Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, February 21, 1991 TAG: 9102210434
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: A-8 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Short
Recent studies by Dr. Lee Ellis of Minot State University in North Dakota presented evidence "to support the view that prenatal hormonal factors are the main determinants of variations of sexual orientation." Among these factors are hormones released by the mother during stressful experiences. "After crossing the placental barrier, these hormones temporarily interfere with fetal production of various sex hormones, especially testosterone. Should this disruption occur when crucial brain parts controlling sexual orientation are sexually differentiated, permanent inversions occur."
Hundreds of mothers were used in the study, and it was conclusively shown that mothers of homosexuals experienced greater levels of stress during pregnancy than those with heterosexual offspring. In other tests, pregnant rodents were stressed, and produced homosexual offspring.
Other causes shown to contribute to homosexuality were genetic, pharmacological and immunological. However, social environment was shown to be of little relevance.
Dr. Ellis' study has shown that homosexuality is a natural phenomenon, and that a person's sexual orientation is a given, not something chosen as Christian fundamentalists believe. At last, homosexuals can assimilate into their belief systems the Bible verse so frequently used by anti-abortionists: "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you. Before you were born I set you apart." (Jeremiah 1:4, 5.) EUGENE BLAKE ROANOKE
by CNB