Epigenetics may explain homosexuality in men
A groundbreaking study at the University of California has shown that epigenetic marks, chemical markers attached to DNA strands, can predict homosexuality in men with almost 70 percent accuracy. The study suggests that being gay is biological, but not determined entirely by genes. Environmental effects from hormones to nutrition may add the genetic markers. The lead scientist on the project, who is gay, says he is concerned about misuse of the knowledge, and other scientists have criticized the results as unreliable.
China still giving shock therapy to gay people
An Irish journalist shows in a new documentary that gay people in China are still undergoing shock therapy to “cure” them of their orientation. Last year a Chinese gay man won a court case against the clinic that gave him shock therapy, a rare victory for Chinese gay activism.
Equal marriage passes Irish house of representatives
The Irish Dáil Éireann, or house of representatives, has passed a marriage equality bill, now sending it on to the senate. Ireland voted for marriage equality in a referendum in May.
Trans-Pacific Partnership riles LGBT activists
Twelve countries around the Pacific Rim came to an agreement Oct 5, 2015, on the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal, lowering tariffs and aligning labour and trade laws. Some LGBT activists are upset that the deal includes three countries, Singapore, Malaysia and Brunei, in which homosexuality is criminal.
Read more at the Washington Blade.
Leader of the Isle of Man comes out, pushes marriage equality
The chief minister of the Isle of Man, a tiny self-governing British isle, has revealed that he is gay and has been in a relationship with a man for 21 years. He also says he will begin working for marriage equality, on the heels of Britain, Scotland and Ireland.
(Image: Wikimedia Commons
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b1/A-DNA,_B-DNA_and_Z-DNA.png)
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