In stunning new developments scientists are conducting experiments to change the sexuality of gay sheep.
Researchers at Oregon State University believe an adjustment on the hormonal balance in the brains of gay male sheep will make them attracted to the females rather than other males.
It brings civilization closer to the day a when a woman can reduce or completely eliminate the chances of her children being homosexuals. Experts claim the treatment can be as simple as a hormone patch similar to a nicotine patch worn during pregnancy.
The research has inflamed some homosexuals and gay animal rights activists. Martina Navratilova, the lesbian tennis player who won Wimbledon nine times, defended the "right" of sheep to be gay. She went on to pull the "offended" card for grounds to stop the research as she claimed gays and lesbians would be deeply offended by the project.
Scientists defend their project claiming the research is specifically looking into what causes sexuality and aren't looking for a "cure".
Personally I am against messing with nature. I don't like the idea of a day when babies are designed by their parents. On the other hand if we live in a society that grant a woman the right to kill her unborn infants surly we cant stomp on their right to chose her infants sexuality.
Lets face it..... Some mommas don't want their babies to grow up to be brokeback mountain cowboys.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2087-2524408,00.html
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Comments: 75
I would reply to the question with a few of my own. Do homosexuals die young? Are their intellectual abilities inferior to the human norm? Do they suffer for any other reason than the abuse that the hetero community sometimes piles upon them? No to all three. Then what possible justification to undertake eugenics to wipe out the dreaded gay race?
Such an undertaking would resemble the popular practice of eliminating female fetuses in India and China because females are inferior- stupid, and in the long term self defeating. There are going to be alot of males in South Asia looking for a date in twenty years. Some of us like to look upon Gay-ness as an unproductive curse. But where is the harm- and are we sure that there are not countervaling blessings to acompany what we perceive as a curse? If there is a genetic root to gay identity, perhaps it has a complicated feature resembling sickle-cell, a gene in Africa that can cause death but also in the case of recessive genes can help the carrier survive malaria. If there were no benefit to gayness (assuming genetic causality of course) would it not have been eliminated over a million years of human evolution?
We generally look at homosexuality through the lens of religion. I argue that if we look at it through the lens of science we learn to relax a bit.
Human nature would make a lot of mother chose the patch in my opinion. Right or wrong.
The issue to me is that if a woman has a right to choose whether or not to kill of her baby for any reason at all you cant deny her a right to regulate its sexuality if she chooses to have it. Obviously it wouldn't feel good to be gay and to know mothers actively eliminate the chances of their children from being like them but rights are rights...
some of the most talented men and women have been gay , what would life be without oscar Wild for exemple?
i am convinced as well that sexuality in humans is far more complex than in animals , look at all those dogs having sex with a chair or a table...surely human beings don't do that...i say live and let be and focus on curing diseases not sexual preferences
I found the cure a long time ago mini-skirts!!!!!
LOL
Sigalit good point. Gay men really do seem to be very talent especially when it comes to interior design, hair stylists, etc. Yes Money would be better spent on curing diseases but as long as it isn't federally funded Its an open market. If scientists can get rich by curing homosexuality trust me they will do it.
TJ Homosexuals claim to have been born "different" and they really don't have a choice. I truly don't know. I think a man who can look at a female body and not be interested is retarded honestly but thats just my opinion. That said It will be interesting to see where this new science goes...
Sexuality is genetic, it is not a disease, but some people are born hetero, others are born homosexual. It is not a disease that needs to be cured. Still others are born neither heterosexual nor homosexual, but with a need to change their sex.
Diversity is part of life - I think this venture may prove more difficult for scientists than they like to believe. I say that because most medications currently are far from being perfectly effective for whatever they treat - the claims outstrip the effectiveness, and the effectiveness is done at great risk for side effects.
If scientists are effective at changing a sheep's sexuality, it is not something that should be attempted in humans. That would be a leap few should be willing to take - for ethical reasons.
Even though the current climate may ( I wouldn't actually know, for I am straight) be better for gays than at any previous time in history, the current climate is still far from ideal, I am certain of that.
Gayness is genetic, but it is not a disease. Trying to change that is a harbinger of genetic choice of all types - hair color, eye color, height, intellectual and physical talents - no one will go there.
Charles if you are happy the way you are I would see no reason why you would want to change. Obviously that wouldn't be a comfortable choice to be faced with if you are already gay.
Kathryn, I am opposed to the concept of designer babies and genetic manipulation but to me this does seem a little different. Creating your baby in a test tube is one thing but if these researchers' theory is correct and the determining factor between gay and straight people is a hormonal imbalance, I really don't see a problem with women wearing a patch to ensure a heterosexual child.
Obviously there is a big difference between sheep and humans as we are the only life form on earth with a conscience mind that carries with it imagination and as TJ says it could just be a choice. Personally I don't see this treatment as the opening of Pandora's box in any way.
Vickey Yeah I know some gay people, mostly women, and although women don't face the same issues that gay men do I can tell they really struggle about letting people know.
Gotta take issue with that statement, my friend. You might say the same thing about biracial children, two of whom are mine. They actually happen to be doing just fine.
Lots of kids go through mental anguish for a lot of reasons. I just think it's a lame argument against having non-mainstream kids.
I didn't mean to imply that the troubles they faced were the same. I just meant that that argument has been used in both situations and it is equally lame in each.
Wendy i agree with Joe. Biracial children come from loving homes (hopefully) as I am sure yours do. They can be taught pride in their heritage and although adolescence can be hard for them, as children can be quite mean, they have nothing to be ashamed of. The problem with homosexuals is the fact that to come out means dealing with telling their parents. Fathers never expect their sons to be gay and the pressure of living up to your fathers approval can be tough growing up. Especially so if they grow up in a strict Christian home.
Wendy you may have a point that these shouldn't be used as excuses but we were all teenagers at one point and even though we thought we knew everything we all had our own struggles fears and stress. Gay men have a completely different situation that I couldn't possibly claim to understand.
I hope the man who presumes to speak for humanity with a statement like this one doesn't have any children.
gatobilis you seem to spend a lot of time commenting on articles related to homosexuality as well. I am not protesting homosexuality this article is about science.
On the other hand I do have a grand-niece who is 17 and a lesbian. She was molested as a baby by her drugged-out birth father and has been emotionally abused by several stepfathers. I think the preventive procedure would have been better law enforcement and counciling for the mother and child.
I am sorry about your niece. I am so saddened that she had to go through all that as a child. I hope she finds peace and happiness.
Getting back to the sheep, I have lived around them all my life,as Carolyn said
with lambs it is just pasture play.However as Rams like a lot of herd animals,The alpha male in the herd usually have all the mating rights .He will herd and guard his harem and segrogate other males from the herd into their own pack.Not to mention
the farmers(Breeders) intervention he will usually segrogate all rams from a certian age except for his prize ram who once again has all the mating rights.So I think if I was a sheep I would most likely be gay too.
Good artical Jeff you sure got some response.
I have no interest whatsoever in whether someone, or some sheep for that matter, is straight or guy. WHO CARES????!!! and if you do, WHY, in the name of God!!!Ever wonder why money is spent on stupid research like this when it could go on REAL issues, which might make the difference between life and death for people?
Stupid.
Tony once again....your vast intellect, deep perspective and wealth of information that comes with your posts is absolutely stunning. Thanks for your contribution.
Thanks Amy.
Darcey thanks for the info. The more people like you that have experience with farm animals post information, the more foolish that whole scientific study seems.
You have tried to be subtle about your intolerance but it shines through. Intolernace is for the mindless. No further comment on that front...
Brian I don't know why you insist on assuming that I am mean and hateful. Yes I have a totally different political philosophy than you. I don't automatically assume that you are evil and mean. You need to stop drinking the koolaid and stop assuming you are supposed to hate those you disagree with.
You shouldnt make suppositions.
I won't get into the human homosexual debate. I have accepted homosexuality exists. I have a nephew and a great nephew who are homosexual and I love them both dearly. Why is it some people feel that they have to control or remake others?
Audrey thanks for your input. I am surprised at all the people with sheep expertise and knowledge. I don't think I ever saw a sheep in my life! I do agree though that it seems after hearing from some of you, using sheep to check homosexuality seems a bit asinine.
Finally, a cure for the Gay apart from the obvious quarantine in a closet.
This jolting scientific advent can only be described as fabulous.
man, was that guy a queer.
1) What happens on a farm and what happens in a controlled scientific experiment are two different things. The scientists I'm sure used an operational definition as to what qualified as homosexual behavior in the animals.
2) They are doing the experiments on animals because no IRB would allow this type of experimentation in humans.
3) Alexander as well as many other men of antiquity would be considered homosexual or bisexual by today's standards. Women were saved for procreation but the "higher" form of sexual expression occured between men and/or boys.
Michael Medved is an extremely conversative film critic and even he said:
"The key question for cultural conservatives, and I'm one of them, is context," said Michael Medved, a film critic and conservative talk show host. "It seems to me if you can ever make the case, and I think you can, that gay sex scenes are appropriate, it would be in this kind of movie. I've read enough about Alexander to know that it is not out of the mainstream to assume Alexander is bisexual."
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/11/20/movies/MoviesFeatures/20alex.html?pagewanted=2&%2338;ei=5088&%2338;en=addb5ce2500a4b38&ex=1258693200