say (gay) uncle

The New York Times devoted their Science section today to human sexuality. One article, by Nicholas Wade, in part discussed the evolutionary anomoly of homosexuality. There is strong evidence, from twin studies, that homosexual orientation in men is genetic, it runs in families. But a gene that makes a man less likely to have children would soon be selected out of the species. So why are we here?

It may be that having a gay sibling provides advantages for the straight family members. It's the gay uncle benefit. A gay uncle has resources to share with nephews and nieces that he doesn't have to spend on his own children. That means he can become an additional quasi-parent. And not only resources of time and money, but also resources of sensibility, broadening a child's experience of the world in ways that will make them more successful adults.

Gay men are more apt to come from large families. It may be that the same gene that can cause homosexuality in men also causes higher fertility in their straight siblings. And boy babies are more likely to grow up to be gay men if they have older brothers (I have two older brothers). The odds of having a gay son increase by roughly 33% with each successive male birth.

It almost sounds like evolution is selecting that after a couple of births of children that are likely to reproduce themselves it's time to add a gay uncle.

Peleg and I have 6 nieces and nephews between us and no kids of our own.