Thanks for your comments, Anthony; you make some compelling points. The question of sexual attraction is endlessly fascinating. Coming from rural, small town America I initially did what was expected: I married a member of the same race but opposite sex. And although I worked damned hard to make it a success, I failed.

After coming out as a gay man and moving to Hawaii my world expanded considerably: I have had sexual experiences with men of almost all races, as well as men who were either much younger or much older. But other white males — people who look like myself — have always been less exciting.

Every species benefits from a broad and highly varied gene pool, and I suspect that nature programs each of us differently to ensure that we maintain such a pool. Skin color and complexion, eye color, height, build, facial hair, sharp or soft features, voice quality, etc. are all variables that affect the degree of physical attraction that we feel toward another person.

The relative emphasis that we place on these variables will differ from one person to the next, however, and may be innate. This not only promotes diversity in the gene pool, but ensures that we won’t all be competing for the same partner. In other words, it has evolutionary value.