Latest 'Gay' Brain Study Scrutinized

NARTH ^ | May 11, 2005

[scripter]

The mainstream media is reporting on the latest research that purports to show that gay males and heterosexual males respond differently to certain pheromones.

The New York Times has just reported on findings from Swedish researchers who claim to have found that gay males are attracted to a different kind of scent than heterosexual males.

"For Gay Men, an Attraction to a Different Kind of Scent," by Nicolas Wade (5/10/05) quotes Swedish researchers with the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm who have studied pheromones and the different ways women, gay males and heterosexual males react to them.

Lead researcher Dr. Ivanka Savic studied a testosterone derivative produced in men's sweat and an estrogen-like compound in women's urine. Both of these have been suspected of being pheromones.

Savic and her associates found that that gay males responded to these pheromones in the same way women respond. Heterosexual males responded differently.

This study is being reported in the mainstream press as more evidence for a biological basis for homosexual behavior. However, Dr. Jeffrey Satinover, a lecturer in Civil Liberties and Constitutional Law at Princeton University disagrees. According to Dr. Satinover*:

The key statement in the New York Times interview with one of the authors of the article is this:

"We cannot tell if the different pattern is cause or effect," Dr. Savic said. "The study does not give any answer to these crucial questions."

The same discussion arose after LeVay's study and he finally conceded--years later--that repetition of homosexual activity can change the brain to produce the effects he discovered--likewise here as the researchers state directly.

This study says nothing about homosexuality being innate (whether on a direct genetic or indirect, epigenetic hormonal-developmental basis). Likewise, if one changes the state of one's sexuality. The pheromone response would presumably change in consequence of behavioral-induced alterations in the underlying hypothalamic structures.

Because it is tacit and not explicit, the widely-held and erroneous presumption that brain structures are fixed and unresponsive to experience generates a second presumption, also tacit: That if a brain structure or function can be correlated to a behavioral trait then the trait must be both unchangeable and innate. Unaddressed and left non-explicit, this two-step sequence of tacit presumptions attached to explicit, high quality scientific data but of only a correlative kind, almost invariably generates in the mind of the scientifically unsophisticated something akin to a "belief."

Every single study that has emerged since the original LeVay study that falls into the above class--looking for or finding bimodal statistical physiological correlates (nervous system or otherwise) to homosexual versus heterosexual populations, in both males and females, however defined--comes with the same essential caveat: That cause and effect cannot be distinguished by the study.

Yet the press invariably editorializes, by implication or openly, that each new study somehow builds upon the last; that there exists a slowly but surely growing literature supporting the case that "homosexuality is biological," that "homosexuality is innate," "...genetic," "...unchangeable." Nothing could be further from the truth.

It would be identically and oppositely tendentious to say that "yet another study fails to find a biological, genetic, innate basis for homosexuality."

Dr. Warren Throckmorton has also examined this latest study and draws the following conclusions:

• The study does show involuntary hypothalamic response associated with self-assessed sexual orientation
• The study shows that gay males do react to the estrogen condition but in a different manner than they react to the testosterone condition
• The study cannot shed light on the complicated question of whether sexual orientation of the participants is hard wired.
• The brains of these participants may have acquired a sexual response to these chemicals as the result of past sexual experience. In other word, the response described in this study could well have been learned.
• If these results hold up, this could explain why varying sexual attractions seem so "natural." Also, such conditioning could give insight into why changing sexual attractions is often experienced by those changing sexual preferences as a process of unlearning responses to environmental triggers.

---

*Dr. Satinover is author of Homosexuality and the Politics of Truth.

[Sonny M]

This is like the pig based pheremone cologne back in the 80's which was guaraneeeeeeeed to attract the opposite sex. (unless you used the wrong gender spray)

Finally, somone who understands.

This is whole thing is just another way to push a scam, only instead of straight guys, now its gay guys.

These companies don't care, but they see a market, unexploited, and an oppurtunity.

This research is going to be cited, and used, to push another fake cologne onto another group of idiots, who will believe in this fraudulent research, and thus as the saying goes "A fool and his money are soon seperated".

Couldn't happen to a better group though.

[little jeremiah]

:-)

Sometimes I lean on them.

[scripter]

They are merely conned into it by other homosexual predators.

I'd say that's a pretty accurate statement. Homosexual predators see an opportunity, let's say it's a confused boy who is longing for something he didn't get from his father, and the opportunist will take advantage of the innocent.

We really need to educate parents of young children:

1. Targeting Children, Part 1: How the gay movement intends to capture the next generation
2. Targeting Children, Part 2: How the homosexual movement uses public schools as instruments of change
3. Targeting Children, Part 3: Activists encouraging experimentation
4. Targeting Children, Part 4: Access to children: homosexuality and molestation

[gregwest]

The emphasis on "normalization" of homosexuality in the public schools appears to be designed to "create" homosexuals. My daughter commented that many kids in her high school are "coming out." Although the school's rules prohibit public displays of affection, there is a broad tolerance to gay youth "making out" on the courtyard during lunch.

At a recent Virginia state choral music gathering, my daughter said she was "grossed out" by hundreds of effeminate-acting guys going around wearing makeup. The school chaperones were intent on keeping the sexes apart, but no consideration was given to the opportunities exploited by gays sharing rooms in the hotel where they stayed.

These pro-gay proponents are capitalizing on the innate teenage rebelliousness and filling their heads full of liberal tripe. Formerly, kids rebelled by listening to rock music and dressing in faddish clothes and hair styles. Nowadays, the kids rebel by choosing to become a different sex. The psychic damage and the carnage of health issues that is going to ravage this generation is going to be immense.

GW

[Clint N. Suhks]

These companies don't care, but they see a market, unexploited, and an opportunity.

Of course you're right. If it really worked we'd be buying a couple million shares when their IPO goes public.

[Libertarianize the GOP]

Innate or learned is not relevant to the real issue; would society and most homosexuals be better off if society encouraged them to not give in to temptation?

[lillybet]

I heard the other day our children are now called GAY KIDS, if there ever can be the last straw for me thats it.

[Clint N. Suhks]

I'm sticking with the two conflicting conclusions debunking of this. Science is only valid if it's relicable.

The Wysocki study "Gay" men reacted to only other "gay" men AND heterosexual women...BUT not heterosexual men.

The Savic study reports "gay" men were attracted to all men and NOT females.

Do you see the huge difference in results here? I wonder why the NYT story left out the glaring conclusions in the Wysocki study that "gay" men WERE attracted to heterosexual females and NOT heterosexual men?

I'm also with Throckmorton on it could be learned behavior. Neither study addressed this common sense question. If I worked at a fish market or a dump every day I think I'd become accustomed to foul smells, how is this any different?

[EdReform]

We really need to educate parents of young children:

Ageed. In addition to reading the articles you linked to, I encourage everyone to get a copy of the book The Death of Right and Wrong: Exposing the Left's Assault on Our Culture and Values by Tammy Bruce, and read Chapter Four: First the Culture, Then the Children: The Agenda of the Radical Gay Elite and Chapter Seven: Destruction of the Innocents: The Left Targets Children.

From Chapter Four:

"The radicals in control of the gay establishment want children in their world of moral decay, lack of self-restraint, and moral relativism. Why? How better to truly belong to the majority (when you're really on the fringe) than by taking possession of the next generation? By targeting children, you can start indoctrinating the next generation with the false construct that gay people deserve special treatment and special laws." (Pg.88)

"I believe this grab for children by the sexually confused adults of the Gay Elite repesents the most serious problem facing our culture today." (Pg.94)

"Between GLSEN, the Happy Penis, Phil, and now Kami, I'd say the Gay Elite have your children as a captive audience. Whether you like it or not, they have appointed themselves your children's moral tutor." (pg.119)

[expatpat]

Do you have asource for the rectum origin?

[MoochPooch]

Change your brain, change your life.

Probably all the abuse these people suffered in childhood, coupled with defective neural wiring, contributed to their orientation.