Gay until graduation

Lisa M. Diamond of the University of Utah in Salt Lake City found that, among a group of women ages 18 to 25, one quarter of those who said they were lesbian or bisexual no longer identified themselves as such five years later. According to recent studies, men with older brothers demonstrate a higher rate of homosexuality than men without older brothers.

During the question and answer, Cohen also discussed scientific research that supports biological claims for homosexuality, specifically a “gay gene” that genetically pre-conditions men towards homosexuality. According to Cohen, guys find it “hot,” girls find it “a satisfying alternative,” and the media was quick to pick up on the craze, particularly on TV with shows such as “The O.C.” “Sex and the City,” and “The ‘L’ Word.” According to Cohen, 14% of women have engaged in some kind of sexual relationship with a girl by their late teens.

However, Cohen added that many heterosexual women simply feel more comfortable in an all-female environment. A former lesbian who is now in a heterosexual relationship. In some cases these women may hide their experimentation from parents or guardians. The term is often misunderstood to convey a sense that lesbianism is purely a matter of changeable sexual preference, when instead it is quite distinct from lesbianism in that it is consciously elective and temporary behavior.

She attempted to address why women become lesbians, citing the emotional differences between men and women, the lack of equality in heterosexual relationships, and aggressive male sex drives. Cohen focused on “temporary” lesbians, whom she defined as women who engage in lesbian relationships while they are in college, but end them upon leaving the microcosm of college life and entering the “real world.” According to Cohen, it can be quite difficult for a woman to maintain her homosexuality after college.

The idea that men can become less sexually aggressive after college also contributes to the high number of “college lesbians,” who return to relationships with men after their mid-twenties. Cohen concluded that sexual orientation is “fluid” in nature saying jokingly, “Women aren’t decisive about anything…ever.”