Samtökin 78, the National Queer Organization, has rejected a request from DeCode Genetics for collaboration to find hereditary factors determining people's sexual orientation. The organization argues that the research could be used around the world to discriminate against the LGBTQ community and might even be used in efforts to exterminate queer people.
Findings could potentially be used to oppress gays
The chairwoman of Samtökin 78 María Guðmundsdóttir told the local newspaper Fréttablaðið that the general meeting of the organization had rejected the request unanimously:
There are still 74 states around the world which criminalize people's sexual orientation, and in some places being gay is punishable by death. If people could be genetically categorized according to their sexuality would create knowledge which is in effect a tool of power which could be used against the LGBT community. There are governments around the world who would not hesitate to use genetic extermination to eliminate people they deem undesirable.
María said there was no question that research into the genetic factors governing sexual orientation would be used against the LGBTQ community. I'm not worried that we would see anti-gay campaigns in Iceland, or that we would see efforts to cure people of their sexual orientation in Iceland. We have made too great advances for such things.
Read more: Gay men in Iceland are the world’s happiest
The research could have grave implications around the world. Governments and individual parents could use such knowledge to screen for sexual orientation in fetuses, and genetic tests could be used to bolster anti-gay crusades.
Research scrapped by DeCode
Kári Stefánsson, the CEO and founder of DeCode Genetics said the company would respect the wishes of the Icelandic queer community and that the planned research would be scrapped. As this is an organization which has fought for the rights of people who have been marginalized in Icelandic society I think it is appropriate to respect their wishes. We will not undertake research of this kind against the wishes of the community.
Samtökin 78, the National Queer Organization, has rejected a request from DeCode Genetics for collaboration to find hereditary factors determining people's sexual orientation. The organization argues that the research could be used around the world to discriminate against the LGBTQ community and might even be used in efforts to exterminate queer people.
Findings could potentially be used to oppress gays
The chairwoman of Samtökin 78 María Guðmundsdóttir told the local newspaper Fréttablaðið that the general meeting of the organization had rejected the request unanimously:
There are still 74 states around the world which criminalize people's sexual orientation, and in some places being gay is punishable by death. If people could be genetically categorized according to their sexuality would create knowledge which is in effect a tool of power which could be used against the LGBT community. There are governments around the world who would not hesitate to use genetic extermination to eliminate people they deem undesirable.
María said there was no question that research into the genetic factors governing sexual orientation would be used against the LGBTQ community. I'm not worried that we would see anti-gay campaigns in Iceland, or that we would see efforts to cure people of their sexual orientation in Iceland. We have made too great advances for such things.
Read more: Gay men in Iceland are the world’s happiest
The research could have grave implications around the world. Governments and individual parents could use such knowledge to screen for sexual orientation in fetuses, and genetic tests could be used to bolster anti-gay crusades.
Research scrapped by DeCode
Kári Stefánsson, the CEO and founder of DeCode Genetics said the company would respect the wishes of the Icelandic queer community and that the planned research would be scrapped. As this is an organization which has fought for the rights of people who have been marginalized in Icelandic society I think it is appropriate to respect their wishes. We will not undertake research of this kind against the wishes of the community.
