The Seattle Times: "Born gay? How biology may drive orientation"

This is a helpful overview of the scientific study of homosexuality. There seems to be good evidence that biological factors do play an important part in determining sexual identity. At the same time, studies also indicate a significant role for outside influences - although identical twins have a much higher rate than fraternal twins or other brothers of both being gay, there is still only a little more than a 50% correspondence, which means that sexual identity appears right now to result from a very complex stew of factors.

None of this directly influences the theological debate over homosexuality, of course. The relative weight of nature and nurture (and individual choice, according to some in the debate) are important considerations, but are only one facet to be examined. Still, this is an area that is often neglected in church conversations about homosexuality, and I hope that voices like the Seattle Times' article might be heard by those taking up these difficult questions.