Ethical, Legal, Social, and Political Implications of Scientific Research on Sexual Orientation

Abstract

Scientific research on the causes of sexual orientation has captured the attention of many Americans. Some researchers, citing evidence from neuroscience, genetics, and psychology, claim that sexual orientation is either inborn or fixed at an early age. Many lesbians, gay men, bisexuals, and their allies have welcomed this claim, finding in it confirmation of their sense that they did not choose to be attracted to people of the same sex. Some parents of lesbians and gay men have also found solace in such research, finding in it assurance that nothing they did made their children homosexual. Furthermore, some lawyers, activists, politicians, religious leaders, scientists, and psychologists have tried to parlay this research into good news for lesbian and gay rights. Their main argument, which I call the "born that way" argument, goes as follows: If sexual orientations are innate, genetic, firmly rooted in biology, and/or not chosen, it is wrong to criminalize the sexual behavior of lesbians, gay men, and bisexuals, to discriminate against them, and to withhold from them benefits that heterosexuals take for granted. This chapter proceeds as follows. After explaining the "born that way" argument in greater detail, I offer various criticisms of it. In particular, I discuss empirical, ethical, legal, bioethical, political, and pragmatic problems for this argument. I conclude that the "born that way" argument is both impotent and problematic. Although there are various reasons for doing research on sexual orientation, the reasons must be balanced against concerns about the social, political, and legal impact of such research. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2012 APA, all rights reserved)(chapter)