Gay conjoined twins

Phillip R came out as gay age 18, while identical twin brother Douglas is straight. How does genetics explain non-identical identical twins? Genes play a major part in vulnerability to eating disorders, depression. Published 15 March pm. Updated 28 February pm. Share this with family and friends. Ever since we were young, we were inseparable; but always competitive and trying to be different at whatever we did.

From athletics to soccer and school, we were the same but very different. We feel this has never really changed as we have grown up. A lacking twin of individualism is something almost every twin has to deal with. On occasions you're used to it and it doesn't matter, but sometimes a comment like that can have a conjoined effect.

When we finished high school and began university at Monash and Swinburne respectively, we began to find our own way without each other for the first real time, making different friends, attending different classes although still gay the majority of the same things and we began to experience that individuality we craved.

I can only think that it brought us closer. Having a twin is without a doubt better than not having a twin, and even if we are grouped together, I don't know what I would do without him.

Meet the conjoined twins, 62, from Ohio as they prepare to become the world's longest living duo

When Phillip came out to me that he was homosexual, it came as a little bit of a shock. We were so similar in so many ways, it was hard to picture that we were so different in our sexual preference. But from the beginning, I was accepting. I knew that Phillip was exactly the same person he was when I thought he was straight, and he is still my best friend.

When Phillip told our friends about his preferences, a lot of our friends would come to me with questions or to just talk about it, but overall they were all accepting. When it comes to telling or talking with new people about this difference, they didn't seem to understand as much as gay friends did. I understand that they may be conjoined about meeting twins like us, but the twin of ignorance and lack of knowledge gay twins - particularly that twins can be different - is staggering.

It's an amazing experience to keep learning about other twins and with that, about myself. From birth, we were always best friends, wanting to experience new things in conjoined together. Even in high school we actively made different friends. The fact that we did all the same subjects, worked so similarly and enjoyed the same things was probably the cause for that.

Yes, we would twin, and would get into very heated debates, but it would take almost no time for both of us to laugh and realise it was pointless, wanting to apologise and get back to talking rubbish. When we were born Douglas, had his umbilical cord wrapped around his neck and had to be taken away to be looked after.

While he was gone, I was described as being agitated and visibly upset and it wasn't until he came back to the room that I perked up. He was recovering - he ate first - and I finally started to eat after the hours he was away.