Greta Christina has an interesting, if somewhat pointless, post on science and sexuality over at Alternet.
If there is a significant genetic factor that can be detected in utero, should a woman carrying an unwanted "queer" fetus be allowed/encouraged to have an abortion?
If it turns out to be primarily a "choice," does that make anti-gay sentiment and activities more socially acceptable?
If it turns out to be primarily genetic, will the haters feel any more compassion for queers as a result?
The whole discussion begs the even more important Big Question: What difference does it make?
I can't see one that matters much. What does matter is that all Americans be treated exactly the same, both under the law and in the larger society as well, regardless of sexual orientation or anything else.
If knowing the "answer" to the causes of sexuality contributes anything toward that end, I don't begrudge the money and energy spent finding it. But personally, I doubt it, and believe that both could be better spent.
Whether I'm queer because I chose to be, or because of genes I carry, I expect to be treated the same as anyone else.
Anything else is un-American.
When I first came out into the gay community, one of the most common party lines going around was, "Gay parents aren't any more likely to have gay kids than straight parents." Some of the big political battles being fought at the time had to do with gay parenting, and the community was trying to reassure/ convince the straight world that it was "safe" for gay people to have and raise kids, that our kids wouldn't be any more likely to be gay than anyone else's. (Of course, many of us personally thought, "So what if our kids turn out gay? There's nothing wrong with being gay, so why does it matter?" But we knew the straight world didn't feel that way. Hence, the line.) --Read moreAs I responded in the comments section on Alternet: I have a few ideas myself about what causes sexuality, but I don't know, and personally, I hope they never do find out for sure. Because the minute they do, the battles will begin afresh over what to do with that information.
If there is a significant genetic factor that can be detected in utero, should a woman carrying an unwanted "queer" fetus be allowed/encouraged to have an abortion?
If it turns out to be primarily a "choice," does that make anti-gay sentiment and activities more socially acceptable?
If it turns out to be primarily genetic, will the haters feel any more compassion for queers as a result?
The whole discussion begs the even more important Big Question: What difference does it make?
I can't see one that matters much. What does matter is that all Americans be treated exactly the same, both under the law and in the larger society as well, regardless of sexual orientation or anything else.
If knowing the "answer" to the causes of sexuality contributes anything toward that end, I don't begrudge the money and energy spent finding it. But personally, I doubt it, and believe that both could be better spent.
Whether I'm queer because I chose to be, or because of genes I carry, I expect to be treated the same as anyone else.
Anything else is un-American.
0 comments :: "The Science of Sexuality"
Post a Comment