Fischer: New Theory Suggests 'Homosexuality is the Result of a Birth Defect'

[The Straight Story]

Fischer: New Theory Suggests 'Homosexuality is the Result of a Birth Defect'

Yesterday it was reported that a group of scientists had put forward a new theory that epigenetic marks may play a key role in determining why people are gay. According to press reports, these "epi-marks" determine how genes are expressed and are normally "erased" between generations, but in cases where they are not erased, they may be passed on from a mother or father in a way that can lead to a child becoming gay.

Which means, according to Bryan Fischer, that homosexuality might be a "birth defect" which could lead prospective parents to choose abortion:

As I have said before, I suspect that not even homosexual activists today want the gay gene to be found, even if it exists, because of advances in prenatal genetic testing. It is now possible to routinely screen for 3500 genetic defects while a child is still in the womb.

So these activists rationally fear that preborn children who are detected with this gene will be aborted before they even have the chance to be born. After all, if 90% of babies in the womb who are diagnosed with Downs syndrome never draw their first breath, what are the chances that parents disposed to abortion will not exercise the same choice with regard to the gay gene?

http://www.rightwingwatch.org/content/fischer-new-theory-suggests-homosexuality-result-birth-defect

[hedgehog]

1. Homosexuality is a "birth defect" the way being left handed is birth defect!

[LiberalLoner]

2. Maybe being heterosexual is a birth defect! Seems just as likely to me. Or more likely.

[closeupready]

5. Well, that explains Williamsburg's problem.

[HockeyMom]

4. If you are over a certain age,

you will know what happened when they tried to "cure" children of being left handed. Personally, I am a real FREAK. I can write with and use BOTH hands. I guess that must mean I can "swing both ways"? ROFL

[GeorgeGist]

11. Ambi, eh?

[Arkana]

3. So...does that make "being Bryan Fischer" the result of being repeatedly dropped on one's head

as a baby?

This man is human garbage and I hope on the day DOMA is repealed he is rendered mute from an anger stroke.

[tanyev]

6. Uh, Bryan, you do realize it is the 'pro-lifers' who would be most upset by having a gay child?

[NickB79]

7. What a dilemma for a RW family!

A genetic test shows your unborn baby is gay.

You can either have the child, and allow another sinful gay to enter this world, thus making baby Jesus cry, or...

You can have a sinful abortion and try again, also making baby Jesus cry.

I can see Freeper heads exploding as they contemplate that choice.

[marmar]

8. 'group of scientists'

Don Wildmon, Pat Robertson and Tony Perkins.

[ismnotwasm]

9. This study?

Dec. 11, 2012 — Epigenetics -- how gene expression is regulated by temporary switches, called epi-marks -- appears to be a critical and overlooked factor contributing to the long-standing puzzle of why homosexuality occurs.
According to the study, published online today in The Quarterly Review of Biology, sex-specific epi-marks, which normally do not pass between generations and are thus "erased," can lead to homosexuality when they escape erasure and are transmitted from father to daughter or mother to son.
From an evolutionary standpoint, homosexuality is a trait that would not be expected to develop and persist in the face of Darwinian natural selection. Homosexuality is nevertheless common for men and women in most cultures. Previous studies have shown that homosexuality runs in families, leading most researchers to presume a genetic underpinning of sexual preference. However, no major gene for homosexuality has been found despite numerous studies searching for a genetic connection.
In the current study, researchers from the Working Group on Intragenomic Conflict at the National Institute for Mathematical and Biological Synthesis (NIMBioS) integrated evolutionary theory with recent advances in the molecular regulation of gene expression and androgen-dependent sexual development to produce a biological and mathematical model that delineates the role of epigenetics in homosexuality.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/12/121211083212.htm




How is this a birth defect? And my guess is any 'testing' would be cost prohibitive, if even possible. Plus there is no doubt more to the story.

[DreamGypsy]

10. The phrase "birth defect" is a judgement...

... a judgement by a person, or maybe by a culture, but nonetheless, a judgement.

Definition of DEFECT

1
a : an imperfection that impairs worth or utility : shortcoming <the grave defects in our foreign policy>
b : an imperfection (as a vacancy or an unlike atom) in a crystal lattice
2
[Latin defectus] : a lack of something necessary for completeness, adequacy, or perfection : deficiency <a hearing defect>

Maybe it's just 'political correctness' but I prefer "development difference" or "genetic difference".

First, the act of 'birth' rarely is involved in the characteristic being described, that's just when the difference is usually first observed. Clearly, some genetic or developmental differences are not consistent with life so, assuming life has some utility, the use of 'defect' may be appropriate in these cases. Otherwise, the worth or utility of a life...be it human, other animal, or plant, or even microscopic organism ... can't really be determined until the life has been lived. No living thing is perfect and often the imperfections result in great beauty.

If no genetic differences had ever occurred, the earth's inhabitants would be limited to Archea. Vive la difference.

[Xolodno]

12. The irony....

*Doctor comes out to expecting RW couple*

First your child will be gay. But if this upsets you, there is abortion.

Couple: Uhhhhhhhhh.......

[ananda]

13. Isn't there also an idiot rw freeper gene?

Hmm...

[unblock]

14. how about we try to find the bigot gene or epi-mark instead?