Pri holds a special place the hearts of lbian, gay, bisexual, transgenr, queer, tersex, asexual+ (LGBTQIA+) dividuals as a time to celebrate the progrs we have ma, and advote for the advanc yet to e. Here, I highlight ways which the scientific muny has had a ccial role drivg this progrs, and provi a personal perspective on the importance of beg open and proud of my inty as a gay cell blogist.
Contents:
THERE IS NO ‘GAY GENE.’ THERE IS NO ‘STRAIGHT GENE.’ SEXUALY IS JT PLEX, STUDY NFIRMS
Studi that rce human sexualy to two neat tegori – gay and straight – are bad science and stoke societal prejudice, says nroethologist Andrew Barron * gay biologists *
In their 1948 book Sexual Behavr the Human Male, Aled Ksey and his llaborators showed how male sexualy vari smoothly, om a majory intifyg as pletely heterosexual to a mory who intify as gay.
There has been a long nng disurse on the issue of disverg a 'gay gene', for example, and whether or not beg LGBTQ is heredary or adopted and learned. Of note to the muny of blogists and chemists is the 'Natnal Organizatn of Gay & Lbian Scientists and Technil Profsnals' (NOGLSTP), the 'LGBT Chemists and Alli' group, and Pri STEM, all of the Uned Stat.
"Origally om Cleveland, Oh, I grew up the tim when gay marriage amendments were beg passed, and I am always amazed at the progrs that the LGBTQ muny has achieved, even if there is still so much work to be done. "I'm gay, traed as a zoologist, and my rearch is now maly foced on animal behavur and welfare, pecially of livtock speci such as goats, chickens, and ttle.
David Smh wonrs why gay scientists seem to stay unseen, and asks do matter? * gay biologists *
In other parts of the world, homosexuals may face anythg om social stigma to the ath penalty, which directly impacts where I feel fortable gog for fieldwork or nferenc. However, blogists have documented homosexual behavr more than 450 speci, argug that same-sex behavr is not an unnatural choice, and may fact play a val role wh populatns. So-lled genome-wi associatn studi intified a gene lled SLITRK6, which is active a bra regn lled the diencephalon that differs size between people who are homosexual or heterosexual.
While there is no sgle “gay gene, ” there is overwhelmg evince of a blogil basis for sexual orientatn that is programmed to the bra before birth based on a mix of geics and prenatal ndns, none of which the fet choos. Personally, I have not experienced much homophobia beyond advertent assumptns: legat surprised when I turn up at a nference wh my hband (Sam); hotel or nference staff askg whether we really want a double room; event anisers tomatilly lengtheng ‘Sam’ to ‘Samantha’. In ntrast, a gay unrgraduate om a major metropolan universy ntacted me directly to say how isolated he felt bee of the lack of visible LGBT stunts or staff.