[Dean's World] Scott Kirwin: "Curing" Homosexuality

[notify at powerblogs.com]

Posted by Scott Kirwin:
"Curing" Homosexuality
http://www.deanesmay.com/posts/1167773850.shtml


   Apparently researchers at Oregon State are looking into [1]curing gay
   sheep [2]the Times reports. About 1 in 10 rams prefer sex with their
   own kind, meaning that 1 in 10 rams presents his owner with a sheep
   breeding problem.

   Former Tennis star Martina Navratilova isn't pleased with this
   research.

     "How can it be that in the year 2006 a major university would host
     such homophobic and cruel experiments?"

   Do you agree that this research is homophobic and cruel?

   I don't think so if it helps us understand human sexuality better. As
   one researcher notes, "In general, sexuality has been under-studied
   because of political concerns. People don't want science looking into
   what determines sexuality."

   That's a statement that many on Ultra Right would agree with. This
   leads to me wonder if there's an axiom here, that agreement with your
   enemies is the first step to joining them as allies. If so, Martina
   might want to reconsider her position. But I digress.

   In my view the slope between basic research and "curing" gays is a
   pretty flat one. One ethicist strikes me as hysterical when he states,
   "Allowing parents to select their childrenâs sexual orientation would
   further a parent's freedom to raise the sort of children they want to
   raise."

   Excuse me? Children aren't made to order and I suspect they never will
   be. Parenthood isn't Burger King where you can "have your kid your
   way." It's a chilling thought, but one that is as likely as
   discovering the Holy Grail or President Jimmy Carter's humility.

   We are so far away from intervening in our children's biology at all -
   let alone with something as "cosmetic" as selecting a child's gender
   preference. As any doctor should tell you, every procedure has risks.
   Imagine this scenario:

   Doctor: Mr. and Mrs. Doe, there is a procedure that will allow us to
   determine whether your boy will grow up and want to cut hair, or your
   girl will want to repair heavy machinery. However there is also a
   slight chance that this procedure will either cause you to miscarry or
   have a child born with serious defects.

   Expecting parents are in general a cautious lot; I don't see them
   risking their child's life today to learn about what they will be like
   20 years down the road. Perhaps I just don't value gender preference
   enough. Personally, I'm satisfied that my Kid has all his fingers,
   toes, and the willpower to once in awhile challenge the combined force
   of his mother and father - as he did tonight over what was served for
   dinner.

   In the meantime the research will help us learn about the biology of
   gender preferences and sexuality - something we know very little
   about. The knowledge itself is not evil - only its use can be.

References

   1. http://www.theregister.com/2007/01/02/sheep_research/
   2. http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,8122-2524408.html