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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (Sept. 1, 2006)
4 , jUStpUt SEPTEMBER 1.ZQC4 I ette rs DHARMA RAIN ZEN CENTER 2539 Southeast Madsion, Portland. OR 97214 503.239 4846 www.dhann.vrain.org -9 PORTLAND PICTURE FRAME 10% off Custom Framing May not be combined with other offers. Does not include E-Series Coupon must accompany order Expires 9/29/06 www.portlandpictureframe.com 503.236.1400 • 2«01 SE Holgate Blvd Tues-Sat 10am to 6pm I’ve rolled up my sleeves to work for you. To buy or sell, just call Scott Werner REAL ESTATE BROKER (971) 322-9399 scottw(fl)bridgetownreal ty.com EALTY 1 office phone: (503) 287-9370 3320 NE Sandy, Portland, OR www.bridgetownrealty.rom bella stella FRESH STUFF for KIDS New and gently used clothing, toys, furniture 4 gear Unique hand-crafted local, organic 4 European goods ALL FAMILIES WELCOME 2635 NE Broadway www.bellastellaresale.com 503.284.4636 Moreover, Roselli’s fellow experimenter, know to be untrue. In fact, we have already contact- I Frederick Stormshak, has publicly stated, “If people ed People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals and The Science of Sexuality want to extrapolate [to humans the conclusions he provided information to correct its false claims. We To the E ditor : reaches on how to alter sheep’s sexual orientations], expect that if it is truly an ethical organization—as As chair of the Oregon Health & Science that’s up to them.” His cavalier attitude effectively its title suggests—it will admit its error; retract its University committee charged to ensure the good and ethical treatment of research animals, 1 strong false claims; apologize to OHSU, OSU and your displaces his responsibility for the implications of his work onto those who want to apply his conclusions readers; and correct its false statements about our ly object to your recent misleading cover article on to humans. research to its membership immediately. federally funded studies of sexual preference There has been criticism of experiments like this In reality, if PETA would have taken the time [“Sexual Eugenics,” Aug. 18]. As required by law, that aim to draw correlations between hormones and to review the body of our published work in peer- our committee, called the Institutional Animal sexual orientation. Dr. Amy Banks of Harvard reviewed scientific journals, it never would have Care and Use Committee (IACUC), thoroughly Medical School states: “Attempts to generalize the made its false claims. Our articles speak clearly reviewed the project featured in your article prior about the goals and significance of this work. In j causes of sexual orientation from animals to humans to approving the research. The studies are in no way based in intolerance \ these publications, there is not even a hint of the have been controversial. Efforts to measure the estrogen feedback as an indication of brain androg- outrageous suggestion that the goal of this research or an attempt to “cure homosexuality.” It appears, is to “cure” human homosexuality. enization have produced inconsistent results.... however, that your publication was willing to assist animal rights groups with an anti-research agenda Predictably, in your article Portland animal . Overall, the data do not support a causal connection rights group In Defense of Animals associates the [ between hormones and human sexual orientation.” in criticizing and politicizing ethical and important animal-based studies by falsely labeling the research sheep research with old, false accusations of animal Dr. Udo Schuklenk of the Monash University as hate-based. Centre for Human Bioethics has advised, “The abuse at OHSU’s primate center. Sheep have not To clarify, the research is a basic science study institutions providing public money for research been mistreated, and there are no past or pending aimed at gaining a better understanding of the investigations. projects should reject all applications for research physiological connections to sexual preference. As In addition, major sections of your article con searching for the causes of homosexuality, for a your readers are likely aware, there have long been tained animal rights rhetoric that appears to be cut screening device for homosexuality or for a treat social and scientific debates regarding a person's and pasted directly from the countless Web sites ment of it." Instead, he says, “A more proper target sexual preference. While some individuals believe run by this vocal movement with views that in no for research is certainly the causation of homopho that homosexuality is a personal choice, more and way reflect those of the vast majority of Americans. bia and its prevention.” more evidence is surfacing through human and ani Finally, while your reporter went to great We agree that public monies ought not be mal studies that there are neurobiological ties to i lengths to give the animal rights community ample squandered on frivolous, mean-spirited animal sexual preference and gender identity. airtime, Just Out curiously failed to include one experiments masquerading as research. We hope As for the animals involved in this study, there ! major viewpoint: Your article was completely void that OSU and OHSU will put an end to this exper are numerous controls and safeguards to ensure that of any medical experts or physicians in the field. iment, which represents a triple injustice: a need all animals used in research at our institution are You did, however, locate a former anesthesiologist less slaughter of animals, an affront to human dig well cared for. In addition to IACUC approval, our in Los Angeles who makes his living publishing nity and a colossal waste of precious research funds. institution is fully accredited by the Association for books and making paid appearances to spread his ’ negative views of animal research—not exactly an | S halin G ala Assessment and Accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care International and is regularly inspect unbiased expert opinion. People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals ed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. We also We would suggest that with a little more bal strongly adhere to the regulations of the Animal anced reporting and a lot less propaganda, your Understudied Welfare Act and the animal care practices dictated article might have been a service to your readers. To the E ditor : by the National Institutes of Health. 1 was disappointed to read your story on Dr. Finally, I was disappointed that Just Out would I D r . C harles R oselli Charles Roselli’s research on sexual orientation. repeat 7-year-old, false allegations of abuse at Professor, Department of Physiology and For a trait that has such an enormous effect on all OHSU’s primate center. Former People for the Pharmacology, OHSU animal life on earth, sexual partner preference is Ethical Treatment of Animals employee Matt D r . F red S tormshak surprisingly understudied. The effects of this were Rossell was not telling the truth when he alleged Distinguished Professor, Department of Animal clear in the ’80s when AIDS hit the gay communi abuse at the Oregon National Primate Research Science, OSU ty and there were hardly any data on the sexual Center—a fact demonstrated during a two-month behavior, interests and emotions of homosexual federal investigation in 2000. The inclusion of Public Monies Squandered men. This hampered prevention and treatment these tired and refuted allegations is curious and To the E ditor : programs and cost thousands of lives. questionable in an article about a research study We applaud Just Out’s Jaymee R. Cuti for put The little research on the biological basis of sex that does not involve our primate center. ting Oregon Health & Science University and ual orientation is often done on a small scale with Oregon State University’s feet to the fire for their insufficient funds. Personal attacks and unfounded D r . M alcolm J. Low unconscionable pseudoscientific experiments on questions into ethics and motives have caused many Chair, OHSU Marquam Hill Institutional “gay sheep.” scientists to shun this important research. Dr. Roselli Animal Care and Use Committee In a response to People for the Ethical is one of only a handful of top-level scientists who Treatment of Animals’ complaint to the universi dares to stick his neck out, and his groundbreaking Not a Disease ty, OSU president Ed Ray claims, “The sheep are research showed unexpected parallels between the To the E ditor : well cared for.” We find this hard to believe, as brains of humans and sheep with same-sex behavior. Upon reading your article about our collabora before they are killed and have their brains cut Although the potential use and abuse of human tive studies on sexual preference, we were deeply ' open, the gay sheep are kept in solitary confine and animal sexuality research is certainly a topic disappointed by the inaccuracies and distortions it ment for two to three days. Then, two male and for public debate, your biased attack on Dr. Roselli’s contained. At no time in our discussions with your two female sheep who are physically restrained in widely respected work does not do this discussion publication was it suggested that Oregon Health & a four-way stanchion—which is essentially a “rape justice. Science University and Oregon State University rack”—are subjected to the gay sheep’s aggressions. were attempting to “cure" homosexuality. If your Ray denies that the experiments are aimed at D r . S ven B ckklandt reporter had even hinted that this was the entire, “curing homosexuality," but the facts contradict this. Postdoctoral Research Scientist, UCLA faulty premise of the article, we would have even In one of experimenter Charles Roselli’s articles, he more vigorously explained that we are sickened and focuses on studying (and altering) same-sex sexual TRAMSITIONS offended by anyone who would suggest the idea "behavior" and certainly does not address any serious Tee Corinne, 1944-2006 that homosexuality is a disease. medical conditions: “This research also has broader ! Activist, artist and writer Tee Corinne died Your entire article hinged on animal rights implications for understanding the development and Aug. 27. For more information visit activists with known agendas attempting to get press control of sexual motivation and mate selection www.justout.com and look for a story in the Sept. by making outrageous claims that we assume they across mammalian species, including humans.” 15 issue of Just Out.
