But whatever the cause, most gays say that they feel a compulsion, or a sense of difference, from a very early stage. At a pre sexual stage - before they even knew what is involved in a relationship.
3 of my oldest friends are gay and all of them felt pressured into trying heterosexual relationships first. in fact, two of them were especially attractive to women and could get girlfriends at the drop of a hat. (Which says something curious about the rules of attraction.) But they all knew in their hearts that they were gay and eventually that's the path they chose. This was better for them, and better for women.
My childhood friend got married and got divorced four times. Yes, he is gay. One public figure in my country planned to get married few times, but still unmarried until now in mid of 40's age. He is my childhood friend too. I am not surprised if people say he is gay. Actually I didn't see something different when he was kid, but I began to see something different when he was in late of his teen age.
It's not easy for male gays to try to be heterosexual, but it will be easier for male heterosexual to involved and later enjoying homosexuality. It's because the role which they must take in start relationship.
When a male gay start relationship with a woman, he must take position as a man. And without enough interest to woman, he will not able to play his role. Different than male heterosexual who start homosexual relationship which usually he takes position as 'female'. He is in 'pasive' position. Later he can enjoy it. Like few of my friends.
Do role models make a difference? Yes they do, but people only respond because of something that's in them already. Eliminating every mention of homosexuality from culture will not change them from being homosexuals, although it may certainly discourage them from acting according to their natures.
People may try gay experiences if culture permits, but this freedom rarely if ever actually 'turns' them gay. Homosexuality is in every culture without exception, although it may be totally hidden by necessity. It's a testament to the overwhelming power of human emotions that people are still gay in societies where they risk severe abuse and even death. Plainly, they are not acting out of some idle curiosity, but by the most profound compulsion possible.
Trying gay experience will not turn a man into 100% gay who is not interested to women. But it can make them like homosexual relationship, even some of them may be will prefer homosexual relationship than heterosexual relationship.
Without culture permits, few people still try gay experience, and if with culture permits?. Their number will going bigger!
Like I have said, basically human have potency to be bisexual, although usually this potency is very low and cannot be felt. But external factors can make this potency going higher and they start to have interest to same gender.
But there are factors that can prevent them to fall into homosexual activity, religious value and cultural values which homosexuality is unacceptable. These values is like a 'brake' for them. And if they are taught that homosexuality is normal and acceptable, they would lose this 'brake'. Finally they can choose to have partner in heterosexual or homosexual relationship.
This is what I don't want to be happen to young people.