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Jul. 24th, 2006 11:28 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
sebastienneFrom: emma.lewis@college.oxford.ac.uk
To: health@ukmetro.co.uk
I write in relation to the article publiched on page 17 of the Monday, July 24, 2006 Metro, entitled "Does a gay gene exist?".
In it, Dr Qazi Rahman says "It's quite controversial as to whether bisexuality exists. Some studies say it doesn't and I don't think it does either". Can any citations be provided for studies which conclude that all people who identify as bisexual are in some way deluded? This seems to me to be a most offensive assertion, effectively denying the validity of the self-identification of a large number of Londoners. It also seems to me to be biased: why does Dr Rahman focus on the few studies which apparently conclude that bisexuality does not exist, rather than, for example, research which suggests that "monosexual" orientations (homosexuality and heterosexuality) are in the minority, with most people capable of attraction to all genders in some degree. (For example, the results found by Kinsey in his massive American study).
I, myself, do not see the controversy over the existence of bisexuality that Dr Rahman claims. All I see is that I know many people who identify as bisexual, who are not going to stop finding themselves sexually and romantically attracted to all genders simply because Dr Rahman has told them they do not exist.
I find it irresponsible that Metro would publish such misleading views in a newspaper read by millions of Londoners, many of whom identify as bisexual. In a time when discussion of "gay and lesbian" rights are becoming more and more commonplace, the invisibility of non-monosexual orientations is becoming more and more of an issue. I feel let down that Metro sees fit to add to this ignorance.
Can you explain in any way how Metro felt it was justified in telling any proportion of its readership (I will not get into wrangling about percentages, but surely it is obvious that at least some of Metro's readership identifies as bisexual?) that it did not exist?
Yours, in expectation of an explanation,
Emma Lewis.
To: health@ukmetro.co.uk
I write in relation to the article publiched on page 17 of the Monday, July 24, 2006 Metro, entitled "Does a gay gene exist?".
In it, Dr Qazi Rahman says "It's quite controversial as to whether bisexuality exists. Some studies say it doesn't and I don't think it does either". Can any citations be provided for studies which conclude that all people who identify as bisexual are in some way deluded? This seems to me to be a most offensive assertion, effectively denying the validity of the self-identification of a large number of Londoners. It also seems to me to be biased: why does Dr Rahman focus on the few studies which apparently conclude that bisexuality does not exist, rather than, for example, research which suggests that "monosexual" orientations (homosexuality and heterosexuality) are in the minority, with most people capable of attraction to all genders in some degree. (For example, the results found by Kinsey in his massive American study).
I, myself, do not see the controversy over the existence of bisexuality that Dr Rahman claims. All I see is that I know many people who identify as bisexual, who are not going to stop finding themselves sexually and romantically attracted to all genders simply because Dr Rahman has told them they do not exist.
I find it irresponsible that Metro would publish such misleading views in a newspaper read by millions of Londoners, many of whom identify as bisexual. In a time when discussion of "gay and lesbian" rights are becoming more and more commonplace, the invisibility of non-monosexual orientations is becoming more and more of an issue. I feel let down that Metro sees fit to add to this ignorance.
Can you explain in any way how Metro felt it was justified in telling any proportion of its readership (I will not get into wrangling about percentages, but surely it is obvious that at least some of Metro's readership identifies as bisexual?) that it did not exist?
Yours, in expectation of an explanation,
Emma Lewis.
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Date: 2006-07-24 10:53 am (UTC)xx
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Date: 2006-07-24 11:01 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-07-24 11:16 am (UTC)I love you, have a cookie :)
When you next in Oxenford?
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Date: 2006-07-24 11:21 am (UTC)am coming back this weekend. RPG, LARP. So something Saturday evening?
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Date: 2006-07-24 11:26 am (UTC)Dammit, now I'm goin to have to write another angry letter.
Mayhaps, text me and let me know what you are planning?