Any empirical observation of nature would surely indicate that Mother Nature is creative and loves variety. Why are there so many varieties of bees, birds, ants, flowers etc on the planet? Why are there so many varieties of human beings on the planet? I think the answer is that Mother Nature is creative and enjoys abundance and variety. Ergo homosexual orientation in animals and human beings. If the interaction between the hormones of the mother and the fetus are such that the child becomes homosexual [we don't yet know if the father's sperm plays a part in this process], then so be it. Surely, the criteria should be the Buddhist approach of harm. Are we speaking about sociopaths or serial murderers who harm members of society? No. So exactly what harm is done to anyone if a child is homosexual or if two men or two women have sex or fall in love and want to get married? I think the answer is clearly none whatsoever. Then the harm rests with those whose beliefs make gay people not OK and want to mess with them in some way as did the Nazis - change their brains, restrict their ability to find housing, to get a job, name-calling - in short, commit all the ugly behaviours that human beings are capable of. It's also clear from a knowledge of history that societies can function very well when they leave gay people alone. Greece obviously found a way to incorporate homosexuality into its society: the result - great works of art, philosophy, and even democracy! In addition, the revulsion of Orthodox Jews and Fundamentalist Christians regarding homosexuality depends largely on the tale of Sodom and Gemorrah in the Old Testament. Recent Biblical scholarship indicates that the sin of Sodom and Gemmorah was not the homosexual behaviour of its citizens, but rather the inhospitability of its citizens to the visiting angels. These days Reformed Judaism and the United Church in Canada welcome gays into their congregation, and, as many of you may know, Canada has had gay marriage in now for over 4 years and the sky has not fallen. No harm has been done to straight people. In Toronto where I live, there is a sizeable gay population, but there are also people here from all over the world, and within this diversity, gay people are celebrated as just one more group, so what is the problem?