Science Beyond Consensus: Defending Open Inquiry in Sensitive Scientific Debates
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Abstract
We write in response to the letter critiquing our editorial, “Homosexuality: A Mental Problem That Shouldn't Be Called Sexual Deviance (1).” While we welcome academic discourse, the rebuttal mischaracterizes our position, misinterprets the cited literature, and dismisses valid biological, psychological and philosophical perspectives that are essential for a complete scientific understanding of human sexuality.
1. Daftari A, Khaleghi A. Homosexuality: A Mental Problem that Shouldn't Be Called Sexual Deviance. Iran J Psychiatry. 2025;20(3):281-3.
2. Quintana GR, Pfaus JG. Do Sex and Gender Have Separate Identities? Arch Sex Behav. 2024;53(8):2957-75.
3. Votinov M, Goerlich KS, Puiu AA, Smith E, Nickl-Jockschat T, Derntl B, et al. Brain structure changes associated with sexual orientation. Sci Rep. 2021;11(1):5078.
4. Khaleghi A, Mohammadi MR, Shahi K, Nasrabadi AM. Computational Neuroscience Approach to Psychiatry: A Review on Theory-driven Approaches. Clin Psychopharmacol Neurosci. 2022;20(1):26-36.
5. Mohammadi MR, Khaleghi A. Transsexualism: A Different Viewpoint to Brain Changes. Clin Psychopharmacol Neurosci. 2018;16(2):136-43.
6. Littman L. Parent reports of adolescents and young adults perceived to show signs of a rapid onset of gender dysphoria. PLoS One. 2018;13(8):e0202330.
7. Tosh J. Zuck off’! A commentary on the protest against Ken Zucker and his “treatment” of Childhood Gender Identity Disorder. Psychology of Women Section Review. 2011;13(1):10-6.
8. Dreger AD. The controversy surrounding "The man who would be queen": a case history of the politics of science, identity, and sex in the Internet age. Arch Sex Behav. 2008;37(3):366-421.
9. Regnerus M. Is structural stigma's effect on the mortality of sexual minorities robust? A failure to replicate the results of a published study. Soc Sci Med. 2017;188:157-65.
10. Cass H. Independent review of gender identity services for children and young people: Final report (Cass Report). 2024.
2. Quintana GR, Pfaus JG. Do Sex and Gender Have Separate Identities? Arch Sex Behav. 2024;53(8):2957-75.
3. Votinov M, Goerlich KS, Puiu AA, Smith E, Nickl-Jockschat T, Derntl B, et al. Brain structure changes associated with sexual orientation. Sci Rep. 2021;11(1):5078.
4. Khaleghi A, Mohammadi MR, Shahi K, Nasrabadi AM. Computational Neuroscience Approach to Psychiatry: A Review on Theory-driven Approaches. Clin Psychopharmacol Neurosci. 2022;20(1):26-36.
5. Mohammadi MR, Khaleghi A. Transsexualism: A Different Viewpoint to Brain Changes. Clin Psychopharmacol Neurosci. 2018;16(2):136-43.
6. Littman L. Parent reports of adolescents and young adults perceived to show signs of a rapid onset of gender dysphoria. PLoS One. 2018;13(8):e0202330.
7. Tosh J. Zuck off’! A commentary on the protest against Ken Zucker and his “treatment” of Childhood Gender Identity Disorder. Psychology of Women Section Review. 2011;13(1):10-6.
8. Dreger AD. The controversy surrounding "The man who would be queen": a case history of the politics of science, identity, and sex in the Internet age. Arch Sex Behav. 2008;37(3):366-421.
9. Regnerus M. Is structural stigma's effect on the mortality of sexual minorities robust? A failure to replicate the results of a published study. Soc Sci Med. 2017;188:157-65.
10. Cass H. Independent review of gender identity services for children and young people: Final report (Cass Report). 2024.
| Files | ||
| Issue | Vol 20 No 4 (2025) | |
| Section | Letter to the Editor | |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.18502/ijps.v20i4.19679 | |
| Keywords | ||
| Science;Homosexuality | ||
| Rights and permissions | |
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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License. |
How to Cite
1.
Khaleghi A, Zarafshan H. Science Beyond Consensus: Defending Open Inquiry in Sensitive Scientific Debates. Iran J Psychiatry. 2025;20(4):429-430.
