Older Brothers,Sexual Orientation,and a Maternal Immune Reaction to NLGN4Y: Our Response to Rao and Andrade (2019)

Rao and Andrade’s (2019) Editorial provides a summary of our work on the fraternal birth order effect, including our recent lab-based research, providing evidence that a maternal immune response to the male-specific protein NLGN4Y may underlie this effect. ¹ As authors of this recent NLGN4Y article, we hope Rao and Andrade’s (2019) summary is beneficial to researchers considering undertaking new studies on the biological basis of sexual orientation. ² However, we are primarily concerned here with the question posed at the end of their Editorial: “Nevertheless, if an antibody response can be confirmed as an etiological factor, might primary prevention interventions be possible?”

In response to this question, note that we had no intention that the results be used to prevent homosexuality and that we would be dismayed by such an application. We also believe that, overall, research on the biological basis (e.g., genetic and neuroanatomic studies) of sexual orientation has been beneficial to gay rights. This benefit partly occurs because people who believe sexual orientation has a biological basis tend to be more accepting of sexual minorities. ³ We also believe that being gay is not a disorder, a view shared by the major medical and psychological organizations of the world.

Finally, even if, down the road, an accurate technology could be developed to detect and prevent homosexuality, we reiterate that it would be, in our view, a misuse of science. We strongly question any impulse to eliminate nonheterosexual variation in human sexual orientation. The world would be a poorer place if such variation were lost in our view. Rather, we advocate for a greater social acceptance and equality of sexual and gender minorities worldwide.

Editor’s Response

We completely agree with the views expressed by Bogaert et al. In clarification, we explain that the question at the end of our editorial was rhetorical and was meant to be read as such. However, we acknowledge that there was room for misunderstanding and are glad that the opportunity to explain this arose.

T.S. Sathyanarayana Rao

Chittaranjan Andrade