A review of scientific studies of LGBT fails to support popular LGBT beliefs

Amidst all the furore over LGBT rights, a couple of scientists reviewed over 200 academic studies to see they could answer some key questions about the sources of LGBT desires. The full review can be found at https://www.thenewatlantis.com/publications/number-50-fall-2016

Firstly, are LGB people "born that way" due to genetics or some other mechanism? The short answer is, "mostly no." It seems that at most, genes or other birth mechanisms are one factor among many in determining LGB attraction. However, they did find one very sad factor that correlates with LGB attraction, even if it doesn't necessarily cause it. Here are some abstracts from their abstract:

"Epidemiological studies show a rather modest association between genetic factors and sexual attractions or behaviors, but do not provide significant evidence pointing to particular genes. There is also limited evidence for other hypothesized biological causes of homosexual behaviors, attractions, or identity — such as the influence of hormones on prenatal development.  Studies of the brains of homosexuals and heterosexuals have found some differences, but have not demonstrated that these differences are inborn. One environmental factor that appears to be correlated with non-heterosexuality is childhood sexual abuse victimization"

Secondly, is there any evidence for the transgender community's theory that gender identity is largely disconnected from biological sex and/or that such 'gender dysphoria' should be treated medically? Here, the answer is "there is no conclusive evidence for these views, and some evidence against them." In their words again:

"The causes of such cross-gender identification remain poorly understood. Research has so far been inconclusive. Gender dysphoria — a sense of incongruence between one’s biological sex and one’s gender, accompanied by clinically significant distress or impairment — is sometimes treated in adults by hormones or surgery, but there is little scientific evidence that these therapeutic interventions have psychological benefits. Science has shown that gender identity issues in children usually do not persist into adolescence or adulthood, and there is little scientific evidence for the therapeutic value of puberty-delaying treatments."

They add:

We are concerned by the increasing tendency toward encouraging children with gender identity issues to transition to their preferred gender through medical and then surgical procedures. There is a clear need for more research in these areas.

So what is going on? The study sheds a little light on this by also reviewing a third area -- the belief that LGBT feelings are linked to mental health issues. The study does find evidence that such a link exists (with the sad results of increased anxiety, depression and suicide amongst LGBT people), but only found partial evidence for the LGBT community's assertion that such issues are entirely due to stigmatisation and discrimination. The study's authors suggest that trauma arising from childhood sexual abuse may be another factor causing poor mental health.

In conclusion, science has not found any conclusive causes of such feelings but has found a few factors that are correlated with them. The biggest single correlated factor is childhood sexual abuse; other linked factors are mental health issues, genetics (though no one particular gene), and differences in brain development.

My best guess based on the evidence to date is that LGBT attraction has multiple possible causes, and maybe multiple causes for a single individual.