The Bold Premise
Dr. Jennifer Roback Morse, president of the Ruth Institute and Catholic truth-teller extraordinaire, came on the show to call out a major myth:
🚫 “People are born gay.”
She’s not just throwing opinions around. She’s got the science receipts, the philosophical chops, and the Catholic anthropology to back it all up.
Science Says… Nope.
Let’s talk DNA and identical twins for a sec:
-The 2019 Human Genome Study found no “gay gene.” Not even a combo of genes that would reliably predict same-sex attraction.
-Identical twins: If being gay were genetic, you’d expect both twins to be gay nearly every time. It’s only about 30%, which basically screams: Not born that way.
So… science has entered the chat.
Thoughts, Feelings, Behavior… It’s Complicated
Dr. Morse explains that “being gay” isn’t even one clearly defined thing. Researchers ask:
-How do you feel?
-What do you do?
-How do you identify?
Surprise! Those answers don’t always match up. So, when someone says, “I’m gay,” that could mean a LOT of different things. It’s not like having blue eyes or being left-handed (despite what the memes say).
Therapy Bans: What’s Really Going On?
There’s a big push toban conversion therapy. Dr. Morse points out:
That’s basically the government telling your therapist what they can and can’t say to you in a private room.
Yeah. Let that sink in.
The argument is that therapy like this is “harmful”, butthe data doesn’t support that. What we do have is a bunch of ideologically driven fearmongering.
Meanwhile in the Self-Help Aisle…
Timmerie made a good point here…
In a culture OBSESSED with self-improvement:
“Top 5 Hacks to a Better You!”
“Change your habits, change your life!”
… somehowthe one thing you can’t change… is your sexuality?
Make it make sense.
You Are Not Your Feelings
At the heart of this conversation is truth:
You are arational being with free will.
You are not just a bundle of feelings or attractions.
You werecreated, body and soul, for a purpose.
YES, you can change. People do. All the time.
But What About My Friends?
Timmerie brought it home emotionally, too. She’s had close friends identify as gay. She gets the tension: especially forGen Z, who crave authentic friendship but confuse love with approval.
Loving someone doesn’t mean you have to agree with every choice they make.
Sometimes the most loving thing you can do… is gently share the truth.
And to anyonepersonally struggling with same-sex attraction or gender dysphoria:
“This is not the final word on your identity.”
You are more than your feelings. And you are deeply, deeply loved.
So, What’s the Takeaway?
-No, you’re not born gay. The science doesn’t support it.
-Conversion Therapy isn’t harmful. In fact, people can and do change.
-Catholic teaching is both true and compassionate.
-You are not alone. You are loved. You are seen. And there is hope.
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