Homosexuals can indeed help in the raising of children, but I fail to see how it would offer a greater advantage to a heterosexual, but if homosexuality is genetic are they genetically pre programmed not to reproduce? A homosexual is just as likely to be as skilled or non-skilled as a hunter gatherer as any other member of the tribe, so what benefit is to be gleaned?
You're missing the point. Evolution works on populations, NOT individuals. If more of the population survives to pass on its own genes as a consequence of any given trait, that trait will be passed on and will become more prevalent until the entire population has it.
If someone is genetically programmed to be gay, then is someone genetically programmed to be violent?
In a tribal community such a proclivity may be considered advantageous.
If violence is a necessary trait for ensuring the population survives to reproduce, then yes, the genes that promote it (violence not being a trait in and of itself) will be selected. Various pieces of research attest that this is certainly true in pre-state societies. (Try K Otterbein's "The evolution of war: A cross-cultural study.")
I tend to follow Chaka's reasoning if you follow entirely the evolutionary idea then it's pure randomness would allow an answer.
Evolution is not in the slightest bit random.
I dread the day a gay gene is found (and I don't mean a stone washed Versace with a boot cut) for the simple reason that science can then produce a "cure" a mother could find out in the womb her child's gay and decide to abort.
It's possible. On the other hand, it would hamstring the cred of any religiously-motivated homophobia.