The Gay Gene

Courtney Loiaconohttp://new.paho.org/hq/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=6803&Itemid=1926
PAHO Article Link

Our discussion in class about Section 2 Reading E, "The Ethics of Genetic Research on Sexual Orientation" by Schuklenk, Stein, Kerin and Byne was one I wish could've lasted about four class periods. There is so much to be said about it and so many different opinions to be heard! My main concern after reading this section was not how researchers would go about finding the so called "gay gene" or why in fact they were even searching for such a thing, but what would happen if some scientist did claim he/she had discovered such a gene? How would that affect our society? People are already trying to "treat" or "cure" sexuality without any real scientific fact behind their practices, and throwing any little bit of scientific research in the mix will only fuel the fire. The authors point out how "electroshock treatment, hormonal therapies, genital mutilation and brain surgery" have been used against homosexuals to try to "convert" them into heterosexuals.  

After skimming the New York Times archives I found an article about Dr. Robert L. Spitzer, a psychiatrist that "supported the use of so-called reparative therapy to “cure” homosexuality". Spitzer has recently apologized for his research in that field and what it did to the gay community, but that isn't the reason the article intrigued me. A link within the article brought you to the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) page which was about how therapies and treatments meant to cure homosexuality threaten one's health. With the "discovery of the "gay gene" instances like this will only worsen. Though Spitzer realized his mistakes later in life, the impact of conversion therapies still exist. Searching for a gay gene is unnecessary and in homophobic societies, will only aid the fight against homosexuality.