Right, bit of a strange topic title, but I didn't really know how else to summarize it.

My older brother is gay (we are two years apart) and I am transexual and gay. My parents (who have accepted my brother being gay and are very close to accepting me being trans as well) have always stated that something seemed to be 'running in our family'. Like a gay trait or something. They didn't mean that in a negative sense. But they did notice how half their kids are gay and/or trans.

I also heard or read somewhere (can't remember where, argh!) that being gay and or/trans runs in certain families. So it seems to either have some heritability connected to it, or certain women in families have the tendency to do something in the womb hormone wise.

So basically my questions are, have any of you heard about this before? And what about your families? Do you have siblings/close relatives that are gay/trans?

I actually just read a paper that looked at multiple twin studies that were done specifically to test the hypothesis that genes are at least partially responsible for GID. While no mechanism has fully described GID (just as none has fully described homosexuality), they did find that identical twins were more likely to both be trans than fraternal twins, so there is support for some genetic component to this whole process.

I haven't looked at whether a similar study has been done to look at gay twins, but I'm sure it has...

I'm pretty sure my sister is gay (though since she is a fundamentalist, she is so opposed to the idea that she is very anti-gay). I had an aunt and an uncle who were gay (different sides of the family). Though with maybe 10% of the population as gay I don't know how much this means.

No trans afaik.

--Jay

It's an interesting concept. While no one in my immediate family is openly gay (though my dad certainly acts like a closeted homosexual), my paternal great-uncle was; he passed away before I was born, resulting in my name starting with an S in memory of him. A friend of mine's entire family seems to have this "gay gene"; she herself is bisexual, as are all of her siblings as far as we know. It could possibly be a result of being a carrier for many potentially harmful traits or something to that extent in order to keep an individual from being genetically fit (read: how many biological children they have), or just random population control. Either way, something to look into.

->-bleeped-<- doesn't seem to me like it's something that would run in families, but hey- I could be wrong. I'd like to see studies about this kind of thing.

I'm not aware of anyone in my family who is trans, but I do know someone who is pretty much MTF and they have a MTF mother.

I'm pretty sure, out of all the family I know, I'm the only one who's trans, and the only one who's not heterosexual...

i'm not aware of anyone in my close famely who is neither trans or gay,
I know my dads cousin is gay but its abit far out in the story.

I don't belive much that gay or trans goes in famely, maybe theres some small things who could have something to say in homones or if your twin, yes it seams likely.

but I think its most likely reason for certsain famely to have alot of LGBT members when others dont in the big pictures is because some famely is more openminded and then its more easy comming out than in others.

a guy once told me. "theres no gay people in iran" this is sure not true, but since its not accepting pretty much everyones is to hide in the closet and that make it looks like they dont exist.

I have actually asked one of my aunts about this very thing. She is kind of like the family historian. She says as far as she is aware, we don't have, nor ever had, any GLBT family members. Of course times change so there may be some well-dressed skeletons who died in the closet too.

I'm bi and so is my sister,we have 2 gay cousins and a TV cousin

Let's see, I have tons of relatives, especially on my mom's side. Apart from my uncle who we all assume is gay and in the closet, I appear to be the only weird one.

Genes  and our environments are what make us who we are.  Family members share genes, and many family members are raised in similar environments (especially close relatives, like siblings), so it makes sense that traits like sexuality and gender identity can sometimes run in families. 

I understand there is a debate within the gay community as to whether gays are born as gay, or if it's a choice ("sexual orientation" -v- "sexual preference"). I would think it's a combination; like with intellect, it's a combination of what your genes provide, and the environment in which you live. (Someone born "retarded" could never become a doctor; and someone born very very smart, if they're never exposed to learning and education will also never become a doctor (western MD).

Being trans is, imho, largely a function of the brain being changed, either by hormones in the womb, or by emotional trauma in life (and perhaps other things, too). But I wouldn't think a "person" is defined by their genetics.

But, I'm no authority. Believe what you will, harm none.

Quote from: spacerace on March 30, 2013, 04:18:47 PM
Genes  and our environments are what make us who we are.  Family members share genes, and many family members are raised in similar environments (especially close relatives, like siblings), so it makes sense that traits like sexuality and gender identity can sometimes run in families. 

That's why twin studies are so cool. Fraternal twins share identical (in most cases) environments, down to conditions in the womb, but they have dissimilar genetic material. Identical twins have identical genes (they formed from the same zygote). Studies comparing how traits differ between fraternal and identical twins can assess (to some degree) what is in fact heritable (genetic), and what is due to environment. Just a neat way to examine the whole 'nature vs nurture' thing.

My feeling is that there is probably some genetic component that at least predisposes one to being trans, but then it takes a range of other factors (social, environment...who knows) for GID to actually manifest itself. That would explain why it isn't seen running rampant in certain families. Similar thing with being gay I bet. I wonder if I can find any journal articles on it...

Sounds like the classic nature - nurture debate, which is not odd. This debate pops up in a lot of questions in my study, which is likely why I am interested in this topic.

I guess it will always be hard to distinguish the two. Even when being gay or transexuality seems to occur a lot within a family, there is no way of knowing this is caused by the family's genetic background, or by socialization habit within that family. And yes, that is why identical twins are so incredibly interesting.

Edit: And that's basically what Ford said before me....I should read messages properly before posting!

Quote from: ford on March 30, 2013, 04:34:50 PM
That's why twin studies are so cool. Fraternal twins share identical (in most cases) environments, down to conditions in the womb, but they have dissimilar genetic material. Identical twins have identical genes (they formed from the same zygote). Studies comparing how traits differ between fraternal and identical twins can assess (to some degree) what is in fact heritable (genetic), and what is due to environment. Just a neat way to examine the whole 'nature vs nurture' thing.

My feeling is that there is probably some genetic component that at least predisposes one to being trans, but then it takes a range of other factors (social, environment...who knows) for GID to actually manifest itself. That would explain why it isn't seen running rampant in certain families. Similar thing with being gay I bet. I wonder if I can find any journal articles on it...

I love psychology. I might try to find some good papers about this, too.

As for my family, I had a great uncle whose sister was a lesbian and she's the only one. I have an asexual relative, though, so I have that in common with someone at least. I'm the only trans person but that isn't surprising since most of my extended family is pretty intolerant.

No trans people in my family. There are some distant relatives who are gay, though.

My only full brother is gay. There might be something to that.

No one in my mother's side of the family that's LGBT (or even friendly XP). I'm unfamiliar with my father's side with the family. I know diabetes runs like you wouldn't believe in that family :'P. That's completely unrelated though xD.

You actually reminded of this documentary that I saw a while back. I wish I remembered the name, all I know it was it was on Netflix instant streaming. Hopefully you guys know. It was about 5 siblings, all gay. Their parents were very homophobic and not fond of any of them XP. Anyone know which one I'm talking about? ;_;

on my moms side i have a gay uncle, a gay great uncle, and a bi aunt. i think its genetic.

None of my siblings married; it is possible that they are gay and not out.  One sister has had an extremely close relationship for decades with her 'best friend' who is married, so who knows if there is more to it than just friendship.  Brother has a younger male roommate who he claims he is mentoring; I have teased him about being gay but he denies it.  Other sister probably asexual; claimed interest in men but never dated anyone, male or female.

My mother was pregnant in the 50s and 60s when they could drug you with things you didn't know about that may have had side effects when pregnant, wo who knows.

Jay