Running head: QUEER THEORY

Genetics and HomosexualityDoes Change Mean a Brighter Future?

Skyler Clark

Salt Lake City Community College Genetics and Homosexuality Film and Culture FLM 1070 020 Mon, Wed 5:30 pm 11/3/2013

QUEER THEORY Genetics and HomosexualityDoes Change Mean a Brighter Future?

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Pills litter the floor and slow breaths can be heard from the bed. Ed realizes that his brother has tried to kill himself. Panic sets in. In response to his quivering inquiry as he shakes his brother he hears the words No! I couldnt do it, ok?! Relief washes over him. What could have possibly driven Bobby to attempt to take his life? After demanding to know what is wrong he hears Im not like you EdI dont dream about girls like you doI dream about guys. The shock slips onto his face without his permission. In his head the question thunders, Youre gay? the question falls from his lips, and the shock cant be hidden from his voice either (Brooks, 2009). This revelation doesnt surface until Bobby Griffith reaches the age of sixteen, but many argue that his genetic makeup predicted his sexual orientation from birth. The Griffiths were a religious family, and firm believers that homosexuality was not of God. Prayers for Bobby portrays a young boys life as he realizes and openly admits his sexual preference, while combating his moral development. The filmmakers used many elements in communicating the emotion of Bobbys life to us. As we delve into the film we will discover major events that occurred in Bobbys life, and entertain the question of the role of genetics in sexuality. Do our genes influence gender? Well of course! Do they influence sexual preference? In this question lies a depth of controversy seldom overcome, or resolved. Marlboro ran an ad campaign in 2011 that most in the US knew nothing about. The campaign was banned in (Annetonia, 2012)

multiple countriesas many cigarette ads before itfor youth targeting and adverse affects on its audience. The campaign motto, "Don't be a Maybe," is a theme shared with the filmmakers for Prayers for Bobby. Both the film and this ad campaign advertise that a person should not

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deny themselves, but act on their innermost impulses. Both portray the individuals following this mantra as very happy and energetic individuals. Both in the movie and with the persuasion of this ad-campaign, the reality of consequences from living your innermost desires are real and sometimes, they are really unfortunate. Should people always act on their impulses? It is often the individuals that do act upon all of their impulses that succumb to addictions in one form or another. The primary issue is that whether or not we have genetic predispositions to develop one pattern of behavior or another, and how much choice each person has to choose to act on their impulses. We each have predispositions, but the classic debate of Nature vs. Nurture argues that instincts mustnt always, and often dont win out. Alcoholism is a prime example, which shows that there are many individuals who are more prone to certain behaviors than others. Each person on this earth is born with distinctive programmingor predispositionsto do certain things. The question on the table regarding homosexuality has been whether or not homosexuality is a behavior, learned or inherited. Evidence has been found that argues a case for the latter; though former always plays a tremendous role. In this day and age the question isnt whether or not sexuality genes exist, but whether we have any semblance of control over them. From the film Prayers for Bobby, we learn the sad tale of the life of a young homosexual boy who couldnt suppress his homosexual nature, nor his moral development; religion playing a big part in his life. Bobby glides across the bridge in a dream-like state. He remembers all of the terrible memories of loved ones shunning him for his differences. He remembers his guilt for being different. He even remembers the love he felt when no one knew his secret; Bobby is gay. The audiences learns later that this is what is flashing across Bobbys mind at the beginning of the

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film as he slowly moves to the center of the bridge, then the scene cuts to a lamp just as the lights are switched off. The metaphor cant be missed. Bobby just ended his life. The audience knows the end of this story from the beginning, but the question is planted, What caused this tragedy? This thought is sown into the minds of the viewers and the inception having gone unnoticed, the audience watches on. Bobby is different. Without outside knowledge one can discern this easily enough from the film. At first the audience is left to think that he is simply very religious and maybe a little shy as he turns down his girlfriends advances. The audience begins to suspect the truth as they notice Bobbys movie-viewing habits. Why is he watching a movie with two halfnaked men? Everything in film is deliberate. The audience is manipulated yet again, knowing and discovering just as they are meant to. Near the start of the film just after we witness Bobbys death on the bridge, happy music and family memories are seen as the story begins. We are about to experience the events leading up to Bobbys long spiraling fall downward; the fall that ends with his death. What if these happy scenes werent to be sullied by Bobbys later death? What if it could have been prevented? A tragedy avoided even before his birth? Isnt that the very prayer Bobbys mother was sure to have prayed after her sons tragic death? Bobbys family had predispositions, much like every person born to this earth. Each endowed with a unique genetic code. Bobbys family had certain moral predispositions against homosexuals before he was even born. This was evident within the first five minutes of film at his grandmothers birthday party. The early scenes in a movie are usually to set the plot line for the film, and Prayers for Bobby is no different. Just after the scene on the bridge, the plot commences with Grandmas party and the first words uttered once the family is all together are scripture. Bobbys mother, Mary, is quizzing the family on scripture references, and who but Bobby is the one to nail the verse? Religion in the film represents another typical stereotype

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when it comes to sexuality. The idea that marriage is exclusively between a man and a woman, is controversial to some, but is a theme as old as religion itself; also stemming from it. Stereotypes are frequently employed in the film to communicate quick information to the audience. Bobbys brother Ed is seen during the birthday party drinking milk from the cartoonanother stereotype, this one for masculinity. The audience then learns of the Griffith family culture as Grandma is heard saying if you ask me queers should all be lined up and shot. Bobbys eyes are seen shifting with discomfort and maybe a little fear. As viewers we are bombarded with sensory details; this family is very anti-gay, and by now we know how sadly ironic that is. By now those paying good attention know exactly where the filmmakers are leading us, but for those that arent paying such close attention, the hints continue. Grandma rejects Bobbys sisters gift, and the role of comforter isnt taken by a sister or mother as would seem typical, but none other than Bobby. In this scene Bobby also receives his journal, which is used throughout the film as a window into Bobbys thoughts as he is writing. The coup de grace is after he refuses his girlfriend, and then breaks up with her. The scene cuts to a shot of Bobby driving down a street, glancing to his left and seeing a gay club. The bouncer waives him into the club, and his pause is enough that the audience now knows Bobbys attraction to men. The suggestive stereotypes dont stop, of course. Only seconds after Bobbys drive by the gay club, the scene cuts to his house, where his mother, of all people, confirms his obvious sexual leanings through another stereotype. After rejecting his moms invitation to watch a black-and-white movie with her she exclaims Oh come on, who else can I get to watch an old black and white movie with me? You know if its not John Wayne your Dads not interested. Macho men watch John Wayne. Bobby is gay, so he would enjoy black and white movies. The stereotypes abound. Stereotypes are man-made, but many argue that homosexuality is not.

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Sexual attraction is claimed to be encoded in our genes. In men, one gene in particular has been correlated to homosexuality. The DNA "marker," or genetic signature is located at a region near the end of the long arm of the X chromosome and is designated Xq28; this is also the name of the marker (Hamer 2005). However, the evidence of a sexuality-influencing gene does not necessarily mean that all individuals that have abnormalities in this region are destined to be homosexual. In the same study it was noted that the Xq28 marker represented an average heritability affecting 5-30% of men. This group was very exclusive however, the seventy-six participants openly acknowledged being gay, and volunteered for the study. Hamer's results also do not tell us the influence of the Xq28 marker in the general population. Hamer admits that the gene even affecting of 5-30% gay me is merely an estimate and that accurate measuring of Xq28 heritability in the general population needs to be performed. He also claims that any interaction with the environment will assume critical importance (Horton, 1995). Another article on the subject says: [what is] conspicuously absent from most theorizing on the origins of sexual orientation is an active role of the individual in constructing his or her identity. ...genes or hormones do not specify sexual orientation per se, but [they] instead bias particular personality traits and thereby influence the manner in which an individual and his or her environment interact as sexual orientation and other personality characteristics unfold developmentally [should also be considered]. (Byne, 1994) What real bearing does this information have? If genetics do influence our sexual behavior, could or should anything be done? Would this possibly be the answer to the fervent prayer of parents like Mary Griffith, or another excuse for prejudice? There has long been some suspicion regarding genes affecting alcohol addiction in some way. Though there is a lot of compelling evidence for genetic influence in

QUEER THEORY alcoholism, there has not been a specific gene identified as having a direct affect on its heritability. The case of homosexuality is very much the same. However, as previously mentioned, there has been a gene that has been correlated in this case. It isnt a far stretch to imagine the possibility of genetic manipulation to affect sexual preferences in the future. What if Bobbys accident had been preventedeven from before his birth? Of course the argument can and should be made that greater universal tolerance would solve many of these societal issues. There will still likely be some future controversy regarding this issue. Members of the religious community for example may whole heartedly support genetic manipulation. On the other hand what about all of those people in the homosexual community? The film gives us a lot of information about the homosexual community, which we dont really see Bobby participating in during the film, save one or two scenes. As the religious community may be adamantly for genetic manipulation in order to prevent homosexuality, the gay community would likely be very opposed to the idea, and they are both within their rights to have such views, it is in the action where the true debate lies. However, it may also be that many homosexuals would support the cause of saving later generations the societal pain they themselves had to endure or visa-versa; perhaps members of religious communities would think it wrong to influence our natural genetics? Most of the culture and information on the homosexual community in the film is only given after Bobbys death. His mother, Mary, seeks out a pastor, Reverend Whitsell, who Bobby may have had some contact with before his death. The Reverend teaches Mary his beliefs of Gods love for gays and of an organization called PFLAG (Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays). This is an organization that Mary later

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QUEER THEORY became a part of and was very active in. Reverend Whitsell heads a congregation that would likely be very against any kind of genetic manipulations. Bobbys mother would be among that group. Mary Griffith became a long-time advocate of gay-rights and a foremost member of PFLAG. (Hernandez, 2009) This is another, very diverse group of individuals that would likely oppose genetic manipulation. The question each of us should ask ourselves is: If I could decrease the chances of my child developing into a homosexual, would I be inclined to take action? This is a moral issue that society may have to deal with. Though many studies have been conducted that point to genetic influence in sexual orientation, It isnt yet clear how big of a role genes play, and of course environment will always be a large contributing factor in human development. As more evidence for or against genetic influences are found, the chances of genetic manipulations will rise dramatically. Is it ethical? This is a question that each of us must ponder and postulate our own opinions on. The fact remains however, that genetic modification and reconditioning could be a hurdle in the future of humanity, for better or worse. Bobby had a disadvantage because of his upbringing. His moral development prevented him from accepting himself, and rejecting the disapproval of his mother. In this situation, would genetic manipulation have been justified? Who would argue for or against this, and for what reason? Sladek presented this film to encourage understanding, and to counter prejudice against homosexuals. The history of the Griffith family is regrettable, but upon the films release and since it has helped many to better understand homosexuality, and prejudice. Even as films and stories like these spread understanding and tolerance across the nation, and hopefully the world, the question posed to each of us is, would we attempt to prevent homosexuality if we could?

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QUEER THEORY References Annetonia. (2012, Oct 9). The Marlboro Brand Status Quo. Wordpress. Retrieved from http://annetonia.wordpress.com/2012/10/09/the-marlboro-brand-status-quo-2/ Byne W. (1994, March 3). Human Sexual Orientation the Biologic Theories Reappraised. Archives of General Psychiatry, 50, 228-39. Retrieved from http://borngay.procon.org/sourcefiles/Byne_Study.pdf

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Hamer D. H. (2005, Jan 5). A genome-wide scan of male sexual orientation. Human Genetics, 116. DOI 10.1007/s00439-004-1241-4 Hernandez, G. ( 2009, Aug 5). A moving letter from Mary Griffith, the real-life mother depicted in Prayers for Bobby. GregInHollywood. Retrieved from: http://greginhollywood.com/a-moving-letter-from-mary-griffin-the-real-life-womendepicted-in-prayers-for-bobby-9616 Horton R. (1995 July 8). Is Homosexuality Inherited? Fontline, PBS. Retrieved from http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/assault/genetics/nyreview.html LeVay S. (1994, May 30). A difference in hypthalmic structure between heterosexual and homosexual men7. Scientific America, 270 44-49. Retrieved from http://www.trinity.edu/tmurphy/trinity/3420_files/Levay%20and%20Hammer_1994.pdf Sladek D. & Mulcahy R. (2009, Jan 21). Prayers for Bobby. United States. Daniel Sladek Entertainment.