Is There a Causal Link Between Childhood Gender Nonconformity and Adult Homosexuality?

SUMMARY

The correlation between childhood gender conformity or nonconformity and adult sexual orientation is well established, but is it causal? The Exotic-Becomes-Erotic (EBE) theory of sexual orientation asserts that it is. A path analysis of data from a large sample of twins demonstrates that childhood gender conformity or nonconformity is an intervening step in the developmental path from the genotype to sexual orientation. The possibility that EBE theory provides viable strategies for influencing a child's future sexual orientation is discussed.

Key Words:

• Development
• Exotic-Becomes-Erotic (EBE)
• gender
• gender identity
• gender nonconformity
• heterosexuality
• homosexuality
• path analysis
• sexual orientation
• twin studies