THE LGBT and homosexuality issue has arrived at the forefront of the national debate. It is time to allow science into the discourse before the coterie of ulama and politicians make more unintelligent statements, and cause a public spectacle over their ignorance and lack of wisdom.

Much has been said about the LGBT, their being shamed, stigmatised, criminalised, viewed with much abhorrence by society and flogged publicly.

The central issue of the LGBT debate seems to be on the sexual orientation of the group, mainly homosexuality. All-knowing critics among religious ulama and politicians have proclaimed that homosexuality is against the natural order and their sexual deviancy caused by who they associated with and their upbringing. In short, it is the environment that is the cause of the problem, the “cancer of society”, as one politician had put it.

Homosexuality refers to the sexual orientation, identity or behaviour in which a person prefers sex with someone of the same sex. There is a body of scientific evidence that points to homosexuality as a biological disorder. In 1993, Dean Hamer and Charles Thomas, in their studies on DNA markers in the X chromosome, published results showing that men with specific genes were more likely to be homosexual than those without such genes.

Though the study was merely to test a hypothesis, it provided evidence that homosexuality was genetically linked, and swayed argument away from environmental links, as previously thought.

Early observational studies in the 1980s pointed to immunodeficiency in homosexuals to low zinc and elevated copper levels. Zinc is a constituent of more than 200 enzymes. It plays an important role in nucleic acid metabolism, cell replication, repair and growth, and DNA synthesis. Zinc interacts with hormones and plays a role in the production, storage and secretion of hormones. Besides, zinc is necessary in the production of male semen and testosterone, and plays an important role in sexual function. Together with arginine, zinc plays an important role in enhancing male libido.

On the other hand, copper is usually found in excess in the human body and creates a copper-toxic condition. Copper interferes with zinc metabolism in the body. Symptoms of copper toxicity in men include prostate enlargement, erectile dysfunction, testicular pain and depression. Copper toxicity affects women’s sex hormones and creates an estrogen-dominant condition, thereby reducing sexual desire.

A study by Dr Lawrence Wilson suggested a number of contributing factors for the cause of homosexuality. He attributed the main factor being the zinc-copper imbalance. Other causative factors are drugs, and exogenous hormone therapy that causes depletion of zinc in the body, industrial chemicals and bisphenoyl A (BPA), commonly found in plastics. BPA is a xenoestrogen and an endocrine disruptor. It mimics the effects of natural estrogen in the body and can lead to adverse changes in the reproductive system, development and sexual desire. A congenital abnormality distorting hormone levels in a developing foetus can occur due to nutritional problems or chemical onslaught of the mother during pregnancy.

Supporting evidence for Wilson’s assertion are the more than 100 cases of homosexuals treated nutritionally to balance the zinc-copper intake, resulting in a sexual orientation change. This includes cases of transgender persons treated well before the age of 6. Wilson’s hypothesis on homosexuality has been nutritional imbalance, and departed from the other two schools of thoughts – environmental or learned behaviour and genetics. Wilson’s hypothesis was not subjected to keen peer review, a drawback in his otherwise intriguing contribution to scientific knowledge.

Dr Joel Wallach, a veterinary doctor and naturopathic physician, conducted studies on animals and performed autopsies on gay and transgender people, and found an underdeveloped part of the brain. Wallach posits that the brain pathology was due to a zinc deficiency during conception. Once the brain has developed to a certain age, the pathology becomes permanent and irreversible. Wallach’s scientific contribution on homosexuality corroborates Wilson’s hypothesis.

The scientific debate on the issue of LGBT and sexual orientation pertaining to the cause, whether it is environmental, genetic or nutritional imbalance, is not conclusive.

Scientific enquiry has to continue. Scientists, in particular biologists, geneticists and psychologists, should not abdicate their responsibilities and speak up to lead public discourse on the issue. The LGBT and homosexuality issue is clearly in the realm of science, more than religion and politics. – October 4, 2018.

* Captain Dr Wong Ang Peng is a researcher with an interest in economics, politics, and health issues. He has a burning desire to do anything within his means to promote national harmony. Captain Wong is also a member of the National Patriots Association.

* This is the opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malaysian Insight. Article may be edited for brevity and clarity.