Given that we are publicly discussing sexual orientation/preference, here is a primer from the peer-reviewed literature. Hint: if you think sexual orientation is immutable you're about 15 years behind. #BillC6 #ACB #SexualPreference Thread. 1/
2/ Orientation is difficult to define: attractions, behavior, personal identity, all possibilities. While often overlapping, not always the case. Furthermore, risks (eg. physical or mental health) are often associated differently for these categories. See researchgate.net/publication/66…
3/ Stewart 2019 sciencedirect.com/science/articl…
Teens over only three years in longitud. study. “26% of girls and 11% of boys reported fluidity in identity and 31% of girls and 10% of boys reported fluidity in attractions."
Teens over only three years in longitud. study. “26% of girls and 11% of boys reported fluidity in identity and 31% of girls and 10% of boys reported fluidity in attractions."
4/ Berona 2018 ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30060858
In a longitud. cohort of girls, 63.2% reported at least one change in sexual orientation over eight years (14-22yrs). Girls categorized as lesbians averaged three orientation changes in that time. Fluidity associated with economic status.
In a longitud. cohort of girls, 63.2% reported at least one change in sexual orientation over eight years (14-22yrs). Girls categorized as lesbians averaged three orientation changes in that time. Fluidity associated with economic status.
5/ Diamond 2017
link.springer.com/article/10.100…
Retrospectively, 82% of LB women and 78% of GB men reported having switched sexual identity label at least once after having first adopted a nonheterosexual identity, and 45% of women and 34% of men reported two or more identity changes.
link.springer.com/article/10.100…
Retrospectively, 82% of LB women and 78% of GB men reported having switched sexual identity label at least once after having first adopted a nonheterosexual identity, and 45% of women and 34% of men reported two or more identity changes.
7/ Katz-Wise, 2015
psycnet.apa.org/record/2017-01…
Sexual fluidity in attractions was reported for 64% of women and 52% of men, with 49% of women and 36% of men reporting subsequent sexual fluidity in sexual identity... 23% of women and 22% of men experienced more than one change.
psycnet.apa.org/record/2017-01…
Sexual fluidity in attractions was reported for 64% of women and 52% of men, with 49% of women and 36% of men reporting subsequent sexual fluidity in sexual identity... 23% of women and 22% of men experienced more than one change.
8/ Everett 2015
journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.11…
In a population-based longitudinal study in young adulthood, “twelve percent of the total sample reported a different sexual orientation identity between Waves 3 and 4”, a span of seven years.
journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.11…
In a population-based longitudinal study in young adulthood, “twelve percent of the total sample reported a different sexual orientation identity between Waves 3 and 4”, a span of seven years.
9/ Savin-Williams & Ream 2007
ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17195103
Population longitud. study of adolescents, 87.7% of bi males, 88.7% of bi females, 71.6% of homo males, and 76.8% of homo females moved from same-sex sexual behavior to completely hetero behavior within 6 years.
ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17195103
Population longitud. study of adolescents, 87.7% of bi males, 88.7% of bi females, 71.6% of homo males, and 76.8% of homo females moved from same-sex sexual behavior to completely hetero behavior within 6 years.
10/ A few other studies worth noting: Dickson 2013; Ott 2011; Herek 2010; also, here's Sandfort way back in 1997: 
11/ For a survey of some of this data, see Lisa Diamond, Sexual Fluidity in Males and Females, 2016. link.springer.com/article/10.100… . But note also that more recent data actually strengthens the findings of non-immutability.
12/ A few observations about the data:
There is extreme fluidity among sexual minority youth and YA. If you selected a random LGB identified AND SS sexually behaved youth in adolescence, the chances that they would end up at some point as permanently hetero would probably be ~90%
There is extreme fluidity among sexual minority youth and YA. If you selected a random LGB identified AND SS sexually behaved youth in adolescence, the chances that they would end up at some point as permanently hetero would probably be ~90%
13/ Fluidity in adult females also seems quite high, perhaps in keeping with less strong sexual preferences/desires generally compared to males. (Eg. paraphilias much higher in males)
14/ Although sexual orientation in older adult males are less mutable than younger persons or females, new research shows surprising fluidity even in this group, as in the findings of significant identity changes in high-risk black cohort in Phillips 2020. idp.springer.com/authorize/casa…
15/ The newest research on contributions to homosexuality indicate relatively low genetic contribution, significant prenatal hormone contribution in some groups, leaving significant room for social influence and/or choice in the mix. For overview: journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.117…
16/ Is there genetic contribution to homosexuality? Almost certainly, however no more so than to divorce, back pain, and religiosity. Our biology impacts everything.
17/ Prenatal hormonal contributions are more complicated. The fraternal birth order effect is very well replicated. However, epigenetic changes themselves impact prenatal hormones and can be caused by behavior/malnutrition/abuse etc.
18/ My own view is that "sexual preference" vs. "sexual orientation" is difficult from language perspective because this debate occurs within political and moral debates. How about we start with the data and recognize that orientation is not remotely immutable?
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