Letters to the Editor	Letters Archive

Embedded Science

Your discussion of the case of Dr. J. Michael Bailey ["Political Science," October 2006, available at Guidemag.com] appears balanced at first glance, but it is oversimplified. Books like Impure Science by Steven Epstein-- a sociologist of science who studied the interaction between scientists and AIDS activists-- show that the conflict between ideologically motivated members of the community and "objective" scientists has been complicated in America by the unfortunate circumstance that many of the scientists themselves are ideologically motivated-- especially those who, like Bailey, are supported by the National Institutes of Health under Bush. For example, Epstein demonstrates how confrontation with activists was necessary to induce scientists to pose the right questions for progressive AIDS research instead of simply furthering the interests of drug companies.

I

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have had personal experience of the ideological rigidity of Bailey's associates at Toronto's Clarke Institute. Their policy was that a candidate for transgender surgery could not proceed without consultation of the spouse; but they only recognized heterosexual relationships. Common-law female spouses whose relationship lasted one year were consulted, but when my then-male lover applied, the Clarke did not even want to interview me, his male partner for 10 years. My lover, who should have been entitled to surgery under Ontario's Medicare, was eventually accepted for surgery in England after a competent psychological assessment there at her own expense. We are now legally married and have remained happily in love for another 18 years-- another reality that proves Bailey and company were wrong.

Jim
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Trans/Gay Analogy?

In "Political Science," October 2006, [available at Guidemag.com] writer Jim D'Entremont says, "Bailey's critics follow the familiar patterns of ideologues seeking to discredit scientists whose findings they deem politically wrong."

This is an odd statement since you don't explore the many scientists who disagree with Bailey-- noted researchers in this field, with backgrounds in the biological sciences (unlike Mr. Bailey), some of whom are transsexual themselves. Ben Barres and Joan Roughgarden come to mind. As does (non-transsexual) Milton Diamond.

Perhaps what's going on here is more akin to when gay men challenged the orthodoxy branding them as having mental disorders than you seem to perceive.

But this wouldn't be the first time a gay man presumed some insight into transgender people that was completely unwarranted. So, how many straight men does this publication hire to analyze gay people? How many transgender people have you published?

I'm fairly sure whose voice is being silenced. And find it amusing how upset some seem to get when we start finding our voice.

Poitbrain
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Thai Letdown Thai LetdownThai

I was disappointed in the article on Bangkok [September 2006, available at Guidemag.com]. Whoever wrote it did so seemingly as a straight person investigating the gay community. It was long and extensive but missed so much of what is important to a gay tourist.

For instance: he never even mentioned Tarntawan Place Hotel, the number-one gay hotel in Bangkok. It is three-star and really is a good destination. Most of the hotels he mentioned would stop all male and female prostitutes at the elevator. Tarntawan stops everybody going upstairs to be sure they are at least 18 and holds their ID until departure, at which time they call your room to be sure that it was a friendly departure.

The author also never mentioned that in most of the gay bars in Bangkok it is all about selecting a "boy" for the evening and the charge for him to leave the premises. It mentioned Tawan bar, but not that the outrageousness of the performance varies with the tolerance of city authorities. Sometimes you can't believe what you're seeing on stage; other times it's somewhat sedate. Anyway, most of the gay tourists in Bangkok are older men from Europe looking for love in all the wrong places.

Kansas City Traveller
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