Homosexual orientation in twins: a report on 61 pairs and three triplet sets

Arch Sex Behav. 1993 Jun;22(3):187-206. doi: 10.1007/BF01541765.

Abstract

Twin pairs in which at least one twin is homosexual were solicited through announcements in the gay press and personal referrals from 1980 to the present. An 18-page questionnaire on the "sexuality of twins" was filled out by one or both twins. Thirty-eight pairs of monozygotic twins (34 male pairs and 4 female pairs) were found to have a concordance rate of 65.8% for homosexual orientation. Twenty-three pairs of dizygotic twins were found to have a concordance rate of 30.4% for homosexual orientation. In addition, three sets of triplets were obtained. Two sets contained a pair of monozygotic twins concordant for sexual orientation with the third triplet dizygotic and discordant for homosexual orientation. A third triplet set was monozygotic with all three concordant for homosexual orientation. These findings are interpreted as supporting the argument for a biological basis in sexual orientation.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Female
  • Genetics, Behavioral
  • Homosexuality*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Triplets / psychology*
  • Twins, Dizygotic / psychology*
  • Twins, Monozygotic / psychology*