Gay, straight, and the reasons why

What tendencies are we born with? What is a choice? And does it make you feel better or worse to know that certain things — ranging from weight to our intelligence — are one or the other?

Think, for example of sexual orientation. A lot of people have a lot invested in whether we’re born gay or whether it’s a choice. Is it one or the other? Does it even matter?

We’re joined by two people today who’ve spent much of their professional careers investigating this question. They’ve looked closely at gay and straight men and women, and at their families.

Dr. Simon LeVay is a neuroscientist and author of ?Gay, Straight, and the Reasons Why.?

Dr. Richard Pillard is a psychiatrist with the Boston University School of Medicine. He is gay, as are several of his siblings. His father was also gay.