Much Ado about the ST forum (Reloaded)

Im actually getting quite tired of this. In fact I tried to tell myself not to talk anymore about the darn forum. Unfortunately circumstances prove otherwise with the example below.

Are Homosexuals Truly Born Gay?
MINISTER Mentor Lee Kuan Yew said in a dialogue with 400 Young PAP members on Saturday that, 'if in fact it is true, and I have asked doctors this, that you are genetically born a homosexual - because that's the nature of the genetic random transmission of genes - you can't help it. So why should we criminalise it?'
Are homosexuals born gay? Why the importance to prove this issue? The reason is simple: If society is convinced that some people are indeed born gay, then there would be a need for the Government to not criminalise this behaviour, and, by extension, even protect homosexuals as a designated minority class.
In the United States, this debate is far from over. While a publication by research journal Science, claiming that we were 'on the verge of proving that homosexuality is innate, genetic and therefore unchangeable, a normal variant of human nature', generated much media interest in the early 1990s, scientific attempts to prove homosexual genes have yet to really bear fruit.
A study conducted in 1991 which attempted to show that homosexuality occurs more frequently among identical twins than fraternal twins actually provided support for environmental factors versus genetics.
If homosexuality were indeed in the genetic code, then both of the twins should be homosexual 100 per cent of the time, yet this was not the case.
The LeVay brain study of 1991, which tried to find differences in the hypothalamuses (a very small part of the brain) of homosexual and heterosexual men found no evidence that there is any genetic cause for homosexuality.
Other prominent researchers concluded that there was a lack of evidence to support a biological theory, but rather that homosexuality could be best explained by an alternative model where 'temperamental and personality traits interact with the familial and social milieu as the individual's sexuality emerges'.
With respect to possibly decriminalising homosexual behaviour in the upcoming Penal Code review, I urge the Government to refrain from proceeding hastily in view of inconclusive findings on 'homosexual genes'.
Agnes Chai Shiang Jen (Ms)

I wonder if the ST would actually publish a letter rebutting this views. Perhaps then they will say that the letter is promoting a homosexual lifestyle, perhaps not. As Yoda would say, hard to see the future is.

"Are homosexuals born gay? Why the importance to prove this issue? "

This statement begs the question, of why there is a need to prove that homosexuals are born gay a not. It appears that the writer believes that whether Section 377A is repealed would be dependent on whether homosexuality is a thing that is inborn or not. As can be seen by the sentence that follows the above and the last sentence of the entire letter (the one in bold).

While i am no psychic, I must say that her argument can be summarised as this:

- Section 377A should not be repealed hastily

- This is because Science has yet to prove that homosexuality is caused by genetics.

Therefore, if science proves that homosexuality is not caused by genetics, then Section 377A should stay.

But the above begets the question, WHY?

Why must such a law which sticks its proverbial nose into what you do in your bedroom be in force? Perhaps she subscribes to the view that homosexuality is immoral and unnatural, as can be inferred from this line;

"If society is convinced that some people are indeed born gay, then there would be a need for the Government to not criminalise this behaviour,"

Well if that is the case then i must say i find it worrying that society should have a say in the laws of the land. Such a situation has, in the past, resulted in persecution and discrimination against people society outcast. To Kill A Mockingbird shows us how the legal system, whilst supposing to dispense justice, instead causes injustice for an innocent men precisely because Society is against afro americans. There are many instances where what society believes is right has resulted in death and suffering; for example, the Persecutions of the Jews, eventually culminating in the holocaust and the Persecutions of the Early Christians. The Law should be the tool to regulate society and not be twisted by society.

Furthermore, even if homosexuality is "unnatural" in humans, why then should it be punishable with life imprisonment? Can someone tell me the "harm" if any, that is caused by homosexuals who have consented to doing their thing? If harm there be, then is it more serious than rape, as the punishment seems to be harsher?

Ahah! But what about morals then? There will be those who will declare " Homosexuality is IMMORAL!" But of course morality depends on which religion to subscribe to doesnt it? And if it does then why do you want to impose your morality using through the laws of a SECULAR state? And the morality thing is a dangerous area to go into; the Inquisition and the persecution of Jews during the middle ages stand as testament to that.

The crux of the matter is this; in so far as those other groups have the right to push for legislation, odious though that may seem, the government of any country should and must not allow themselves to be influenced by such lobbying. In my opinion whether something should be criminalised a not should be determined by the harm caused, among other things. As the bedroom acts of 2 consenting homosexuals does not appear to cause any harm, then it is only fair that Section 377A should be repealed.

* with regards to the writers take on genes, i do not think being twins may necessary mean that ur genetic make up is 100% the same. In fact i know of twins who are rather different in behaviour.

** Homosexuality was actually rather prevalent in the past. In Ancient Greece, the City of Thebes has a special elite unit known as the Sacred Band. They followed a buddy system as seen in the military, just that the buddies happened to be gay buddies, an older man paired with a younger. They called it pedrasty if i remember correctly. It was said that the men will fight harder for their lover's sake. Oh and btw, Alexander the Great was said to be gay.