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November 03, 2006

Martina Navratilova lashes out against "gay sheep" experiments

Lesbian tennis star Martina Navratilova and People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals are condemning hormone-altering experiments on "gay sheep" at Oregon State University and Oregon Health and Science University. The experiment, funded by taxpayers through 2008, seeks to manipulate sheep's sexual orientatio and make them heterosexual.

In letters sent to the presidents of both universities, Navratilova called the project "homophobic and cruel." She asked both presidents to end the research and redirect tax dollars to fund "a gay and lesbian community center to foster dialogue and acceptance for people of all sexual preferences."

The experiment, headed by OHSU's Charles Rosselli and OSU's Frederick Stormshak, involves drugging pregnant sheep to prevent the actions of hormones in their fetuses' brains and cutting open the brains of rams they call "male-oriented." This is to find the hormonal mechanisms behind homosexual tendencies so that they can be changed by an estrogen device. According to the project's grant applications, the experimenters plan to extrapolate the test results to humans. (The Advocate)

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