Member-only story
Do We Really Need a Gay Gene?
The potential downside of tying identity to science
A few months ago, I went in for genetic testing.
After a lifetime of worrying that I was going to die from breast cancer, just as my mother had, I decided to confront my fears and see if I had a mutation on either of the BRCA genes most responsible for inherited breast and ovarian cancers.
Ultimately, I tested negative for any mutations, which was a huge relief for me. But before I was allowed to test, I had to sign a document relieving the clinic and the lab of any liability of genetic discrimination. I had to acknowledge that they were not responsible if my insurance rates went up. I had to acknowledge that while it is not currently legal to discriminate based on genetic information, that could change in the future. While the knowledge of my BRCA status was empowering for me and for my family, it could have potentially put me at greater risk for discrimination if my test results had come out differently.
So, as a queer woman, I was skeptical when the results of a new study came out this week stating that one third of same-sex attraction could potentially be attributed to genetics. I was concerned of what the potential consequences of tying genetics to identity might be.
