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About Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, & Intersex Communities & Human Biotechnology


New genetic and reproductive technologies affect LGBTQI communities in exceptional ways.

Some of these are beneficial. For example, advances in assisted reproductive technologies enable a growing number of gay men and lesbians to become parents of biologically related children.

However, some advocates of reproductive cloning assert that gays and lesbians in particular should support it, because it would allow same-sex couples to have children that are genetically related only to a member of the couple, free of "external" DNA. Of course, such techniques do nothing to address the underlying issues of inequality and homophobia that plague society.

Genetic theories play as strong a role in shaping our social and individual identities as they do in shaping our families. Recent years have seen a resurgence of assumptions that complex human behaviors, including sexual orientation, are simply products of our genes. Though scientists have yet to find a genetic marker for homosexuality, many continue to try. Such genetic determinism and reductionism open the door to new forms of discrimination.



ART and Art in the Movies 2010by Pete ShanksBiopolitical TimesAugust 25th, 2010Assisted reproductive technologies are a repeating theme this year in Hollywood, and the results seem to be decidedly mixed.
Other uses for laboratory-produced sperm?by Jesse ReynoldsBiopolitical TimesJuly 13th, 2009Advances in laboratory-produced sperm--if perfected--could also be used for other purposes, including troubling ones.
Will women one day father children?by Sheryl UbelackerThe Globe and MailJune 18th, 2009Could same-sex human reproduction using stem cells one day become reality?
Fertility clinics to recruit more lesbians as egg donors for IVFby Sophie GoodchildEvening StandardJune 9th, 2009Fertility clinics are targeting lesbians as egg providers after research found higher IVF success rates than among heterosexual women
Stripped down embryo bill passes Georgia Senateby Matt SchaferSouthern VoiceMarch 20th, 2009Georgia lawmakers passed a bill regulating the creation of embryos
Homo Genesis [PDF]by Marcy DarnovskyBitchJune 6th, 2008Techno enthusiasts are marketing extreme reproductive technologies to gay families in a way that could set us on the road to a new chapter in eugenic experimentation.
Conceiving the Future [PDF]Reproductive-justice activists on technology and policyby Andi Zeisler and Emily GalpernBitchJune 6th, 2008Emerging reproductive and genetic technologies have raised critical issues for social-justice movements. This roundtable discussion features some of the women who've been engaged in these national conversations.
Female sperm and gay guinea pigsby Marcy DarnovskySan Francisco ChronicleMarch 12th, 2008While gay families and their supporters await the California Supreme Court's ruling on the constitutionality of a voter-approved law banning same-sex marriage, a few researchers and pundits are proposing that same-sex procreation with bio-engineered gametes will undermine one of the key arguments of same-sex marriage opponents.
Are male eggs and female sperm on the horizon?[Quotes CGS's Marcy Darnovsky]by Peter AldhousNew ScientistFebruary 2nd, 2008In a handful of labs across the world, biologists are trying to make genetically male cells develop into eggs, and female cells into sperm.
Gay couple buys 'designer' sons from USby Peta HellardThe Daily Telegraph (Australia)October 14th, 2007A gay couple has travelled to the US to buy "designer twin boys" through a surrogate mother at a cost of as much as $133,000.
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