A new study that found that gay men and heterosexual women have similarly shaped brains has been hailed by some as a valuable tool in the fight against homophobia.
Blogger breaktheterror calls it the study "the religious right never ever, ever wants you to see", because it shows science is on the side of gay people. The blogger quotes from the New Scientist, which called the findings "the most compelling evidence yet that being gay or straight is a biologically fixed trait".
The majority of people on richarddawkins.net also welcome the results of the research. "I often find myself debating with people who think homosexuality is purely behavioural, but now I can back up the biological theory with this nice report," says Dharma. "Will it help the religious people realize one cannot treat homosexuality by praying?"
There are dissenting voices. On the same site, esuther writes: "I find any study of what 'causes' homosexuality to be suspect."
Followthatmouse, on the Gay Activist blog, is "deeply suspicious of the motives for this research". "We are gay because we are. Thats' [sic] all anyone needs to know. Its only nature. Leave nature alone," followthatmouse writes. But the Gay Activist blogger is not contradicting the results of the research, only voicing the concern that scientists are "poking into our brains again".
While some seek to counter homophobia by claiming they are born gay, others are insistent it is a choice and that they are proud to have chosen. Take the website queerbychoice.com, for example. It is unlikely the research will get such a warm welcome from those who subscribe to this school of thought.
The scientists themselves are saying they have yet to confirm whether the differences in brain shape are responsible for sexual orientation, or a consequence of it.
So what does this research really tell us?
