Johns Hopkins Faculty Denounce Anti-LGBT Report by Colleagues

Three professors at Johns Hopkins University's Bloomberg School of Public Health and School of Medicine penned an op-ed for Wednesday's Baltimore Sun disavowing their colleagues that published a controversial report regarding sexuality and gender.

"As faculty at Johns Hopkins, a major educational, research and health institution, we are writing to express our concern about a recently published report that we believe mischaracterizes the current state of the science on sexuality and gender," Chris Beyrer, Robert W. Blum, and Tonia C. Poteat wrote.

The report has been publicly criticized by the Human Rights Campaign, which has warned Johns Hopkins that they are under review for removal from high standing in the HRC Health Care Equality Index.

The controversial report, which disputes the popular idea that gays and lesbians are born with their sexualities, was published by retired staff member Paul R. McHugh and current faculty Lawrence S. Mayer. McHugh has previously expressed his view of transgender identities as "mental disorders" in reputable publications such as The Wall Street Journal.

Beyrer, Blum, and Poteat emphasized that the article was "not published in the scientific literature, where it would have been subject to rigorous peer review prior to publication," and in no way reflect the views of the university on LGBTQ individuals.