affectionate
It's like the 1940s when "refrigerator" mothers were blamed for autism - which they are now also isolating a gene for.

Totally unfair pressure to put on a parent IMO.
Can't believe the doctors/scientists who put together these bullshit theories - I bet they were way to busy pontificating in their lab coats to spend any time at home with their wives and kids and observing first hand.
Too much cuddling and your son will be gay, too little and he will be autistic. WTF!! I'd cuddle my kid non-stop if it would stop him being autistic IF ONLY it were that easy.

kitbradley said:

beatriceau said:

ZombieKitten said:

I still think it's nature not nurture. I posted that second article only because I found it so crazy people thought like that. Blaming the mother for being "immodest" or too affectionate
It's like the 1940s when "refrigerator" mothers were blamed for autism - which they are now also isolating a gene for.

Totally unfair pressure to put on a parent IMO.
Can't believe the doctors/scientists who put together these bullshit theories - I bet they were way to busy pontificating in their lab coats to spend any time at home with their wives and kids and observing first hand.
Too much cuddling and your son will be gay, too little and he will be autistic. WTF!! I'd cuddle my kid non-stop if it would stop him being autistic IF ONLY it were that easy.

Yep I agree, everything is always blamed on the mum, when all we do is want the best for our kids. I'm wondering though if abuse can tip the balance in some cases though? And yes that article is so sexist! Lol! And suggesting men can't have a sensitive side and be straight!

imago said:

If he, however, was inducted at a young age, and describes it as "a graceful sport", he's gay. Like, really gay.

well if wanting to have sex with graceful little muscle men makes me gay, then color me fabulous!

NDRU said:

imago said:

If he, however, was inducted at a young age, and describes it as "a graceful sport", he's gay. Like, really gay.

well if wanting to have sex with graceful little muscle men makes me gay, then color me fabulous!

CarrieMpls said:

RodeoSchro said:

If you're really worried about this, also introduce him to drag racing as a way to counterbalance things.

Excellent idea.

beatriceau said:

One thing is for sure with bodies like that they can't have much problem getting a partner! I'm not someone who looks, or notices ! But when I first saw the national team practice my eyes nearly fell out! Their bodies are so much nicer than weight lifters, body builders etc... Maybe that's my answer! It's a really grueling sport that is very low profile. Maybe the biggest pay off is being surrounded by such beauty! Lol!

its evidence that the best weightlifting is lifting the body's own weight. Those guys rarely lift weights, but they can push up, pull up, leg lift for days!

And I was so damn flexible when I did gymnastics! I could stand and bend backward so that my hands were on the ground. Now I can't even touch my toes

beatriceau said:

Timmy84 said:

Why would a child's interest in sports make him gay? I don't get that logic... maybe I'm not understanding what you're talking about. If people wanna bed uglies with penises or clits, it wouldn't matter if they prefer basketball or ballet regardless if hormones have anything to do with a child's sexuality at all. He's only nine, why would anyone need to wonder if he was gay at this age?

You'd b surprised the things I worry about since being a parent! Lol! I guess as mums we worry feel guilty about everything and anything sometimes. But you are right. I was just mostly curious and wondering what other people thought about the reason for the correlation between sports and sexuality. It kind of raised the age old nature/nurture question of sexuality, which until now I'd never questioned. I'd always thought it was inborn. Anyway after reading collective comments Im wondering if it's more about coming out. Like in some sports you'd get More support!

I dated a guy who did gymnastics - not professionally, but was quite good at a local club level. He could do the "iron cross." He was kinda yummy! He's married now (not to me), and I believe he is not gay. I KNOW, for a fact, though, that his legs and abs were the rock-hardest I'd ever felt (up) in my whole life. My previous boyfriend before him seemed lik jello in comparison.

Ahhh, excuse me while I reminisce...

OK, back to your thread. Homosexuals are still in the minority of the human population, so chances are small with your son. And as others have pointed out, men are coming out in other sports too, so as your surmised it's probably also correlated with some sports (like football) being less tolerant of openly gay athletes than other sports (like figure skating).

I wouldn't worry AT ALL about it. Gymnastics is a great sport.

PurpleJedi said:

I used to think that there was some legitimate association...BUT in light of the American Football players and freaking RUGBY players coming out of the closet...that goes out the window for me.

Sport is like anything. You play it because you like it & you're good at it, regardless of your sexuality.

Although...I'd be interested to see if there are any gay BOXERS out there. Boxing is one of those sports that I guess I still stereotype as a "manly-man" sport.

OK...that answers THAT question!!!

Boxer Orlando Cruz should be commended for revealing he's gay

Orlando Cruz is a hero.

He's a world-class professional boxer who, with one more win, could be fighting for a version of the featherweight title. He aspires to be a role model, hoping to inspire children to ignore the naysayers and reach for their dreams. He plans to begin a campaign to end bullying.

Orlando Cruz is scheduled to fight Jorge Pazos on Oct. 19 in Kissimmee, Fla. (AP)He's also gay.

It's a sad sign of the lack of progress in our society that, when Cruz issued a statement on Wednesday admitting his sexual orientation, it was news.

There are, and have been, scores of lesbian and gay athletes in professional sports. Some of the greatest stars in sports history are or were gay, such as tennis players Bill Tilden, Martina Navratilova and Billie Jean King, diver Greg Louganis and boxer Emile Griffith.

It remains so rare, though, particularly in male sports, that when an athlete comes out of the closet mid-career, it's big news.

Cruz wasn't available Wednesday to speak about his decision. He plans to give what he called "a tell-all" interview to Telemundo next week in which he'll explain his thought process and why he chose to make public his secret.

full story on YAHOO!

PurpleJedi said:

PurpleJedi said:

I used to think that there was some legitimate association...BUT in light of the American Football players and freaking RUGBY players coming out of the closet...that goes out the window for me.

Sport is like anything. You play it because you like it & you're good at it, regardless of your sexuality.

Although...I'd be interested to see if there are any gay BOXERS out there. Boxing is one of those sports that I guess I still stereotype as a "manly-man" sport.

OK...that answers THAT question!!!

Boxer Orlando Cruz should be commended for revealing he's gay

Orlando Cruz is a hero.

He's a world-class professional boxer who, with one more win, could be fighting for a version of the featherweight title. He aspires to be a role model, hoping to inspire children to ignore the naysayers and reach for their dreams. He plans to begin a campaign to end bullying.

Orlando Cruz is scheduled to fight Jorge Pazos on Oct. 19 in Kissimmee, Fla. (AP)He's also gay.

It's a sad sign of the lack of progress in our society that, when Cruz issued a statement on Wednesday admitting his sexual orientation, it was news.

There are, and have been, scores of lesbian and gay athletes in professional sports. Some of the greatest stars in sports history are or were gay, such as tennis players Bill Tilden, Martina Navratilova and Billie Jean King, diver Greg Louganis and boxer Emile Griffith.

It remains so rare, though, particularly in male sports, that when an athlete comes out of the closet mid-career, it's big news.

Cruz wasn't available Wednesday to speak about his decision. He plans to give what he called "a tell-all" interview to Telemundo next week in which he'll explain his thought process and why he chose to make public his secret.

full story on YAHOO!

See, PJ? "Manly-man" and liking dick are nowhere near mutually exclusive.

P.S.

YOU CAN'T TURN SOMEBODY GAY.

For fuck's sake.

PunkMistress said:

PurpleJedi said:

OK...that answers THAT question!!!

Boxer Orlando Cruz should be commended for revealing he's gay

Orlando Cruz is a hero.

He's a world-class professional boxer who, with one more win, could be fighting for a version of the featherweight title. He aspires to be a role model, hoping to inspire children to ignore the naysayers and reach for their dreams. He plans to begin a campaign to end bullying.

Orlando Cruz is scheduled to fight Jorge Pazos on Oct. 19 in Kissimmee, Fla. (AP)He's also gay.

It's a sad sign of the lack of progress in our society that, when Cruz issued a statement on Wednesday admitting his sexual orientation, it was news.

There are, and have been, scores of lesbian and gay athletes in professional sports. Some of the greatest stars in sports history are or were gay, such as tennis players Bill Tilden, Martina Navratilova and Billie Jean King, diver Greg Louganis and boxer Emile Griffith.

It remains so rare, though, particularly in male sports, that when an athlete comes out of the closet mid-career, it's big news.

Cruz wasn't available Wednesday to speak about his decision. He plans to give what he called "a tell-all" interview to Telemundo next week in which he'll explain his thought process and why he chose to make public his secret.

full story on YAHOO!

See, PJ? "Manly-man" and liking dick are nowhere near mutually exclusive.

PurpleJedi said:

PunkMistress said:

See, PJ? "Manly-man" and liking dick are nowhere near mutually exclusive.

I wasn't joking.