Genetic Research on Sexual Orientation

I found the section in the text book about the "gay gene" very interesting. I think there are many sides to this debate. Confirming that being homosexual is genetic could open doors for scientific advancements and possibly gay rights, but could also further discrimination. It is also very dangerous to do in homophobic nations.

The few positive outcomes I could see from this type of research is that it could prove that people do not "choose" to be homosexual. Individuals may not face as much ridicule if it is known that they "couldn't help it." One would hope that they would no longer face discrimination. Deriving from this idea, perhaps there would be more advancement in the area of gay rights. Since genetic evidence is present, perhaps politics and religion would move in a more inclusive mindset.

However, I personally see more harm than good in this scenario. I do not think finding a "gay gene" would have as many positive outcomes as people think. I believe the bad would outweigh the good. People in other minority groups, rather related to race or ability, still face discrimination and prejudices even though they do not "choose" these things about themselves. I also do not think one's sexual orientation should fully define them as a person, and perhaps the discovery of such gene would do that, rather than looking at the individual as a whole. I also think that some parents may blame themselves for having an "abnormal child." I can see it now..."What did I do wrong? What could I have done to prevent this?" I'm sure some parents struggle with that now when their child comes out to them, but adding a biological/genetic factor would, in my opinion, make it much worse.

Then there's the idea that one could choose to remove or fix this gene, which I think is unethical and unnecessary. Or what if people choose to abort their children or give them up for adoption simply because they already know he or she is going to be gay? Don't get me wrong, I am all for choice, but that seems a bit extreme. Sound like modern day eugenics, anyone?

Further more, if people find that sexual orientation is biological, some may aim to fix it or change it later in life if it can not be done in the womb. This could possibly lead to the reintroduction of some "treatments" used to "cure" homosexuality in the past, such as hormonal therapy, electroshock treatments and brain surgery. I would hate to see this research have an adverse effect and in turn justify the discrimination against people of the LGBT community. And what about people who may "experiment" with the same sex out of curiosity, or those who are questioning their sexuality? Are they just crazy to have those thoughts or engage in that behavior because they don't possess "the gene"?

Although I am all for scientific research on the topic, I do think it needs to be done with careful consideration. It is interesting to consider what is "normal" and who determines that. I also strongly believe that if research is going to be done on this topic, it needs to be done as professionally as possible with limited amounts of bias getting in the way.