LGBTQ chemicals conspiracy theory

"Gay frogs" redirects here. For the actual practice of homosexual behavior among frogs, see List of animals displaying homosexual behavior § Amphibians.
African clawed frog (Xenopus laevis)

Conspiracy theories emerged in the 2010s alleging that governments were introducing endocrine disrupting chemicals into the water supply to increase the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or queer (LGBTQ) population. The claim was popularized by conspiracy theorist Alex Jones, who cited studies on the herbicide atrazine, known to induce spontaneous sex reversal or hermaphroditism in certain frog species, to assert that the U.S. government was "putting chemicals in the water that turn the "friggin’ frogs gay" as part of a "chemical warfare operation".[1] Spontaneous sex change is a naturally occurring phenomenon in some frog species even in unpolluted environments.[2]

In animal studies, exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals during gestation can interfere with prenatal hormones and consequently sex differentiation of the brain.[3][4] This has led some scientists to speculate about the impact of endocrine disruptor exposure during human pregnancy on later sexual orientation or gender identity, though evidence is currently lacking.[3][4][5]

History

Animal testing in the 2000s suggested that the herbicide atrazine, an endocrine disruptor, may have a feminizing effect on male frogs causing them to become hermaphrodites.[6][7] Other research failed to reproduce these results in frogs,[8][9][10] though reports of reproductive impact has been reported for other animals, and a meta-analysis conducted in 2010[11] on selected amphibians and freshwater fish showed sublethal reproductive effects at ecologically relevant concentrations. Reviewing 19 studies in total, the United States Environmental Protection Agency concluded in 2013 that atrazine has no consistent effects on development in amphibians.[8]

According to Lambert and Packer:[2]

A direct link between EDCs and sex-reversed frogs has been observed only in the laboratory, not in the wild. What’s causing sex reversal in these wild frog populations is not yet clear, but our latest data suggest that natural temperature variation, occurring independently of urbanization or climate change, may be a catalyst.

Graffiti in New Orleans citing the Alex Jones quote

In 2015, American conspiracy theorist and radio personality Alex Jones claimed that atrazine had caused a majority of frogs in the US to become homosexual, and that the US government was waging a "chemical warfare operation" to increase rates of homosexuality and decrease birth rates.[12][7] This claim goes far beyond what was reported in the scientific literature.[9][13] A quote from Jones's monologue, "I don't like 'em putting chemicals in the water that turn the friggin' frogs gay!" subsequently became an internet meme.[1]

The idea of a link between atrazine and sexual development was later revived by American environmental lawyer and anti-vaccine activist Robert F. Kennedy Jr., during his 2024 presidential campaign. In various podcast appearances, Kennedy claimed that atrazine contamination was causing widespread delayed puberty or precocious puberty in the Midwest, and speculated that it was causing "sexual confusion" and "gender confusion" in children.[14] Kennedy's theory was criticized in various popular media outlets.[5][15]

A 2016 review in Psychological Science in the Public Interest argues that there is "no persuasive evidence that the rate of same-sex attraction has varied much across time or place".[16] In contrast to claims about chemicals in the water, the effects of hormones on sexual orientation appear to occur at the prenatal stage, during organization of the brain.[16] Endocrine disruptor exposure during fetal development has been shown to affect sexual differentiation of the brain in animals,[4] however any effect on human sexual orientation or gender identity requires further research.[4][3]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b Higgins, Tucker (September 14, 2018). "Alex Jones' 5 most disturbing and ridiculous conspiracy theories". CNBC. Retrieved September 22, 2024.
  2. ^ a b Lambert, Max; Packer, Melina (June 10, 2019). "Perspective | How gendered language leads scientists astray". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  3. ^ a b c Savic, Ivanka; Garcia-Falgueras, Alicia; Swaab, Dick F. (2010), Savic, Ivanka (ed.), "Sexual differentiation of the human brain in relation to gender identity and sexual orientation" (PDF), Progress in Brain Research, Sex Differences in the Human Brain, their Underpinnings and Implications, 186, Elsevier: 41–62, doi:10.1016/B978-0-444-53630-3.00004-X, ISBN 9780444536303, PMID 21094885, retrieved August 13, 2023, Recent data show that environmental compounds during early development may interfere with sexual differentiation of the human brain. Plastic softeners, that is, phthalate esters, are pervasive environmental chemicals with anti androgenic effects. Exposure to these compounds is accompanied by reduced masculine play in boys (Swan et al. 2010). Higher prenatal polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB) levels were related with less masculine play in boys, while higher prenatal dioxin levels were associated with more feminized play in boys as well as in girls (Vreugdenhil et al. 2002). The effect of such environmental endocrine disruptors on sexual differentiation of brain systems should be further studied in future.{{citation}}: CS1 maint: work parameter with ISBN (link)
  4. ^ a b c d Cocchetti, Carlotta; Rachoń, Dominik; Fisher, Alessandra D. (2023), Pivonello, Rosario; Diamanti-Kandarakis, Evanthia (eds.), "Environmental Impact on Sexual Response", Environmental Endocrinology and Endocrine Disruptors: Endocrine and Endocrine-targeted Actions and Related Human Diseases, Endocrinology, pp. 312–328, doi:10.1007/978-3-030-39044-0_11, ISBN 978-3-030-38366-4, In particular, the hypothalamus and other sexually dimorphic brain areas are highly sensitive to endogenous sex hormones, and this may determine their vulnerability to EDCs' exposure during critical periods. This evidence could lead to hypothesize a possible etiological link between prenatal exposure to EDCs and the development of sexual orientation and core gender identity. Indeed, Bejerot et al. (2011) suggested a hypothetical link between EDCs and gender dysphoria, speculating about a possible role of phthalates (Bejerot et al. 2011). Phthalates are contained in many plastics, and their environmental concentrations have significantly increased in the last few years. Fetal exposure may lead to an increased androgen exposure, increasing the risk of developing gender dysphoria. However, this specific association has never been evaluated before and most of our knowledge is based on data from rodent studies. For this reason, more systematic investigations are required to establish EDCs' interference with sexual differentiation of the brain in determining sexual orientation and gender identity.{{citation}}: CS1 maint: work parameter with ISBN (link)
  5. ^ a b Contreras, Russell; Holzman, Jael (July 5, 2023). "Fringe gender-chemical theory goes mainstream". Axios.
  6. ^ Hayes, Tyrone; Haston, Kelly; Tsui, Mable; Hoang, Anhthu; Haeffele, Cathryn; Vonk, Aaron (2002). "Feminization of male frogs in the wild". Nature. 419 (6910): 895–896. doi:10.1038/419895a. ISSN 1476-4687. PMID 12410298. S2CID 4364535.
  7. ^ a b Hayes, Tyrone B.; Khoury, Vicky; Narayan, Anne; Nazir, Mariam; Park, Andrew; Brown, Travis; Adame, Lillian; Chan, Elton; Buchholz, Daniel; Stueve, Theresa; Gallipeau, Sherrie (March 9, 2010). "Atrazine induces complete feminization and chemical castration in male African clawed frogs (Xenopus laevis)". Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. 107 (10): 4612–4617. Bibcode:2010PNAS..107.4612H. doi:10.1073/pnas.0909519107. ISSN 0027-8424. PMC 2842049. PMID 20194757.
  8. ^ a b "Atrazine Updates | Pesticides | US EPA". September 30, 2015. Archived from the original on September 30, 2015. Retrieved July 20, 2023.
  9. ^ a b Renner, Rebecca (2008). "Atrazine Effects in Xenopus Aren't Reproducible". Environmental Science & Technology. 42 (10): 3491–3493. Bibcode:2008EnST...42.3491R. doi:10.1021/es087113j. ISSN 0013-936X. PMID 18546678.
  10. ^ Jooste, Alarik M.; Du Preez, Louis H.; Carr, James A.; Giesy, John P.; Gross, Timothy S.; Kendall, Ronald J.; Smith, Ernest E.; Van Der Kraak, Glen L.; Solomon, Keith R. (July 1, 2005). "Gonadal Development of Larval Male Xenopus laevis Exposed to Atrazine in Outdoor Microcosms". Environmental Science & Technology. 39 (14): 5255–5261. Bibcode:2005EnST...39.5255J. doi:10.1021/es048134q. ISSN 0013-936X. PMID 16082954.
  11. ^ Segalov, Michael (June 8, 2017). "A Quick Refresher: The Truth About Water Making You Gay". Vice. Retrieved July 20, 2023.
  12. ^ Kacala, Alexander (August 7, 2018). "Infowars' Alex Jones has a long history of inflammatory, anti-LGBTQ speech". NBC News. Retrieved June 22, 2023.
  13. ^ Perret, Meg (June 9, 2020). ""Chemical Castration": White Genocide and Male Extinction in Rhetoric of Endocrine Disruption". NiCHE. Retrieved July 20, 2023.
  14. ^ Turner, Abby; Kaczynski, Andrew (July 13, 2023). "Robert F. Kennedy Jr. repeatedly suggested that chemicals in water are impacting sexuality of children". CNN Politics. Retrieved July 20, 2023.
  15. ^ Brownworth, Victoria A. (June 21, 2023). "Robert F. Kennedy Jr.: The Shaming of a Legacy". Philadelphia Gay News. Retrieved June 22, 2023.
  16. ^ a b Bailey, J. Michael; Vasey, Paul L.; Diamond, Lisa M.; Breedlove, S. Marc; Vilain, Eric; Epprecht, Marc (2016). "Sexual Orientation, Controversy, and Science". Psychological Science in the Public Interest. 17 (2): 45–101. doi:10.1177/1529100616637616. PMID 27113562. S2CID 42281410. The most common meaningful controversy across time and place has concerned the extent to which homosexuality is socially influenced and, more specifically, whether or not it spreads as a result of contagion and social tolerance. There is no good evidence that either increases the rate of homosexual orientation, although tolerance may facilitate behavioral expression of homosexual desire.
allikas: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gay_frogs_(internet_meme)