I am a member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), the world’s largest professional association for electrical engineering.  It seems that political correctness and homosexual lobbying are trying to make their way into my field with these proposed changes to the IEEE Code of Ethics:

• to treat fairly all persons and to not engage in acts of discrimination based on regardless of such factors as race, religion, gender, disability, age, or national origin, or sexual orientation;

I’m not especially pleased about that, so I’ve sent the following to the two relevant IEEE directors:

Dear Sir and Madam:

I am writing to unequivocally oppose the proposed changes to the IEEE Code of Ethics.  As so many commenters on Proposed Changes to IEEE Code of Ethics have noted, the modified statement should simply read:

• to treat fairly all persons;

I do not lightly subscribe to codes of ethics, because I understand that in doing so I am agreeing to be bound by them.  What you are effectively doing, good intentions notwithstanding, is imposing upon your entire membership a politically expedient viewpoint.  The IEEE has some legitimate role to play in exerting external political influence on behalf of its members, but is out of line when it attempts to impose external political correctness upon them.

Furthermore, the proposed change gives not a moment’s consideration to the negative societal impact of “sexual orientation,” which few people have the courage to discuss.  The traditional family is the fundamental fabric of society, and shredding that fabric does no good to anyone.  If the IEEE wishes to take a stand on some position, let it do so on the basis of unbiased studies, and not political expediency.

As a heterosexual—and how have we come to the point of defining ourselves by our sexuality anyhow?—who has worked and done business with homosexuals, it should be sufficient that I treat all people with dignity and respect.  But I am also aware of the negative consequences of homosexuality, and I refuse to pretend they do not exist, or to offer my support to something that is in fact detrimental.

To the extent that homosexuals have been treated unfairly by society or religion, I offer my sincere apologies.  But I will not endorse their lifestyle nor support efforts through the IEEE to endorse them.

Regards,

Neil Steiner
IEEE Senior Member

It is relevant to note that as of 2002, homosexuals composed around 2-3% (Family Research Report) or 3-8% (National Gay and Lesbian Task Force) of the US population (Gallup), and not the 20-25% that most people assume.  It is also worth noting that homosexuals are collectively an amazingly talented and artistic group of people.