Carle Jasmin (Image : AI / Gay Globe)
As we know, numerous rumors and false information circulate on the Web and social media and, unfortunately, no one seems to be able to do much about it. This is why, at Gay Globe, we talk about it, because we believe that disinformation can only be fought with legitimate information.
Among the publications that can occasionally make people laugh, there is a myth circulating that certain substances found in nature or in our food could make people homosexual. Let’s be clear, there is no chemical, biological or dietary substance capable of changing a person’s sexual orientation or of “making them homosexual.” Homosexuality is a complex sexual orientation that does not depend on exposure to external products, but some influencers persist in making people believe just about anything and, unfortunately, the Web is accessible to an incalculable number of gullible people who, through their ignorance, continue to spread these false rumors.
Pesticides and “Gay Frogs”
Popularized notably by Alex Jones and his InfoWars website, the “gay frogs” theory claims that chemicals present in the environment are being used to feminize the population and alter sexual orientation. This claim is partly based on genuine research involving atrazine, a herbicide. Research by biologist Tyrone Hayes showed that, under certain experimental conditions, exposure to atrazine could disrupt the sexual development of certain amphibians, including by causing feminization in males.
But there is an enormous leap between these observations and the claim that pesticides would make humans homosexual. The studies in question concern the biological sexual development of amphibians, not their sexual orientation. Furthermore, scientific findings on the effects of atrazine in frogs are not all consistent.
There is therefore genuine scientific research into the potentially disruptive effects of atrazine in certain amphibians, but no scientific evidence demonstrates that atrazine or other pesticides alter the sexual orientation of human beings. The “gay frog” has thus become a particularly striking example of how a genuine scientific finding can be distorted to fuel a conspiracy theory.
The Fake News About the “Homo Kush” Cannabis Strain
A purported new cannabis strain called “Homo Kush 69” circulated online, accompanied by claims that this genetically modified marijuana could alter brain receptors and instantly turn its consumers homosexual. Presented as a genuine news report on certain websites and publications, the story was taken literally by Internet users.
In reality, “Homo Kush” is a satirical invention. The story originated from parody content and fake-news websites, and there is no scientific evidence supporting the claim that a cannabis strain could alter a person’s sexual orientation.
This story illustrates another form of disinformation: a satire presented out of context can quickly become fake news, particularly when it is shared on social media without verifying its source or humorous nature.
The Confusion Surrounding “Chemsex”
Chemsex is regularly the subject of conflation on social media. Some posts claim, in particular, that drugs such as 3-MMC, GHB/GBL or poppers could cause homosexual desires in heterosexual people, or even alter their sexual orientation. These claims, however, confuse the effects of substances on behavior with sexual orientation.
The term chemsex refers to the intentional use of psychoactive substances in the context of sexual activity, generally with the aim of altering or intensifying the experience. These substances can cause strong disinhibition, increase arousal and reduce inhibitions or judgment. They also carry significant risks, including dependence, overdose and STI transmission.
There is nevertheless no basis for claiming that these drugs can transform a person’s sexual orientation. They may temporarily alter behavior and inhibitions, but this does not mean that they create a new sexual orientation. Presenting chemsex as a way to “become homosexual” is therefore disinformation rather than a medical or scientific reality.
The Historical Myth of the “Gay Bomb”
The idea of a purported “Gay Bomb,” a secret weapon capable of making enemy soldiers homosexual, did not entirely come out of Internet imagination. In 1994, a US Air Force laboratory did indeed submit a research proposal concerning a non-lethal chemical weapon that would have used an aphrodisiac substance to induce homosexual behavior among opposing soldiers. The document later received the Ig Nobel Peace Prize in 2007.
But this proposal never resulted in the creation of such a weapon. The project never went beyond the proposal stage and no “Gay Bomb” was ever produced or deployed. Furthermore, there is no known substance capable of inducing or altering a person’s sexual orientation through exposure to a chemical product.
This case is therefore a particular one: the military document was real, but the weapon it contemplated never existed. Over time, the theoretical proposal was transformed on the Internet into a story presenting the “Gay Bomb” as a real secret weapon, considerably distorting the historical facts.
*** The Ig Nobel Peace Prize is a humorous distinction awarded each year as part of the Ig Nobel Prizes, a parody ceremony inspired by the Nobel Prizes.
The Pseudoscience About Soy and Phytoestrogens
A rumor widely circulated on the Internet, particularly in certain “manosphere” communities, claims that consuming soy and products containing phytoestrogens would lower men’s testosterone, feminize them and could even promote homosexuality. This theory is based primarily on the idea that phytoestrogens, whose name recalls human hormones, would have the same effects as estrogens produced by the body.
In reality, phytoestrogens are compounds naturally found in certain plants, particularly soy, but their biological activity is not comparable to that of human hormones. Available clinical data do not show that regular soy consumption causes a significant decrease in testosterone in men or an impairment of their fertility.
Above all, no scientific data demonstrate that consuming soy can alter a person’s sexual orientation. Once again, a real biological phenomenon — the presence of plant compounds with a certain affinity for estrogen receptors — is transformed into a conclusion that is not supported by scientific data.
The fact that these rumors exist and are spread generally stems from hatred of people who are different, homophobia and a desire to demonize minorities, whether they are sexual, religious, cultural or racial.
Ultimately, these conspiracy theories are not really about frogs, cannabis, pesticides or soy. They are primarily about fear of others, homophobia and disinformation. By transforming real scientific phenomena into stories of contamination, poisoning or manipulation, they seek to make people believe that homosexuality is something that can be caught, induced or transmitted — when no scientific evidence supports this claim.
The problem is that false information does not become true simply because it is repeated, shared or accompanied by scientific vocabulary. A real study does not lend credibility to an invented conclusion. Disinformation thrives when facts are taken out of context and fear replaces verification. That is why, when faced with these narratives, the best weapon remains the simplest: read the sources, verify the facts and refuse to confuse science with fantasy.
And the comedian Coluche was right when he said: “It’s not because there are many of them who are wrong that they are right!”
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