Is it just me or is the number of gays/homosexuals are increasing nowadays?

This article does not intend to deal with the moral issue raised by the church, but on the environmental and biological side of the subject matter in a point of view of a mother.  In my observation,there has been a huge increase in the number of gay people in the past decades.  Other people would account this to the fact that modernization, and the advocacy for freedom of expression and individuality have empowered individuals to come out from the closet.  Something that is difficult to do before, otherwise one has to bear religious, family, and social discrimination.

We learned that, an individual is made up not just by what is printed in his/her blueprint called gene, but also by the nurture he receives from the environment surrounding him.  This environment referred to includes the following,  family, peers and acquaintances, school, and the media.

Most of my gay friends and acquaintances are in one of these family scenarios. First, an only son in the family and the rest are female siblings with very strong personalities.  Second,a son of a military man who is into so much pressure of becoming like his dad.  Third, a young male away from home who finds solace in the company of female friends.

But, I have a few accounts wherein a boy at a very young age of 4 or 5 already expresses inclination towards gayness.  I had a student who was 4 years old at that time verbally expressed that he is a girl. And indeed he is gay.  In these cases, considering that these kids expressing homosexuality had been in this world for a very short period of time. I do not think that the environmental factors mentioned above are significant factors for their homosexuality.

Environmental factors must not be the only contributory factor to homosexuality.  So I made a bit of a research. And I came across some very interesting articles.

Environmental causes of homosexuality  and Homosexuality is not a choice, both articles suggest that homosexuality is caused by a disruption in the normal development of the brain specifically the hypothalamus during the crucial sexual differentiation of the embryo in the womb. The  hypothalamus is responsible for the gender preference, which is dimorphic.  Dimorphic means structurally different in males and females.  By default, all embryos are female, with the XX chromosomes.  If the fetus receives a Y chromosome naturally from the father, this will result to a male embryo. The embryo will then be altered by the addition of hormones called androgens specifically testosterone, which determines the male characteristics. Afterwhich, the testosterone has to “defiminize” the hypothalamus.  This stage is very crucial.  If there are disruptions during this stage, the mother will release  androstendione which is structurally similar to testosterone into the bloodstream she shares with the fetus.  Its presence and the fact that it is structurally similar to testosterone is going to block or delay the effectiveness of the latter, consequently disrupting the “defiminization” of the hypothalamus.

The factors that cause the disruption of the brain sexual differentiation could be environmental.   As described by the first article mentioned above, the chemical Phthalates used in plastics lessens the testosterone production during the first trimester of pregnancy.  This chemical is incorporated into the food beginning from its processing, packaging, storage down to heating of the food using plastic containers that have this chemical.  These are the plastic containers  used for food storage and reheating.

Phthalates is one, how many other synthetic chemicals out there can disrupt the sexual differentiation process?  Could there be truth behind claims about Soy making the kids gay,  or vaccine produces homosexuality, or eating too much hormone-filled chicken.  My kids’ pediatrician warned us not to let the kids eat too much chicken as it could hasten secondary growth in girls and effeminate boys? My sister received similar warning from her son’s pediatrician.

Haven’t you noticed that nowadays, kids develop secondary female characteristics at a very early age?  I can hardly recognize my third grade student when I saw her again three years later.  Without exaggeration, she already looked like a sixteen year old girl.  It was not just her.  There are many others. It is pretty scary to see kids with developing breasts, well-shaped bodies playing hide and seek, or doing the jumping rope, or laughing and teasing like graders.

Knowing these, I feel sad and scared, but hopeful.

Sad, because so many boys experienced all sort of rejection and discrimination with something they have no control over.  By the way this oppression is still seen in other culture and religion up until now.  Scared, because the culprit is all around us.  There seem to be no way out, and there is no clear solution.  Hopeful because as explained homosexuality is congenital. But unlike other congenital diseases it can be prevented.   If the entire normal process of the embryological development proceeds without disruption, then the fetus will grow to become a sound, healthy baby.

For pregnant women and women who wants to get pregnant, ALWAYS be careful during the most crucial fetal development, the first trimester.  Keep in mind to free yourself from any form of STRESS-CAUSING things, keep your DIET HEALTHY.  Keep the following things at bay – plastic wares and plastic bags, junk food, processed food and drinks.

Can you suggest ways on how we can keep pregnancy safe and healthy?

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