Last updated on: 2/5/2009 | Author: ProCon.org

Simon LeVay, PhD Biography

Title:
Neurologist and Co-Founder of the Institute of Gay and Lesbian Education
Position:
Pro to the question "Is Sexual Orientation Determined at Birth?"
Reasoning:

“Although quite a few of the findings [on studies regarding the basis of sexual orientation] are inconsistent between studies or await independent replication, my general conclusion is that biological processes, especially the prenatal, hormonally-controlled sexual differentiation of the brain, are likely to influence a person’s ultimate sexual orientation.”

“The Biology of Sexual Orientation,” www.simonlevay.com, updated Apr. 2009
Theoretical Expertise Ranking:
     Key Experts
MD's and PhD's in psychology, with significant post-doctorate involvement in human sexuality issues. [Note: Key Experts definition varies by sites that have this designation.]
Involvement and Affiliations:
  • Director, Human Biology 10: Human Sexuality, Stanford University, 2003
  • Lecturer, Stanford University, 2003
  • Member of Advisory Board, School’s Out!, Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Center, 1996-1999
  • Co-Founder and Chair of Board of Directors, Institute of Gay and Lesbian Education, West Hollywood, CA, 1992-1998
  • Member, NASA Astrobiology Roadmap Committee, 1998
  • Instructor, Institute of Gay and Lesbian Education, 1992-1997
  • Community Service Award, Southern California Physicians for Human Rights, 1993
  • Howard Brown Award, Christopher Street West, 1993
  • Adjunct Associate Professor of Biology, University of California, San Diego, 1985-1993
  • Associate Professor, Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, CA, 1984-1993
  • Affiliate and Member of Working Committee, Program in Neurosciences, Harvard University, 1983-1984
  • Associate Professor of Neurobiology, Harvard Medical School, 1980-1984
  • Research Career Development Award, National Institutes of Health, 1976-1982
  • Assistant Professor of Neurobiology, Harvard Medical School, 1975-1980
  • Instructor, Department of Neurobiology, Harvard Medical School, 1972-1974
Education:
  • Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Harvard Medical School, 1972-1974
  • PhD, Neuroanatomy, University of Göttingen, Germany, 1971
  • BA, Natural Sciences, University of Cambridge, England, 1966
Other:
  • None found
Quoted in:
  1. Is There a Gay Gene?
  2. Is Sexual Orientation Determined at Birth?