'Science is closing the door on right-wing distortions,' said HRC President Joe Solmonese.

WASHINGTON - Human Rights Campaign President Joe Solmonese released the following statement in response to a study released showing gay men and heterosexual men respond differently when exposed to certain smells. According to The Associated Press, the study, published in the May 10 issue of Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, was done by researchers at the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, Sweden.

&quotHow we treat people should be based on principles of basic fairness, not scientific evidence. However, studies like this help people understand each other and alleviate fear. That's a positive step. This study adds to a growing body of evidence showing a biological connection around sexual orientation. Science is closing the door on right-wing distortions.&quot

In 1991, Dr. Simon LeVay broke ground in research into the biology of sexual orientation by releasing the results of a landmark study that showed that heterosexual men and gay men had significant differences in the size of their hypothalamus, that portion of the brain which regulates the body's metabolism.