Tennis star, PETA attack sheep study
Federally-funded research at both OSU and OHSU looks at homosexuality in male rams
Dan Traylor
Issue date: 11/6/06 Section: News
An openly gay tennis star has called on OSU and Oregon Health & Science University to suspend a federally-funded study examining the sexual preference of sheep.
Tennis star Martina Navratilova has joined forces with the activist group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) in a renewed campaign the organization launched Friday.
Navratilova and PETA say the study seeks to make homosexual sheep heterosexual. In a letter to OSU President Ed Ray sent Thursday, Navratilova asked "how can it be, in the year 2006, a major university would host such homophobic and cruel experiments?"
Ray, responding to a July 21 letter from PETA's Shalin Gala about the study, said the research is "behavioral and basic in nature" and "is not aimed at 'curing homosexuality.'"
The study first made national headlines when in 2005, OSU lineman Ben Siegert was caught driving while drunk with a sheep from the study in the back of his truck.
A 2002 Barometer report on the study notes that the research takes place at three locations - the U.S. Sheep Experimentation Center in Idaho, OSU's sheep center and finally, OHSU. The research is funded by the National Institute of Health through 2008.
A March 2004 press release from OHSU said the study confirmed that biology is behind homosexuality in sheep. The release, quoting the study's lead researcher at OHSU, said the results of the study could mean that biology is also behind homosexuality in humans.
The study found that the brains of rams referred to as "male oriented" are different from rams who prefer ewes.
"The hope is that the study of these brain differences will provide clues to the processes involved in the development of heterosexual, as well as homosexual behavior," the release said.
The OHSU released added that the results "lend credence to previous studies in humans that described anatomical differences between the brains of heterosexual men and homosexual men ...."
Tennis star Martina Navratilova has joined forces with the activist group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) in a renewed campaign the organization launched Friday.
Navratilova and PETA say the study seeks to make homosexual sheep heterosexual. In a letter to OSU President Ed Ray sent Thursday, Navratilova asked "how can it be, in the year 2006, a major university would host such homophobic and cruel experiments?"
Ray, responding to a July 21 letter from PETA's Shalin Gala about the study, said the research is "behavioral and basic in nature" and "is not aimed at 'curing homosexuality.'"
The study first made national headlines when in 2005, OSU lineman Ben Siegert was caught driving while drunk with a sheep from the study in the back of his truck.
A 2002 Barometer report on the study notes that the research takes place at three locations - the U.S. Sheep Experimentation Center in Idaho, OSU's sheep center and finally, OHSU. The research is funded by the National Institute of Health through 2008.
A March 2004 press release from OHSU said the study confirmed that biology is behind homosexuality in sheep. The release, quoting the study's lead researcher at OHSU, said the results of the study could mean that biology is also behind homosexuality in humans.
The study found that the brains of rams referred to as "male oriented" are different from rams who prefer ewes.
"The hope is that the study of these brain differences will provide clues to the processes involved in the development of heterosexual, as well as homosexual behavior," the release said.
The OHSU released added that the results "lend credence to previous studies in humans that described anatomical differences between the brains of heterosexual men and homosexual men ...."
Note: writers will not reply to comments.
Viewing Comments 1 - 9 of 12
Shalin Gala
posted 11/06/06 @ 8:32 AM PST
We at PETA are honored that Martina Navratilova has decided to add her voice to the growing international criticism of these gay sheep experiments, which can only be described as a needless slaughter of animals, an affront to human dignity, and a colossal waste of precious research funds. (Continued…)
matt t
posted 11/06/06 @ 3:00 PM PST
Let me get this straight (pun intended) Shalin Gala. You think that researching gay sheep is dangerous to the LBGT? How? How is this dangerous?
Personally, I think it would be interesting to prove if animals could be gay or otherwise, maybe it will shed light into the eyes of the blind that being gay isn't that bad. (Continued…)
Clearly
posted 11/06/06 @ 7:18 PM PST
PETA is a joke. An ignorant group of self-righteous fools. Has anyone ever watched Penn & Tellers Bull$hit on PETA? Check it out. At the heart of PETA is violence. (Continued…)
Shalin Gala
Shalin Gala
posted 11/07/06 @ 7:11 AM PST
In response to Matt T.'s comment, and speaking as an openly gay man, I must emphasize the dangerous implications that these unethical experiments on "gay sheep" pose to the LGBT community. (Continued…)
Nick
posted 11/07/06 @ 3:12 PM PST
hey matt t.
remember when I was trying to explain the meaning of irony to you.
look at CJ's post.
Shalin Gala
Shalin Gala
posted 11/08/06 @ 3:17 PM PST
Actually Nick and CJ, the person you all are referring to is my director and she does not use animal-drived insulin. Rather, it is synthetically-derived from non-animal sources. (Continued…)
Steve
posted 11/09/06 @ 3:14 PM PST
Shalin,
I am sorry you feel this way but you are so terribly wrong. First, I was extremely insulted by the Navratilova letter, especially the fact that she suggested taking the funding away from this experiment and putting it towards a "gay and lesbian community center to foster dialogue. (Continued…)
Hugh (Bart) Vincelette
posted 1/01/07 @ 5:37 AM PST
As a gay man who buried fifty-seven friends who died of the opportunistic cancers and infections of HIV/AIDS amidst the 'joy and exaltation ' of the religious right , and have seen , through the years; inexcusable violence and bloodshed, and had three friends murdered in brutal hate crimes ; I wouldn't mind seeing some genuine scientific proof of sexual orientaion being innate or or biochemical origin. (Continued…)
Flu-Bird
posted 9/07/09 @ 12:02 PM PST
PETA is still the biggists bunch of jerks around only a complete idiot would take them seriously
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