While this post may seem odd, I assure you that my intent is legit and sincere. While I have been dealing with KD for 15 years, I have had feelings of attraction to other men for 40 – since my teens.

As I have learned and understood over the past few years the magnitude of androgen insensitivity and the potential ramifications of that with those who have KD, my curiosity has been piqued. There are studies pointing to low testosterone levels at critical points of development having a bearing on an individual being homosexual vs heterosexual. Here is a quote and reference:

“Experimental studies in animals find that the levels of sex hormones to which an animal’s brain is exposed during a “critical period” of development strongly influences that animal’s tendency to approach, court, mate with, and partner with opposite-sex or same-sex partners. In mammals the key hormone is testosterone.” http://www.simonlevay.com/the-...f-sexual-orientation

If there were to be a higher level of homosexuality or bisexuality in men with KD than the population at large, this could be a very critical piece in the efforts of science to verify this theory. It could also give a sense of emotional closure to men with KD who do identify with feelings that are not 100% heterosexual as far as why that is.

Even if the biological impact is not there, the less-developed secondary sex characteristics present with KD can also wreak havoc with one's feelings of masculinity and cause others to insinuate they are “Gay”. Speaking for myself, I have breast development, very little body hair, little muscular definition and smaller genitals. These were all present in my adolescence also and to me were a physical validation of taunting’s from other boys that I was different from them and perhaps “Gay”

I am married and have 7 children, I have never identified myself as Gay or Bi, really…but I cannot deny that I am more visually/sexually attracted to men than to women, even though I have never chosen to act on those attractions. If there are other men with KD that feel similarly, I can totally empathize that you may not want to be open about it. If this post is of interest to you, and a public reply to it is uncomfortable, may I suggest a private message to me instead.

To do this, click on my login name "DB" in the upper left hand corner of the post and choose "Invite DB to a Private Topic" in the drop down menu.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: DB,

Hi DB, I think your post was well thought out and expressed. I am heterosexual. But am very effeminate (sp??) In voice, physical appearance (apparently), and mannerism.

I was later ”bloomer” as far as puberty. No body hair any where until 17 and then very little. While I dated in high school, I never had a steady girlfriend. I had two girls that I hung out with all through HS. One I was madly in love with and hoped that someday she would see me as more than a friend and the other was her best friend. All of these combined led to a lot of name calling and confusion by peers as to my sexuality. But, I was always attracted to women.

I married my first wife at 21 and had two children. I was bussing tables at a local restaruant when a HS classmate came in. When she learned that I was married with children, she was shocked and said, ”We all thought you were gay.”

Today, I am 45, married to my 2nd wife 13 yrs. Have raised 5 kids (3 step, 2 bio) and have 3 adopted kids. I still have a baby face and am usually clean shaven. I am often mistaken for a woman, both on the phone and in public even though I have no breast development. This amuses my kids and frustrates my wife.

I do not know if my little body hair, high voice, and feminine appearance are related to KD, but wanted to share my story with you for whatever it is worth.

In the study "Gender Diagnosticity and Androgen
Receptor Gene CAG Repeat Sequence" it states, " in particular, the correlations for the boys, although low, suggest that more masculin attitudes and behaviour tend to be associated with longer, rather than shorter AR CAG sequences." The study can be found here ..www.researchgate.net/...CAG_repeat.../9fcfd50ed4626cbf4a.pdf

DB .. I am sure that there are many many gay, bi, and transsexual men who have KD, just as there are 'straight' men. For myself, I welcome them all to discuss any issues in which KD affects their lives. I would hazard to guess that as many would welcome a 'cause' as would be horrified to think that some could believe their orientation was the result of a 'disease'. Yours is a valid question and much research has been done. As new insights into the brain development of fetuses continues, science may discover why a variety of orientations is the current and historical norm for humans. You may be interested to read this study http://www.sciencedaily.com/re.../12/121211083212.htm

Jim & Paul,

I wanted to acknowledge your response to my post and thank you for the same. Yours Jim, was in my judgement especially vulnerable and appreciated.

Paul, I read the article you referenced and am appreciative of you sharing. While I agree with your sensitivity to classifying homosexuality as a disease or disorder, what really is the difference between a "genetic variation" (which many are hoping to find to explain homosexuality) and a "genetic mutation" (ie the cause of Kennedy's disease)? Isn't it all really semantics and a judgement in the eye of the beholder? If an understanding gained in the study of the latter helps in making progress in understanding the former then it is all good in my opinion.

I was on testosterone injections for close to ten years. I had to stop due to developing secondary polycythemia. Since stopping the injections I have no sex drive. It just doesn't cross my mind. I attempt to view porn, but it is of no enjoyment and is even repulsive at times. I am a straight male married 21 years w/ 20 year old daughter.
Before taking the testosterone I had erythema nodosum, large raised red nodules on the dermis of my lower legs, caused by excessive estrogen. I would suffer flu like symptoms during eruptions but even w/ excessive estrogen, I never had any homo thoughts or tendencies.
The kicker now, I started Flowmax due to urinary retention and hesitancy. The side effect is no ejaculate. So when the wife and I are intimate, it is a dry finish. Talk about total emasculation.

The implications of the lack of Testosterone absorption with Kennedy's can be significant. Yet is often under-discussed as it is uncomfortable to talk about our sexuality especially when there is dysfunction. Yes it does at times feel emasculating. I honor Sagemark for disclosing his issues above and add my own.

Almost no libido here. Challenged to get an erection, cialis helps somewhat. Along with hands and feet have also lost sensitivity in penis so that even with stimulation it is difficult to achieve climax.

Have chosen to redefine what a good sexual experience means to me and partner with a focus on what I can do and do well. I am a great kisser if I do say so myself - and even though Kennedy's can affect the strength of the lips, does not seem to be a factor yet - here's hoping it never will!

Culturally there is some pressure to view sexuality as a binary possibility, just male or female. Yet everyone knows people throughout a spectrum from hyper feminine to hyper masculine and everything in between. Clearly KD is a factor that shifts men away from the hyper masculine end of the spectrum. Some day we will likely know of a large number of genes and their variations that have impacts on sexuality similar to KD.

Since early high school I have always been most strongly attracted to what I consider my opposite, modestly masculinized women. I met my wife hang gliding and never had the guts to try her former hobby of sky diving. She had a motorcycle, didn't wear makeup, liked wearing men's clothing and I was smitten.

I would have had an easier time finding romance if I was gay as I have been approached innumerable times by gay men assuming I'm gay while few women approached me or responded positively to my interest and a knack for hitting on gay women didn't help.