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The Antilesbian Drug?


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A new article in Newsweek analyzes the controversial practice of doctors prescribing dexamethasone to pregnant women to prevent baby girls from developing congenital adrenal hyperplasia, a genetic disorder that can cause girls to develop a deep voice, facial hair, and masculine-looking genitalia.

More disturbing — an article called “Preventing Homosexuality (and Uppity Women) in the Womb?” posted by The Hastings Center suggests taking this drug while pregnant might also prevent CAH girls from becoming lesbians, from rejecting motherhood, and from choosing traditionally male careers.

Read the full article here.

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Reader Comments
  • Name: iridium
    Date posted: 7/6/2010 8:19:44 AM
    Hometown: chicago

    Comment:

    The article indeed suggests that the girls may become lesbians due to *congenital* condition (= one you are born with, whether caused by DNA or some effect while in the woumb). So in a sense, it supports what we've been saying for a long time. The drug is used to prevent a serious disease (CAH), wheare beard is the least of worries: it also causes chronic hypertension and mal-regulation of blood sodium level (which can be lethal). The problem are the adrenal glands, which, unlike sex organs, are necessary to sustain life, and thus treatment would be a prudent thing to do. It's not the treatment but the idiotic article from Hastings Center which is the real concern. I wonder how many pregnant woman with healthy fetuses will be tatking prednisone to "prevent lesbianism" in the baby, which in turn would damage a healthy baby greatly (just like a healthy person could die from shooting insulin!)

  • Name: john in SF
    Date posted: 7/6/2010 7:31:52 AM
    Hometown: San Francisco

    Comment:

    Because it is a very slippery slope we are talking about here. It is foolish in my mind to let a company say something like this and then tie the idea of choice to it, as if it were cancer. Foolish.

  • Name: Roy
    Date posted: 7/6/2010 5:06:34 AM
    Hometown: Morrilton Arkansas

    Comment:

    Good comment Ellie, damned good comment and response.

  • Name: Dee
    Date posted: 7/5/2010 9:01:50 PM
    Hometown: San Antonio

    Comment:

    I don't think human sexuality is simple enough for a drug to prevent or cause it. There are many aspects that make up sexuality and I seriously doubt that this will "cure" gays, because gay is a label that does little to define attraction...or the reasons for it among people.

  • Name: Elle
    Date posted: 7/5/2010 8:06:55 PM
    Hometown: Brooklyn

    Comment:

    John in SF - How am I stupid for saying that this article on an anti-lesbian drug proves that homosexuality isn’t a choice? The article states that if pregnant women take dexamethasone it will prevent CAH girls from becoming lesbians. So if they don’t take any drugs, if they go through nine months of a natural pregnancy, there’s a possibility that the baby will turn out to be a lesbian. If what the article says is true, if it’s proven true, the argument of homosexuality being a choice will be destroyed.

  • Name: Alex Elliott
    Date posted: 7/5/2010 4:46:49 PM
    Hometown: London

    Comment:

    This DRUG has given more ammo for the idiots of society to abuse Homosexual people. A drug to cure Lesbians don't be so stupid, but I have a feeling that this drug could probably cause more harm than good.I wonder what the side effects are from taking this DRUG particularly the long term effects for both mother and baby.

  • Name: Cody Shay
    Date posted: 7/5/2010 3:06:58 PM
    Hometown: Slate Lick, PA

    Comment:

    I would hate to point it this out to you, but not all us gays are pro-choice. I am pro-life, so I'm against abortion except in cases of rape or incest. I feel if someone is willing to take the chance of becoming a parent by having unsafe sex, then they should deal with the consequences. BTW, my pro-life stance also extends to the death penalty as well. So please don't assume we are all pro-choice. I think altering a child before birth is morally wrong. It is one thing to treat or cure a disease, but to use a drug to prevent them from possibly being gay is just ridiculous. Besides, I thought these people thought homosexuality was a choice. How would a drug prevent that in the womb?

  • Name: Bob
    Date posted: 7/5/2010 2:39:10 PM
    Hometown: HB

    Comment:

    Derek this isn't talking about abortion.

  • Name: Derek
    Date posted: 7/5/2010 2:28:39 PM
    Hometown: Miami

    Comment:

    So, will you gays remain "pro-choice" now?

  • Name: Jon A
    Date posted: 7/5/2010 11:18:22 AM
    Hometown: San Diego

    Comment:

    This article, and the articles it refers to, are sensationalist tripe and misrepresent the original Harvard study completely. Shame of the Advocate for once again proving that you have no journalistic integrity or ability.

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