Queers have been electrocuted, lobotomized, and massacred all in the name of curing the world of people who don’t subscribe to hetero-normative expectations. With the advent of Pride, Will and Grace, and Lady GaGa there may be a misconception that these efforts have somehow become a thing of the past. However, recently there has been a small push with in the global medical community to find new methods to rid the world of lesbians, gays, bisexuals, transgender, and intersex (LGBTI) people.
Dr. Maria New, of Mount Sanai School of Medicine and Florida International University, has been researching a drug aimed at curing Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia (CAH). CAH is a condition that, among other side effects, causes masculinized, androgynous genitals in females due to excess amounts of prenatal hormones.
The drug is also thought to prevent lesbianism and put a stop to females that have "abnormal" masculine tendencies, such as disinterest in babies, childrearing, and girl’s toys, or "masculine" career preferences. (New’s research has not been approved by the Medical Ethics Committee)
The idea that lesbianism is something that must be cured is obviously offensive. It nurtures the dangerous belief that homosexuality is a disease, and that queers are infected—a thought that should have been expunged when the American Psychiatric Association (APA) removed homosexuality as a mental disorder from the APA's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual Of Mental Disorders (DSM-II) in 1973.
And the hetero-normative idea that a disinterest in childrearing or an interest in "masculine career preferences" is abnormal for females or even a sign of lesbianism is ridiculous. New is just spreading stereotypes, sexism, homophobia, and ignorance with every second she continues her research.
New isn’t even the only member of the medical community to recently attempt to cure homosexuality. A Spanish clinic in Barcelona is currently being investigated by Spain’s Catalonia government after allegedly offering treatments to "cure" homosexuality. At least in Spain the government finds it appropriately offensive and is taking the proper steps.
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